In Defense of Ska Ep 131: Fred Reiter (New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble, The Toasters, The Scofflaws, The N.Y. Citizens)

This week we explore Ska-Jazz. Specifically, we talk to Fred Reiter (aka Rocksteady Freddie), the band leader of the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble. And we aim to understand the difference between the jazz-influenced traditional ska sound and ska-jazz. Fred gives us a simple explanation and a more complex technical explanation.

But Fred also talks about his entire personal history in music: He studied jazz in high school--clarinet, flute and saxophone. He played the sax in a variety of bands including the N.Y. Citizens, The Scofflaws and The Toasters. New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble started as a recording project, but he soon realized there was a demand for it on the live circuit. The band continues to play. To this day they have played in 37 different countries.

Fred also tells us what it was like to be a part of the legendary Skavoovie tour in 1993 (The Special Beat, The Selecter, The Skatalites, The Toasters), what it was like to share the stage with Coolie Ranx, how the German band The Busters helped get the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble to Europe, and what it was like to back ska legend Laurel Aitken in the 90s. 

Plus we discuss various elements of jazz, and why the elitism of the genre he experienced in New York may have influenced him to play in ska bands. 

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If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.