Exclusive: Skatalites Premieres New Track, Orbits The Globe Once More

The new LP, Platinum Ska, comes out Aug. 26. The single, titled “Bamako Ska,” is one of the last recordings late drummer Lloyd Knibb recorded with the band.

The band’s saxophonist Azemobo “Zem” Audu said the following of the track: “Since this album was mixed in Bamako, Mali, by Manjul, we called this track Bamako Ska and collaborated with some of Mali’s most renowned traditional musicians. Listen out for the beautiful Kora and Tama playing of Madou Sidiki Diabate, and Assaba Dramé respectively.”

Give it a listen below:

The Skatalites were originally formed as a supergroup in Jamaica, playing with and greatly influencing iconic acts like Bob Marley, Toots and the Maytals and Prince Buster. The group’s meteoric rise quickly became an arc though, and the group disbanded soon after founding trombonist Don Drummond was convicted for murdering his wife in 1965.

The act reunited in the ’80s though and has since been skanking around the globe. Many of the original group members have died, but the band still features original vocalist Doreen Shaffer.

The Skatalites’ first show scheduled is Sept. 9 in Worcester, Mass., and the group remains in the U.S. until Oct.1, when the band plays its last scheduled American show in San Jose, Calif.

In Asia, the band is in Hong Kong Oct. 4 and Japan from Oct. 5-9. From there it’s three nights in Mexico Oct. 13, 14 and 16, then off to the United Kingdom, for a show every night from Nov. 17-22.

Here is the band’s full international routing:

Sept. 9 – Worcester, Mass., Electric Haze
Sept. 10 – New York, N.Y., American Beauty N.Y.C
Sept. 11 – Philadelphia, Pa., Underground Arts
Sept. 13 – Washington, DC, Rock And Roll Hotel
Sept. 15 – Chicago, Ill., Reggies Rock Club
Sept. 16 – Minneapolis, Minn., Cedar Cultural Center
Sept. 17 – Lincoln, Neb., Bourbon Theatre
Sept. 18 – Wichita, Kan., Barleycorn’s
Sept. 20 – Boulder, Colo., Fox Theatre
Sept. 21 – Albuquerque, N.M., The Co-Op
Sept. 22 – Flagstaff, Ariz., The Green Room
Sept. 23 – Phoenix, Ariz., Valley Bar
Sept. 24 – San Diego, Calif., The Casbah
Sept. 25 – Hermosa Beach, Calif., Saint Rocke
Sept. 27 – Santa Barbara, Calif., Soho Restaurant & Music Club
Sept. 29 – San Francisco, Calif., Rickshaw Stop
Sept. 30 – Fresno, Calif., Strummer’s
Oct. 1 – San Jose, Calif., The Ritz
Oct. 4 – Hong Kong, China, Hang Out
Oct. 5 – Osaka, Japan, Club Quattro
Oct. 6 – Nagoya, Japan, Club Quattro
Oct. 8 – Tokyo, Japan, Club Quattro
Oct. 9 – Shizuoka, Japan, Asagiri Jam
Oct. 13 – San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Steel Metal Bunker
Oct. 14 – Monterrey, Mexico, Explanada Sultanes
Oct. 16 – Guadalajara, Mexico, C3
Nov. 17 – Birmingham, England, Hare & Hounds
Nov. 18 – Manchester, England, Club Academy
Nov. 19 – Edinburgh, Scotland, The Liquid Room
Nov. 20 – Leeds, England, Wardrobe
Nov. 21 – London, England, Under The Bridge
Nov. 22 – Bristol, England, Bristol Fleece

Tickets to the shows are on sale now. Head over to Skatalites.com for the latest on the champions of ska.