Brass Rockers (50th Anniversary Edition) vinyl

First released in 1975, this collaborative set between saxophonist Tommy McCook and producer King Tubby - with Bunny Lee pulling the strings - is a fluid blend of jazz-informed phrasing and stripped-back dub minimalism. McCook, a founding member of both the Skatalites and the Supersonics, had by this point cemented his status as one of Jamaican music's most versatile players, lending his tenor tone to hundreds of sessions. Here, Tubby reworks a batch of Lee-produced riddims to carve space for McCook's mellow, melodic leads, turning each track into a showcase of balance. With a backing bed by The Aggrovators, roots reggae and instrumental improvisation had truly found a rare common ground.