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Night out: hot ticket
By Times staff
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 20, 2002
Get into the Groovewell
Local musicians Jonathan Priest and Philip Booth (also a St. Petersburg Times writer) have joined forces to produce recordings by, but not limited to, Florida acts.
Their Groovewell Records, a Tampa-based label devoted to "organic rock, jazz, world music, fusion, spoken word" and other genres that fall between the cracks, officially launches this weekend with its first CD release party. Featured will be debut discs from Rocksteady@8, Tampa's reggae supergroup, above, and jazz outfit Ghetto Love Sugar.
Rocksteady@8 plays classic Jamaican tunes, music from 1960s-style ska and 1970s-style rootsy reggae to, rocksteady, the bridge between the two. (Rocksteady is essentially ska at half-speed, with more emphasis on vocal harmonies, and with lyrics that are particularly socially conscious.) It's all found on the happy, danceable Rub Up Push Up.
The eight-piece band, whose members are from local acts Magadog, Strangeways and others, is led by singer-composer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd. The band includes drums, bass, guitar, keyboards and two horns -- saxophone and trumpet -- which adds up to a big sound and plenty of good vibes.
The intrepid Ghetto Love Sugar combines funk, fusion and the avant garde. The combo releases The Uncertainty Principle, a live collaboration with New York musicians Jonathan and Jeremy Powell, formerly of St. Petersburg.
It all happens at 8 p.m. Friday at the Orpheum, 1902 Republica de Cuba, Ybor City. (813) 248-9500.
-- GINA VIVINETTO, Times pop music critic
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