| A tiny club called "Gaz's Rockin' Blues" was born more than 20 years ago at Gossips in Dean street, Soho, London and, ever since, Gaz has been playing some classic Jamaican music of ska, rocksteady, regga, dub as such as well as r&b, jump, blues, rockabilly or even country real loud. Several years ago, the club moved to St Moritz nearby, but nothing has changed. Every Thursday, there are lots of people visiting there and having a rockin' time. Needless to say, this is the longest running club ever in London or, I should say, in Britain. Isn't it amazing? |
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Gaz first stepped into Japan in 1986 for the very first club session as a DJ when there was no authentic ska band around except a very few like Ska Flames. I guess his visit to Japan opened a door to this ever exciting dance music from Jamaica to the Japanese audience. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra or the Detaerminations were born under influence of his visit and his second one with Potato 5 with Laurel Aitken. I remember once one of the U.F.O. said to me, " I was wondering whether to play ska or jazz as DJ when I started off." Well, in case you didon't know who they are, U.F.O. is one of the best jazz DJ units and you should know 'em if you like "jazz not jazz". |
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I guess till the early 90's, authentic ska was somehow booming here in Japan and I remember the ska bands like the Skatalites toured here many times and Jazz Jamaica from London, I guess a modern version of the Skatalites, toured here a couple of times as well as some 2 tone type bands like Selector, Bad Manners, the Specials as such. Well, I should not forget to mention Jump With Joey from LA which was boiling hot and unique and if you have never heard of them, you're missing something incredible and just jump to Amazon and get a copy. |
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But it seemed did not last long and disappeared for a while although Ska Flames, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra and the Determinations were having strong cult followings here and it was alwasy full at their gig. What we could hear was something new called "Ska Punk" and indeed ska gave so much influence to new generation and most of up'n'coming rock bands got this touch of ska in modern times. |
| As an old fan of ska music, it seemed the authentic ska really died out, but I was totally wrong and this day of the 10th of February at Shinjuku Liquid Room, I found it was boiling hot again. Featuring Gaz as DJ, the main act was Prince Buster, one of the legends of the real thing, backed by one of the finest authentic ska bands of the world, called the Determinations, was it. It was completely sold out and there were lots of kids dancing to this old music. In fact, I believe I was the oldest man there and could not see any older generation apart from some guys of Ska Flames... Wow! |
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| Gaz "rockin'n'blues" Mayall / Prince Buster with the Detaerminations |
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the official site Gaz's Rockin' Records http://www.gazrockin.com/ check these albums!
The Trojans albums
"Trojan Warriors: For Your Protection, The Best of the Trojans" "Celtic Ska" "Wicked and Wild" "Rebel Blues"ほか |
DJ Gaz's compilations "Gaz Mayall Top! Ska Tunes" US import / UK import check the albums? |
previous works  2003 Robert Randolph and The Family Band (11th Dec @ Nagoya Quattro)Robert Randolph and The Family Band (9th Dec @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)BETAGARRI (29th Nov @ Uneno The Church)SORROW (27th Nov @ Sendai Junk Box)SORROW (26th Nov @ Koriyama #9)BETAGARRI with The 3peace, SHOP LIFTER, & MIZZ (24th Nov @ Club Phase, Takadanobaba)Bleach (22nd Nov @ Shinjuku Antiknock)おじゃんになるかも (6th Nov @ Shimokitazawa 440)Sleep Walker (17th Oct @ morph_tokyo)Thee Michelle Gun Elephant (11th Oct @ Makuhari Messe)Elvis Costello (1st Oct. @ Nakano Sun Plaza)Katteni Shiyagare (29th Sep @ Shibuya Quattro)KEMURI (20th Sep. @ Kawasaki Club Citta)KEMURI (10th Sep. @ Oita Drum Top's)KEMURI (9th Sep. @ Kagoshima Caparvo Hall)KEMURI (7th Sep. @ Fukuoka Drum Logos)KEMURI (5th Sep. @ Hiroshima Quattro)KEMURI (4th Sep. @ Yonago Belier)KEMURI (30th Aug. @ Chiba Look)KEMURI (30th Aug. @ Rising Sun Rock Festival)Theatre Brook (15th Aug. @ Rising Sun Rock Festival)Theatre Brook (22nd Jun. @ Shinjyuku Liquid)Hore! Hore! Live Vol.2 (13th May. @ Shibuya Club Asia)Banda Bassotti (12th May. @ Kawasaki Club Citta)Banda Bassotti (11th May. @ Osaka Big Cat)Banda Bassotti (10th May. @ Nagoya Bottom Line)Banda Bassotti (5th May. @ Ueno Church)Jackson Browne ( 4th May. @ Nakano Sun Plaza)Jackson Browne (2nd May. @ Nakano Sun Plaza)The Street Beat Festival featuring Brahman and Banda Bassotti (19th Apr. @ Paci' Paciana, in Bergamo)The Street Beat Festival featuring Brahman and Banda Bassotti (18th Apr. @ Zapata, in Genova)The Street Beat Festival featuring Brahman and Banda Bassotti (17th Apr. @ Giornata dell'Arte e della Creativita Studentesca in PISA)Nada Trio, Agricantus & Mongol 800 (13th Apr. @ Piazza Del Tribuni Rome)The Street Beat Festival featuring The Unity Squad, Rude Bones, Mongol 800 and Banda Bassotti (12th Apr. @ Villaggio Globale Rome)The Street Beat Festival featuring Betagarri, Brahman, Banda Bassotti and Obrint Pas (11th Apr. @ Villaggio Globale Rome)The Street Beat Festival featuring Capdown, Doberman and Banda Bassotti (28th Mar. @ Centro Social Padova)The Street Beat Festival featuring Banda Bassotti, Capdown and Doberman (27th Mar. @ Centro Social Bologna)The Street Beat Festival featuring Capdown, Doberman and Banda Bassotti (26th Mar. @ Auditorium Flogin Firenze)Sleep Walker (21st Mar. @ the Room, Shibuya)Katteni Shiyagare (20th Mar. @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)Johnny Marr & The Healers (1st Mar. @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)The Parkinsons (20th Feb. @ Kyoto Takutaku)Prince Buster with the Determinations with DJ Gaz Mayall (10th Feb. @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)The Parkinsons, WAKUSEI (6th Feb. @ Juso Fandango)Sleep Walker (28th Jan. @ Yokohama Motion Blue)The Parkinsons, LOLITA NO.18, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ZARIGANI5, WAKUSEI (27th Jan. @ Sapporo Bessie Hall)The Parkinsons, LOLITA NO.18, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ZARIGANI5, WAKUSEI (27th Jan. @ Sapporo Bessie Hall) - English versionThe Parkinsons, DEFLEXION, ZARIGANI5, Accel Tribe, The Johnny Boys (26th Jan. @ Asahikawa Casino Drive)The Parkinsons, Onion Bomb, Accel Tribe, etc (25th Jan. @ Obihiro Rest)The Parkinsons, Quack, etc (24th Jan. @ Kitami Yuyakematsuri)Sleep Walker (28th Jan. @ Yokohama Motion Blue)JAG : for kids left behind in a battle field (17th Jan. @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)-->more in 2002 |