Jul 21, 2015 Western Standard Time CD release party at Levitt Pavilion
It was a good omen to arrive at Levitt Pavilion with my family only 45 minutes before showtime yet snag a spot right in front of the stage. And it was doubly good to see my friend Fredo Ortiz approaching, since he was going to be adding Latin percussion to the Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra’s CD release show that night.
The group is a real labor of love, spearheaded by Eitan Avineri, who has played or recorded with third-wave ska purists such as Joey Altruda, Chris Murray, Tim Armstrong, and members of The Aggrolites–not to mention originals like Derrick Morgan, Phyllis Dillon, and Prince Buster himself.
But Avineri’s masterpiece is the Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra. How hard is it to get any band together, let alone more than 20 world-class horn players? There were rock-steady grooves and a never-ending supply of solos at the big band show paying tribute to the songs of the Skatalites. The dancing began on the corner to the right side of the stage but inevitably surrounded it by the time the show was halfway over.
I wish I could tell you the sections and soloists (needed a program, as if we were at a ballgame) but the vocalists who stepped up for a few songs were stellar: Angelo Moore from Fishbone, Alex Desert from Hepcat, Chris Murray. The late Aaron Owens from Hepcat was given a heartfelt tribute as well as Don Drummond.
Besides eenjoying a free outdoor concert with amazing traditional Jamaican music on a gorgeous evening in Pasadena that could be enjoyed by my wife and daughter, sister and nieces, and even my mom, it was very cool to see musicians playing the songs they love totally oblivious to the prevailing tastes or trends in the music industry. The hillside was packed but it felt like nothing friends and family dancing in the moonlight.
There was some business mixed with the pleasure. The emcee, who was from Jamaica, urged the audience to buy the new CD to support the passion project that Averini sunk $20 thousand of his own money into, not to mention all the time and skills donated out of mutual love for the music and friendship. I had already bought one before the show started. Somebody’s got to support the supporters, and I’ll see you at the next show.
Check out Western Standard Time at wstska.com and the full calendar of free concerts at the Levitt Pavilions (Pasadena and Macarthur Park) listed at levittpavilions.org. And please follow Imprint on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.