What it is, what it ain't

>> The New York Ska Jazz Ensemble set the record straight

by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

There's incessant squawking going on as to exactly what constitutes jazz, Latin and ska music. If anyone's got a right to an opinion on the matter, it's the guys in the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble, a crack cream-of-the-crop commando unit who'll make you wonder why you ever bah-humbugged any of the three styles they mix, shake and spill all over the dancefloor:

What ska is: "Contemporary ska is often very different from the Jamaican original, created in the late '50s and early '60s out of a blend of American R&B and jazz, Trinidadian calypso, Afro-Cuban and native Jamaican mento. The defining element is the 'skank,' a constant upbeat rhythm played on the guitar and/or keyboards. Jamaican ska is relatively laid-back and jazzy; second- and third-wave ska is faster and more edgy, closer in spirit (and sometimes sound) to punk rock."

What ska ain't: "Some would say that Jamaican ska is the only true ska, but I think that's unnecessarily limiting. As long as a band is aware of the music's roots, and can be seen as an extension of the tradition, I think they can be considered a 'ska' band. That said, though, some music passed off as ska seems to be more or less punk rock with horns. There needs to be some attempt to come to terms with the rhythms and sounds created by the Skatalites and others in the '60s."--Rick Faulkner (trombone)

What jazz is: "Jazz is freedom. It's improvisation mixed with soul and creativity. Jazz is dance music (especially NY Ska Jazz style). Jazz is a music steeped in a rich musical heritage. Jazz is Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Bird, Dexter, Sonny, Coltrane, Cannonball, Ornette and more. Jazz is the highest level of improvisational music a musician can strive for. At its best, it's primordial and intuitive."

What jazz ain't: "Jazz is not flaccid. Jazz is not confining. The best jazz is not overly intellectualized. Jazz is music musicians play not for money but for love of the art. Jazz is not something you can learn to play overnight. Jazz--and music in general--is not black or white. It's the universal language."--"Rock Steady" Freddy Reiter (saxophone)

What Latin is: "In general, it's the music of Latin America; this includes Brazilian samba and bossa nova, Argentine tango, Dominican merengue and bachata, Puerto Rican bomba and plena and a host of lesser-known sounds. About the only thing these various styles have in common is the Spanish (or Portuguese) language and a mix of Spanish and African or Native American musical elements. The best-known strand is Afro-Cuban music; the mambo, cha-cha, rumba and salsa. It's generally very 'hot' rhythmically, with lots of percussion and interlocking rhythmic layers. It's bold and brassy, often featuring large horn sections and bands of 15 to 20 pieces."

What Latin ain't: "Latin music is not just a matter of having lots of percussion and brass. Afro-Cuban music is a very specific tradition; the rhythms are very carefully organized according to clear rules and guidelines. This is not always understood by musicians trying to play Latin styles--some American versions end up sounding like sad imitations of the real thing. Also, not all Caribbean music is Latin: calypso, Haitian music and even reggae sometimes wind up being called Latin, but they're not."--Rick Faulkner

At Le Swimming on Saturday, May 15, 10pm, $5