By GEORGE SCHNEIDER
Staff Writer
 

So let me give you a definition of ska: ska is dance music, a mix of reggae, punk and jazz. Ska actually began in the 1960s in Jamaica as dance music, moving on quickly to the UK in the `70s. Over the years it grew and evolved into the ska we know currently.

Today, ska is fast paced dance music with guitar, bass, drums, horns, and sometimes keyboard. It ranges from hard punk-like music (a.k.a. skacore) to a jazz type ska (usually found with older ska bands). Bands you've probably heard of, Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Sublime are borderline ska. If you like what you've heard from them, you should definately check out ska.

How do you find ska? Due to ska's increasing popularity, many music stores have begun to give ska its own section in the store. If not, most any band beginning with "ska" is probably a ska band, such as The Skatalites (they were there at the beginning), Skavoovie & the Epitones, Shankin Pickle and other bands with similar names. By no means do the majority of ska bands begin with "ska" though, there are other great bands--The Toasters (my personal favorite), Let's Go Bowling, Reel Big Fish, and Allstonians.

It is also possible to sample many ska bands on one CD. Such an album, found in the ska section, features at least a dozen ska bands. One such compilation is called SKAnadalous. Some of the tunes off SKAndalous CD were the first ska songs I've ever heard. The Toasters do a killer rendition of Secret Agent Man.

A great place to sample some ska is on the Internet. Just search for ska and you'll turn up hundreds of entries. One good place to start is at the Moon Ska Records homepage at http://www.moonska.com/.

Based in New York City, Moon Ska Records is home to many popular ska bands. The company frequently holds ska showcases in New York, one of which is now touring the country.

The showcase will appear in Portland on October 17, featuring Let's Go Bowling, Easy Big Fella, Skavoovie & the Epitones, Isaac Green & The Skalars and Spring Heeled Jack.

I am still in the process of learning about ska, and I love what I've heard so far. If this is your first time reading about ska I strongly suggest you check it out. There are countless sound bites on the Web and a whole genre of music out there for your listening pleasure.