Search - Various Artists :: Souvenir of Jamaica

Hidden Mento Gem

Generoso Fierro | Cambridge, MA | 02/21/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Despite the packaging(no liner notes or artist names) this is a good collection of original Jamaican Mento tracks. Pre-dating ska, mento is a combination of Jamaican folk songs, African hand drumming and other island rhythms. The songs usually feature banjo, bongos, pan whistles, vocals and sometimes saxophone. This collection was probably made as a hotel gift shop item has amazingly good sound on the tracks which appear to be mastered from records and not from tapes."