Edward II

The dance rhythms of the Caribbean are blended with tradition-rooted English country dance tunes by Edward II. According to Dirty Linen, &quot;the multi-ethnic band takes that transcontinental journey one step further by mixing the heartbeat of jamaican reggae and ska with the squeezebox sounds of English traditional dance music. The result is a unique, invigorating, blend.&quot; Formed in London&#39;s Notting Hill district in 1985, the group was initially called, Edward II &amp; the Red Hot Polkas.&quot; Their 1986 debut album, Two Step Heaven, was a mostly instrumental effort produced by British dub producer, the <a href="spotify:artist:3hbnUwHvxyFxeJ9veCzOE7" data-name="Mad Professor">Mad Professor</a>, and included such tongue-in-jowl ditties as &quot;Bjorn Again Polka&quot; and the title track. By the time that they released, Zest, on its own label, in 1996, the group had shortened its name and increasingly incorporated reggae-flavored original tunes. Edward II&#39;s 1998 album, This Way Up, included some pure reggae tunes, including &quot;Don&#39;t Let the Fire Go Out,&quot; but the album&#39;s best moments remained the more-culturally blended songs. Edward II features Glen LaTouche (vocals), Tee Carthy (bass), Alton Zebby (drums), <a href="spotify:artist:3awlnSGN8GgymFe0bvV5Wh" data-name="Simon Care">Simon Care</a> (melodeon), Gavin Sharp (sax and keyboards), John Hart (trombone and guitar) and Jon Moore (guitar and fiddle). ~ Craig Harris, Rovi