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Originally released by Island Records in 1977, Man from Wareika is the landmark album by Jamaican trombonist Rico Rodriguez. Blending roots reggae with jazz improvisation and the melodic heritage of ska, the record gave Rico the freedom to shape an entire album around his own compositions, arrangements and unmistakable instrumental voice.
After leaving Jamaica for Britain in 1961, Rico became an important link between the original Kingston ska scene and the developing British reggae movement. For Man from Wareika, he returned to Jamaica and recorded with an exceptional group of musicians that included drummer Sly Dunbar, bassist Robbie Shakespeare, guitarist and producer Karl Pitterson, keyboardists Ansell Collins, Touter Harvey and Tarzan Nelson, and leading Jamaican horn players.
Rico’s warm, expressive trombone remains at the centre of the album, moving effortlessly between memorable melodies and freer jazz-inspired passages. The rhythm section supplies the deep, spacious pulse of mid-1970s roots reggae, while the carefully arranged brass and woodwind parts give the music an unusually rich and sophisticated character.
“This Day” introduces the album with a graceful horn theme and relaxed rhythm, followed by the flowing instrumental conversation of “Ramble.” “Lumumba” combines a strong African influence with an elegantly structured melody, while “Africa” adds flute, backing vocals and a more expansive studio arrangement.
The second side opens with the evocative title track before moving through the meditative “Rasta” and the gently ascending melody of “Over the Mountain.” “Gunga Din” explores the album’s jazzier side, while “Dial Africa” closes the record with an infectious combination of roots rhythm and vibrant horn interplay.
Widely regarded as a classic of instrumental reggae, Man from Wareika also became the only roots-reggae album issued by Blue Note Records in the United States. This Klimt edition presents the complete original album on limited gold-coloured vinyl.
Track listing:
Side A
A1. This Day – 4:14
A2. Ramble – 4:11
A3. Lumumba – 4:01
A4. Africa – 4:36
Side B
B1. Man from Wareika – 3:16
B2. Rasta – 3:38
B3. Over the Mountain – 3:14
B4. Gunga Din – 3:53
B5. Dial Africa – 3:22
