(L: Horsey smiles for the camera and chases out the British; R: portrait
of a rocker. Photos by Carter Van Pelt)
I had the pleasure of visiting the great Horsemouth Wallace at his Kitson
Town yard on October 4, 1998. We conducted the mother-of-all-Horsemouth
interviews (over 2 hours), which will be posted here when it's transcribed.
After the interview, he let me record a 35-minute drum clinic, during which
he played many of his most important rhythms, including "Nanny Goat,"
"Throw Mi Corn," "Marcus Garvery," and "Slavery
Days." He also offered a rhythm tour of Jonkanoo, Kumina, Nyabinghi,
Ska (uptown & downtown), Rock Steady, and of course Reggae, with everything
from flying cymbals to rockers and beyond. It was well wicked -- trust me
mon.