JKriv
By: Dream Chimney
The following interview was conducted on July 18, 2024
We mostly know JKriv for the label Razor-N-Tape that he co-founded with Brooklyn
buddy Aaron Dae, but he has a
varied musical history that includes conservatory Jazz training, decades of producing, and touring as a live
musician with bands like Escort.
The Leisure Group Recordings imprint was started by Jason as a platform for an array of musical
choices that don’t
sit inside a traditional box. Kicking off with an unexpected Balearic musical statement by the label head inspired
by Larry Levan, for the second release on LGR, JKriv delves
further back into his archive for a pair of tracks
that began over a decade earlier with his Tortured Soul bandmate, the late keyboardist
Ethan White. Recently
revived, it seemed like the right time to show the tracks the light.
We asked JKriv to talk us through some of his favourite dub reggae cuts on the week of his
Kings of High Speed
release.
Linton Kwesi Johnson - Funny Dub
Probably the first dub record I ever came across as a teenager was a 2CD collection of LKJ's tunes with the dubs on the 2nd disc. I loved his smooth spoken poetry over these stone cold grooves, and the dubs like this were a completely new and exciting sonic experience for me.
Augustus Pablo - Stop Them Jah
This seminal record was on repeat in the Tortured Soul van back in the day and was one of the biggest inspirations for mine and Ethan White's dub project Kings of High Speed. This is the dub prototype, 'nuff said.
B.B. Seaton - The People's Dub
A 4/4 pulsing kick drum and bass hold down this groovy dub of the BB Seaton classic -Voice of the People.” Love the juxtaposition between super tight rhythm section work and absolute dub soup of reverb-drenched vocals and horns.
Burning Spear - Workshop
From Garvey's Ghost, the full dub album of the legendary Marcus Garvey LP. From the false start at the beginning, to the echoed-out horn and guitar work, the relentless drum & bass groove, this tune is just a legend of dub production.
The Congoes - Congo Man Chant
The dark and brooding side of Lee Scratch Perry in full form on this one that just keeps rolling. Love the blend of primitive drum machine sounds with organic instrumentation, and the hypnotic bass and guitar pattern.
Jennifer Lara - Woman Of The Ghetto (Sidewalk Doctor & Jackie Mittoo Version)
I'm somewhat obsessed with Jennifer Lara and the way she delivers a cover tune. The B-side of this Marlena Shaw is vintage Sidewalk Doctor dub action with Jackie Mittoo’s organ grinding and shimmering, bouncy vocal dubs, and surprising drum drops.
Visti & Meyland - Major Tom
I came across this incredible tune on an Idjut Boys’ tribute to David Bowie soon after his death and had to immediately track down a copy. Just a perfect revision of this ubiquitous classic, with acoustic guitar and vocal samples from the original tune, a lot of complementary production, and healthy helping of dub.
Lloyd Chalmers - Dreadful Piano
Much less well known than the Ken Booth version, Lloyd Chalmers’ cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” is arguably much groovier and this B-side version is a trippy dub take with just enough of the song still there to keep the dance floor swooning. I’ve ended many a set with this one.
Black Uhuru - Dub of Eglington
A sneaky 10” B-side from a” single off Black Uhuru’s “Chill Out” LP, this is one sort of a dub march that just keeps pushing forward, driven by Robbie Shakespeare’s signature bass and dripping with tasty dubby elements.
Khruangbin - Zionsville (Vuelo Remix)
A blissful and dubby track to begin with, the Vuelo mix really opens up a cavern of space and lets the gorgeous guitar work breathe, and reverberate out, while the beat and bass hold steady. This mix dropped on a limited white label pressing of Khruangbin remixes in 2016, and goes for quite a bit of $ these days.
Check out the latest release from JKriv.