We have a special article on this edition. An article we wrote from the insight of Samuel Walukouw that he shared with us. Sam (his first name) is an Indonesian youth who now lives in Boston – United States of America. He is known as the frontman and founder of the fascinating reggae unit, Java Jukebox. Between the promotional schedule of Java Jukebox’ new single “Coming For You”, he shared his time to meet us at a coffee shop in South Jakarta and talk about his musical trip in Jamaica that he just did. 

He told us that 2017 was a special year for him. With Sagar Gowda (bass player from Java Jukebox), he first visited the epicentre of mento music, ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub and the other Jamaican sound nexus. Getting to know more about Jamaican music and culture, which is the foundation of the ‘Java Jukebox’ is the background of his journey.

Sam and Sagar’s relation to Maroghini (percussionist for legendary singer Jimmy Cliff) and one of the close friends to  legendary drummer and producer, Sly Dunbar (Sly & Robbie) is the very first chapter to this “mission.” Sam states that the connection with Maroghini goes beyond getting a guide to exploring Kingston. Maroghini’s musical background and long experience became new knowledge about reggae music for them.

Sam and Sagar’s trip in Jamaica also included a visit to historical places, one of which – and of course – is 56 Hope Road, Kingston, the private residence of Bob Marley and his legendary Tuff Gong studio. The building where the shooting incident happened to him on December 3, 1976. Sam added that he still can see the bullet marks on the walls on this now a museum building. It was also here that Sam and Sagar met the percussion virtuoso, Bongo Herman (The Abyssinians, The Congos, Revolutionaries, Roots Radics, Mikey Dread, U-Roy, Beenie Man, Sizzla, Mutabaruka and he was also actor who involved in the influential film; “Rockers”) .

Another historical spot Sam and Sagar did not miss is the famous Orange Street. A neighbourhood which gave birth to various record shops and musical imprints that shaped the Jamaican music we know now.  Some of those influential institutions are Sir Clement “Coxsone” Dodd’s Studio One Records, Prince Buster’s Record Shack and the Upsetter Record Shop and Label of a very important figure, Lee “Scratch” Perry. While they’re here, they also did not miss a visit to Rockers International, owned by the most influential and magical melodica player, Augustus Pablo. Rockers International, is the only institution between those names above that still survives to this day (now run by Addis Pablo the son of a legend who also follows the path of his father as a melodica player).

Marcus Mosiah Garvey and Rastafarian are major elements that have inspired many musical works from Jamaica. Sam recounted his journey and underlined their visit to the important site that related to these. They had the opportunity to visit the birthplace of one of the leaders of the Rastafari movement. Garvey’s “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots” quotes indeed attached to our guest this time. Which eventually led them to Pinnacle, a place where the Rastafarian movement started by Leonard Howell began. Sam also shared an enthralling experience at this place, where they met a rastafari named Constantine who suddenly came from the bushes around the Pinnacle vicinity. Constantine tells them that Jah (rastafari) has called him to look after Pinnacle and he will spend the rest of his life in this place.

Sam then tells of his musical trip with Sagar further. This time it’s about Kumina. The Music brought by Congolese – Central African descent in Jamaica. A music that had a big influential part on the Nyabinghi rhythm, which later led to the birth of Ska, rocksteady, reggae and so on. They admitted to be so lucky because their visit coincided with a Kumina ceremony, which of course they immediately went to. Even though at that time they planned to watch the performance of a very talented female reggae soloist, Lila Ike.

The next moment, Sam and Sagar came to one of the popular studios in Kingston, Penthouse Studio. They saw firsthand when another legend, Tarrus Riley was practising in the Studio founded by one of the reggae producers in the golden age of the digital era in 1987, Donovan Germain. Here they get another blessing, to meet a veteran saxophonist, Dean Fraser. 

Fast forward to next 5 years later, Samuel Walukouw returned to Jamaica. On March 7, 2022. This time, his agenda was to record 1 track for the Java Jukebox and to meet his mentor, Maroghini. Upon arrival, he went straight to the studio with Maroghini. There he met Desi Jones, the former drummer for a reggae group from St. Mary – Jamaica, Chalice.

Apart from recording, Sam travelled around. This time, Maroghini invited him to visit Leggo Studio, a studio built and managed by Trevor “Leggo” Douglas. Leggo is one of the important figures behind the career of Dennis Brown and Big Youth. Together with Gregory Isaacs, he once ran the record shop called Cash & Carry Record Shop. In this studio, Sam had a golden opportunity to record his vocal track with a riddim composed by Trevor Douglas himself. After that, Sam and Maroghini dropped by and visited Edna Manley College, where Maroghini teaches music. Some of the bands that came from this university were Raging Fyah and EarthKry.

To conclude his music trip journal, Samuel Walukouw (Java Jukebox) summarised: “Music is everywhere there! Music is in Jamaican blood!” He again told us that he learned many things there, the culture, the musical insight from distribution to production techniques and of course the lessons to keep his musical fire On.

(Reporter: Keyko, Editor&Translation: Sam)