Modern Artists Keeping Mento Alive

While mento and ska are not as dominant in Jamaica’s mainstream music scene today, several modern artists and bands are keeping these genres alive—either by preserving their traditional sound or fusing them with contemporary influences.

1. The Jolly Boys
   • One of the most well-known contemporary mento bands, The Jolly Boys have been active since the 1940s but gained renewed international fame in the 2010s.
   • They modernized mento by covering pop and rock songs with a mento twist, such as their version of Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab.”
   • Their 2010 album Great Expectation introduced mento to younger audiences worldwide.
2. Floyd Lloyd & The Potato 5
   • Floyd Lloyd, who passed away in 2018, was a key figure in preserving mento and early ska music.
   • He worked with international ska and reggae bands to keep Jamaica’s folk sounds alive.
3. Jamaica Folk Singers
   • This group keeps Jamaica’s traditional folk music, including mento, alive through performances and recordings.
   • They emphasize the cultural and historical roots of mento and other traditional sounds.
4. Brushy One String
   • While not strictly a mento artist, Brushy One String plays raw, acoustic Jamaican folk music with heavy mento influences.
   • His minimalist style, using just one string on his guitar, echoes the simplicity of early mento.

Modern Artists Keeping Ska Alive

1. The Skatalites (Reformed Band)
   • While many original members have passed, The Skatalites continue performing with new members.
   • They still tour globally, keeping ska’s original sound alive.
2. Derrick Harriott & The Crystalites
   • Though a veteran of rocksteady and reggae, Harriott and his band continue to produce music with strong ska influences.
3. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (Japan)
   • A non-Jamaican band, but they are one of the most successful modern ska bands in the world and often collaborate with Jamaican artists.
   • They blend traditional ska with jazz, rock, and even electronic music.
4. David Hillyard & The Rocksteady 7
   • An American band, but with deep Jamaican influences, they mix traditional ska, rocksteady, and jazz.
   • Hillyard has worked with Jamaican legends and keeps the sound authentic.
5. The Busters (Germany) & Los Fabulosos Cadillacs (Argentina)
   • These international bands show how Jamaican ska has influenced global music.
   • Both blend traditional ska with punk, reggae, and other contemporary sounds.
6. Lorna Bennet & Ska Nation Band
   • Lorna Bennet, best known for her reggae hit “Breakfast in Bed,” has been involved in projects reviving ska music.
   • Ska Nation Band, based in Europe but influenced by Jamaican sounds, collaborates with Jamaican artists.
7. The Ska Vengers (India)
   • Another international group heavily inspired by Jamaican ska.
   • They mix ska with funk, reggae, and jazz, proving ska’s global impact.

New Fusion Sounds: Mento & Ska in Modern Jamaican Music

While ska and mento are not as mainstream in Jamaica today, their rhythms and influences can still be found in modern genres like reggae, dancehall, and even Afrobeats.

• Protoje & Chronixx – While primarily reggae artists, they sometimes incorporate ska rhythms into their music.
• Shaggy & Sting (44/876 Album) – Their collaborative album paid tribute to early Jamaican sounds, including ska.
• Nomaddz – This Jamaican band blends dub poetry, ska, and reggae, keeping elements of older genres alive in modern ways.
• Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers – Though reggae-based, they’ve experimented with ska and mento elements in their music.