London, England – Little Axe’s new album,
Stone Cold Ohio, was released last Monday on Real World Records in the UK.
Stone Cold Ohio references Skip’s home state. “Back to my roots. A reality
check,” he says. Skip was born in Dayton, Ohio, one of the great funk breeding
grounds – Wilson Pickett , the Ohio Players, The Falcons etc. There he learned
blues guitar from his father, and by the age of 10 was already playing jazz
professionally. By 12, his focus had shifted to doo-wop, and he also played in a
gospel quartet. The name Little Axe is both a tribute to the Bob Marley/Wailers’
song “Small Axe” and also to Wilbur “Little Ax” Broadnax of the Spirit of
Memphis gospel quartet. Gospel plays a big part on ‘…Ohio’, and Skip sums the
album up as “Blues and spirituality”.
Produced by Adrian Sherwood, Stone Cold Ohio is Skip’s second album on Real World Records and features many guest artists including the legendary Doug Wimbish and Keith Le Blanc.
Skip made his name as an integral part of the Sugar Hill house band playing on the most influential early rap classics like ‘Rapper’s Delight’, ‘The Message’ and ‘White Lines’ and as part of Adrian Sherwood’s On-U Sound crew he has made some of the most adventurous and praised UK music of the last 20 years.
The Real World Records site features an exclusive video where Skip, Adrian, Doug and Keith talk about Stone Cold Ohio and play live at our Summer Party.
Buy Stone Cold Ohio.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central