V/A - Jamaica to Toronto: Soul, Funk & Reggae 1967 - 1974

With the changing seasons comes changing moods. Here’s a nice reprise from the heavy onslaught of Funk and it begins with a brief history lesson. In 1962 the Government of Canada abolished its racist immigration policy and in 1967, the Federal Government of Canada revised the Immigration Act streamlining the system and beginning to more speedily process the backlog of applicants. As a result, Canada received around 225 000 to 275 000 new immigrants annually – many of whom brought with them their rich cultural traditions. At the time, Ike (Jo-Jo) Bennett – a Kingston-cum-Toronto native - was assembling a house band for the West Indian Federation Club located on Brunswick Avenue. With the “Third Wave” of Canadian immigration in full effect, Bennett recruited the likes of Alton Ellis, Lloyd Delpratt and Jackie Mittoo along with McGhie from Jamaica to play with him. The band played at the WIF and served as the cornerstone from which West-Indian culture in Toronto would grow.

Thus begun Toronto Funk and as they say, the rest is history – which I will leave for you to uncover. This album was compiled by Canadian artist and curator Sipreano and the great folks at Light In The Attic Records in Seattle. It features 16 tracks by 12 different artists – each bringing their own unique blend of funk, soul and reggae. For an interesting article about the history of West-Indian Torontonian culture, check this out.

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