Information/Write-up
Recorded at Manta Sound Studios in Toronto, Let’s Put It All Together finds Jackie Mittoo at a mature phase in his career—firmly rooted in Canada but still carrying the unmistakable rhythms, instincts, and sensibilities of his Jamaican origins. Released through the Canadian Talent Library—a government-supported initiative designed to promote Canadian content on radio and in public institutions—the album captures Mittoo working in a highly professional studio setting alongside some of the country’s top jazz, soul, and reggae musicians.
While best known for his pioneering work as musical director at Studio One in Jamaica—where he helped shape ska, rocksteady, and early reggae—Mittoo had by the mid-1970s become a key figure in Toronto’s growing Caribbean music scene. He played a central role in the city’s emerging reggae movement, regularly collaborating with musicians like Wayne McGhie, Carl Harvey, Joe Isaacs, and others who brought Jamaican sounds to Canadian audiences.
Let’s Put It All Together is an entirely instrumental album, blending Mittoo’s laid-back keyboard stylings with orchestrated flourishes provided by a “Sweetening Section” under the direction of Rick Wilkins. The orchestral textures—featuring strings, woodwinds, and brass—reflect a uniquely Canadian take on Mittoo’s music: polished, cinematic, and understated, but rich with musical depth. The result is a refined fusion of reggae rhythm and jazz-influenced arrangement.
Crucially, the album features an all-star lineup of Canadian jazz heavyweights, including:
Moe Koffman – iconic flutist and saxophonist, known for “Swinging Shepherd Blues” and decades of CBC work
Eugene Amaro – longtime reedman for Rob McConnell and others
Rob McConnell – leader of The Boss Brass, and one of Canada’s foremost trombonists
Guido Basso – jazz trumpet and flugelhorn virtuoso, widely heard in Canadian TV, studio, and stage music
Rick Wilkins – Juno-winning arranger and composer, whose work shaped a generation of Canadian broadcast sound
Their inclusion not only elevates the musical sophistication of the album, but also speaks to the level of respect Mittoo commanded in the Toronto music community. These were not anonymous session players—they were some of the most respected musicians in the country, and they brought their best to this project.
The album includes both original compositions and instrumental interpretations of contemporary soul and pop songs, presented with grace and restraint. Mittoo’s approach is always melodic and groove-oriented, prioritizing feel over flash. His keyboard lines, while subtle, serve as the anchor for the entire record.
Importantly, this restored version of Let’s Put It All Together was sourced from a sealed original vinyl copy, ensuring a crisp, full-bodied sound. The audio quality captures the warmth of the instrumentation and the studio finesse of the session—bringing to life one of Mittoo’s most polished and overlooked works.
Though not widely known outside of Canada at the time of its release, Let’s Put It All Together has since become an important document of Jackie Mittoo’s Toronto years. It captures his efforts to integrate Jamaican musical language into new cultural and institutional contexts, and serves as a testament to the deep cross-pollination between Caribbean and Canadian music during the 1970s.
-Robert Williston
Reggae Rhythm Section:
Jackie Mittoo: keyboards, leader
Wayne McGhie: guitar
Carl Harvey: guitar
Brian Atkinson: bass
Joe Isaacs: drums
Everton Paul: drums
Earl Leeder: drums
Dick Smith: percussion effects
Sweetening Section:
Rick Wilkins: leader
Moe Koffman: flute, saxophone
Eugene Amaro: flute, saxophone
Rob McConnell: trombone
Guido Basso: trumpet
Walter Babiak: strings
Albert Pratz: strings
Joe Sera: strings
Frank Fusco: strings
Maurice Solway: strings
Stanley Kolt: strings
Peter Schenkman: strings
Berul Sugarman: strings
Arranged by Jackie Mittoo (reggae rhythm section); and Rick Wilkins (Sweetening Section)
Engineered amd mixed by Andy Hermant, assisted by Sy Potma and Gary Gray
Recorded at Manta Sound Studios, Toronto, Ontario
Repertoire by Arthur Collins and Sheila Conner
Executive producer: Mal Thompson
Album coordination/design by Allan Matthews and Bruce Cole
Photography by BIC
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