Year two in Side Door Records recording studio, Rhythm Express finds their community voice penning six of the twelve songs on Kingston Blues. Title track Kingston Blues is a ska rhythm with an elongated blues built in, the handiwork of Jesse “Dubmatix” King. This is where the communal side of the Express kicks in. Bill King steps back in time and scripts horn lines that could easily reside in the vocabulary of such Jamaican bands, the Skatalites. Everton and Liza Paul scripted lyrics that speak of the landscape elder Paul traveled in his youth; the Kingston clubs, neighborhoods, recording studios and celebrates those masters who paved the way. Vocalist Maiko Watson gives a laid-back read keeping the melody true to the times - in the spirit of women who popularized reggae and ska. The covers are there – Solomon Burke’s “Cry to Me” featuring guest artist Jon Knight of the band Soulstack and Julian Taylor’s roots reggae interpretation of Jimmy Cliff’s “Many Rivers to Cross.” Band mainstays – Michael Dunston scores with an honest remake of Aaron Neville’s classic – “Hercules” and James Fountain’s Northern Soul hit, “Seven Day Lover.” Ammoye Evans revives Vivian Lee’s Brooklyn New York based underground hit, “Hard Driver” and Maiko Watson sailed into the holidays with a New Orleans blues classic and seasonal special by guitar giant Sonny Landreth – “Got to Get You Under My Tree.” The band is now firm, and front line singers have settled in after the departure of two ground floor members, Selena Evangeline and Gavin Hope. The Express follows the same blueprint from year one; release a single a month. Each song gets special attention and time to find an international audience courtesy Radiodirectx.com.