Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s. It combines elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. Characterized by its upbeat tempo and distinctive offbeat guitar or piano rhythms, ska often features brass instruments like trumpets and trombones, creating a lively and energetic sound. The genre evolved through several waves, with the first wave in the 1960s leading to the development of rocksteady and reggae. The second wave, known as the 2 Tone movement in the late 1970s and early 1980s, brought ska to the UK, blending it with punk rock influences.