Ernest Ranglin
Ernest Ranglin Manchester, Jamaica | |
---|---|
Genres | |
Instrument(s) | Guitar |
Years active | 1947–present |
Labels |
Ernest Ranglin OJ OD (born 19 June 1932)[1] is a Jamaican guitarist and composer who established his career while working as a session guitarist and music director for various Jamaican record labels including Studio One and Island Records. Ranglin played guitar on many early ska recordings and helped create the rhythmic guitar style that defined the form. Ranglin has worked with Theophilus Beckford, Jimmy Cliff, Monty Alexander, Prince Buster, the Skatalites, Bob Marley and the Eric Deans Orchestra. He is noted for a chordal and rhythmic approach that blends jazz, mento and reggae with percussive guitar solos incorporating rhythm 'n' blues and jazz inflections.[2]
Early life
Ernest Ranglin was born in
Career
During the 1950s, Ranglin played guitar on calypso and mento releases, some of which were recorded for the tourist market. The 1958 album The Wrigglers Sing Calypso at the Arawak is representative of the type of calypso floor show that Jamaican bands performed at hotels (some of the tracks from the original album were included on the 2010 CD release Jamaica - Mento 1951-1958).
1960s
In 1962, the
In 1964, Ranglin was in London with Blackwell, who was enquiring if it would be possible for Ranglin to play at
1970s to present
In 1973, Ranglin was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government for his contribution to music.[1] Ranglin frequently recorded Latin/Caribbean-infused jazz with Monty Alexander during this period, most notably the album Rass! (1974). Ranglin also toured with Jimmy Cliff in the dual role of music director/guitarist, which resulted in the 1976 album release In Concert: The Best of Jimmy Cliff.[15] Ranglin was the lead guitarist on the Lee "Scratch" Perry recording sessions at Black Ark Studios for the Heart of the Congos (1977) album by the Congos.[16][17]
In 1982, he moved to
Ranglin was honoured with the Order of Jamaica in the 2021 National Honours and Awards on Jamaica’s 59th Anniversary of Independence.[27]
In 2021 and 2022, he recorded the album Two Colors with saxophonist/producer Dean Fraser, which was released in May 2022.[28]
Discography
As leader
- Wranglin (Island, 1964)
- Reflections (Island, 1964)
- Guitar in Ernest (RCA Victor, 1965)
- The Exciting Ranglin (RCA Victor, 1966)
- A Mod a Mod Ranglin (Federal, 1966)
- Ranglin Presents The Zodiacs (Federal, 1966)
- Boss Reggae (FRM, 1969)
- Mr. Ernie Ranglin with Soul (Dub Store, 1969)
- Softly with Ranglin (Twilight, 1969)
- Ranglypso (MPS, 1976)
- Ranglin Roots (Aquarius, 1976)
- Monty Alexander/Ernest Ranglin (MPS, 1981)
- From Kingston JA to Miami USA (Vista Sounds, 1983)
- Rum Raisin (RRR, 1985)
- We Want to Party (Rooney, 1989)
- True Blue (Rooney, 1989)
- The Pensive Ranglin (Kinlin, 1993)
- Play the Time Away (Grove Music, 1995)
- Below the Bassline (Island, 1996)
- Tribute to a Legend (Kariang, 1997)
- Memories of Barber Mack (Island, 1997)
- Soul D'Ern (Jazz House, 1997)
- In Search of the Lost Riddim (Palm Pictures, 1998)
- E.B.@Noon (Tropic, 1999)
- Modern Answers to Old Problems (Telarc, 2000)
- Gotcha! (Telarc, 2001)
- Alextown (Palm Pictures, 2005)
- Surfin (Tropic, 2005)
- Order of Distinction (Milk River Music, 2009)
- Avila Featuring Ernest Ranglin (Avila Street, 2012)
- Bless Up (Avila Street, 2014)
- Jazz Jamaica (Federal, 2014)
- Two Colors (Not On Label, 2022)
As sideman
With Monty Alexander
- Rass! (MPS, 1974)
- Love and Sunshine (MPS, 1975)
- Monty Strikes Again (MPS, 1976)
- Jamento (Pablo, 1978)
- Cobilimbo (MPS, 1978)
- Monty Alexander - Ernest Ranglin (MPS, 1981)
- Many Rivers to Cross (MELDAC, 1995)
- Yard Movement (Island, 1996)
- Rocksteady (Telarc, 2004)
With Floyd Lloyd
- Tear It Up (Tropic, 1997)
- Village Soul (Tropic, 1997)
- Mango Blues (Tropic, 1997)
- Our World (Tropic, 1999)
- Believer (Tropic, 2002)
- Mind Over Matter (Tropic, 2004)
With Bunny Wailer
- Roots Radics Rockers Reggae (Shanachie, 1983)
- Crucial! Roots Classics (Shanachie, 1994)
- Communication (Solomonic, 2000)
With others
- Sing(Decca, 2012)
- Beenie Man, Art and Life (Virgin, 2000)
- Ken Boothe, Groove to the Beat (Jamaican Gold, 1999)
- Lloyd Brevett, The Legendary Skatalites (Jam Sounds, 1976)
- Cedric Brooks, United Africa (Water Lily, 1978)
- Dennis Brown, Light My Fire (Heartbeat, 1994)
- Jimmy Buffett, Take the Weather with You (RCA, 2006)
- Jimmy Cliff, Give Thankx (Warner Bros., 1978)
- Jimmy Cliff, I Am the Living (WEA, 1980)
- The Congos, Heart of the Congos (Black Art, 1977)
- The Congos, Congo Ashanti (Congo Ashanty, 1979)
- Alton Ellis, Alton Ellis Sings, the Heptones Harmonise (Jet Star, 1999)
- Alton Ellis, Soul of a Man (All Tone, 2003)
- George Faith, To Be a Lover (Black Swan, 1977)
- Sharon Forrester, Red Rose (Internal Affairs, 1995)
- Winston Francis, Mr Fix It & California Dreaming (Studio One, 1998)
- Earl George, Loving Something (Hit, 1978)
- Gladiators, Dreadlocks the Time Is Now (Front Line, 1990)
- Gladiators, Sweet So Till (Front Line, 1979)
- The Heptones, Dub Dictionary (Trench Town, 1999)
- John Holt, I Can't Get You Off My Mind (Heartbeat, 2006)
- Keith Hudson, From One Extreme to Another (Joint, 1979)
- Charlie Hunter, Earth Tones (Green Streets, 2005)
- Winston Jarrett, Wise Man (Wambesi, 1979)
- King Tubby, Sound System International Dub LP (Clan Disc, 1976)
- Bernard Lavilliers, Clair-Obscur (Barclay, 1997)
- Little Roy, Live On (Tafari, 1991)
- Freddie McKay, Picture On the Wall (Studio One, 2017)
- Jackie Mittoo, Showcase (Studio One, 1980)
- Lee "Scratch" Perry, The Super Ape Strikes Again (Lost Ark Music, 2015)
- Prince Buster, It's Burke's Law (Blue Beat, 1965)
- Prince Far I, Megabit 25, 1922 Dub (Tamoki-Wambesi-Dove, 2004)
- Max Romeo, Reconstruction (Mango, 1977)
- The Royals, Moving On (Kingdom, 1981)
- Ronnie Scott, The Night Is Scott and You're So Swingable (Fontana, 1966)
- Ronnie Scott, When I Want Your Opinion, I'll Give It to You (Jazz House, 1997)
- The Skatalites, Herb Dub Collie Dub (Jigsaw, 1976)
- Millie Small, My Boy Lollipop & Oh, Henry (Island, 1980)
- Leroy Smart, Let Everyman Survive (Hit, 1980)
- Ernie Smith, Smith, That Is (London, 1972)
- St Germain, Tourist (Blue Note, 2000)
- Sonny Stitt, Sonny's Blues (Jazz House, 1995)
- Lincoln Thompson, Natural Wild (Vista Sounds, 1983)
- André Toussaint, André Toussaint (Bahama, 1965)
- Junior Tucker, It's a Small, Small World (Top Ranking, 1978)
- Jason Wilson, The Peacemaker's Chauffeur (Wheel, 2008)
References
- ^ Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
- ^ ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 235.
- ^ a b c Ranglin Interview with Angus Taylor (11 February 2011), Unitedreggae.com, Retrieved 29 January 2013.
- ^ Liane Hansen, "Monty Alexander and Ernest Ranglin - Jamaican Jazz Pianist, Guitarist Are Old Friends, Music Legends", Interview with NPR, 16 May 2004.
- ^ Jamaica Gleaner.
- ^ a b Christopher Porter, "Jazz to Ska Mania", JazzTimes, July/August 2004. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "Editions, Galerie, Librairie Sonore et Vignobles Frémeaux & Associés". Fremeaux.com. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ "Editions, Galerie, Librairie Sonore et Vignobles Frémeaux & Associés". Fremeaux.com. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-4107-8062-1. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
- ^ Tim Perlich article (Now Magazine, 2–9 August 2007 - Vol. 26, No 48). Nowtoronto.com, Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ISBN 0-87930-655-6, p. 144.
- ^ Ronnie Scott discography. Archived 26 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ Melody Maker Reader's Jazz Poll 1964 (Results published 20 February 1965). Archived 23 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ Island Outpost: Biography of Chris Blackwell. Islandoutpost.com, Retrieved 29 January 2013.
- ^ 1976 album release In Concert: The Best of Jimmy Cliff. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
- ^ BBC Music - Review of Heart of the Congos by Lloyd Bradley (Published: 2012-08-16). Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ^ Discogs: Heart of the Congos (1977). Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ Mike Collins, Interview with Ranglin (1999). Retrieved 1 February 2013.
- ISBN 1-84353-329-4, p. 50.
- ^ "Ronnie Scott's Anniversary Concert Series - Jazz Jamaica feat. Ernest Ranglin". Archived 2 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine Londonjazznews.com, Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ About Palm Pictures. Palmpictures.com, Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "UWI to confer honorary degrees on 11 this year", UWI Campus Publication St Augustine News - Issue July/September 2002. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
- ^ "Guitar great Ernie Ranglin on film Archived 11 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Observer, 19 February 2007.
- Jamaica Gleaner, 5 December 2006.
- ^ Walters, Basil (2008) "JAVAA's first 12 inductees in Jamaica music hall of fame impressive Archived 11 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Observer, 14 July 2008.
- ^ "Ernest Ranglin and Friends - Farewell Tour 2016 | Europe Jazz Network". Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ "Honours in order Ernest Ranglin, Aston Barrett, Lt Stitchie, The Mighty Diamonds to receive national awards". Jamaica Gleaner. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Campbell, Howard (2022) "Two Colors for Ernie, Dean", Jamaica Observer, 3 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022