ERNEST RANGLIN — Below the Bassline (review)

ERNEST RANGLIN — Below the Bassline album cover

Album · 1996 · World Fusion

4.5/5 · 2012-02-18
Matt

Ernest Ranglin recorded "Below The Bass Line" in 1996 on a new off shot Island label named "Island Jamacia Jazz" from Chris Blackwell who has known Ernest from their old days back in Kingston since 1958 and first recorded Ernest's debut album back in 1960-61 "Guitar In Ernest" . Who is Ernest Ranglin as he is mainly well known only through the Little Millie smash hit back in 1964 being "My Boy Lollipop" but Ernest was there at the actual creation of Ska when he laid down that groove with Cluett Johnson with the famed Studio One main man Clement (Coxsone) Dodd. Previous to this and after, Ernest Ranglin played Jazz which started in the fifties with many a large Jamacian band with Val Bennet's being the first of them. During the late fifties and continuing on into the seventies he recorded with practically all the Reggae greats he was involved in the early Sound Systems with Coxsonne Dodd, Duke Reid and the quirky Prince Buster. Then he was in The Skatalites but still finding time to perform at Ronnie Scotts in London where he was kept on for quite a few months back in 1964 and during this time as well he also contributed to one of the most famous tunes to come out of Jamacia "The Rivers Of Babylon" with the Melodians. In 1974 he first played The Newport Jazz Festival with his old friend the pianist Monty Alexander who is right here on this album "Below The Bass Line" with him. Ernest also contributed to Monty's first album "Yard Movement" for the new label of Chris Blackwell's released around the same time. Not only does Monty Alexander play piano but he also contributes melodica with none other than Idris Muhammed drumming, Ira Coleman on bass, Gary Mayone, keyboards and percussion with another old Ska friend of Ernest's present for a guest spot being Cuban born Roland Alphonso with the tenor and soprano saxophone additions.

Out of the eleven compositions four were written by Ernest Ranglin with the other seven being primarily Jazz takes on many a classic Reggae number with "Congo Man" being the first with a slightly slower time than the original by The Congoes which gives the song plenty of space for Ernest to do some absolutely great Jazz picking over this classic Rasta tune. "Surfin" which follows with that jaunt is a concert regular and no surprise either as it one lovely picked over composition from Ernest with some beautiful playing but listen to Monty as well on that piano with some lovely deft touch throughout. Ira Coleman on bass gets to show his presence with a take from "King Tubby Meets The Rockers" written by the most famous melodica player of them all Augustus Pablo. Remember that this is taken from a Dub hence Ira's thumping bass and everybody plays with touches of fragments at various times giving a wonderful result to the number. Talking about famous Jamacian Reggae songs, do they get any more so than The Abbysinians, "Satta Massagana" with another stunning Jazz take and Monty gets to blow in his melodica for this one and not the previous song of Augustus Pablo's as one would expect. You would be going to beat Augustus but Monty does a wonderful melodica solo within ."Ball Of Fire" the old Skatalites number is perhaps one of the albums best with Roland Alphonso playing tenor and soprano saxophone with that delightful Ska sound in his tenor. Another pick could be the Johnny Clarke roots reggae classic "None Shall Escape Thy Judgement" as another old song is from Winston Rodney, "Black Disiciples". The title "Below The Bass Line"is the albums closer with more of this exquisite Jazz guitar from Ernest just riding over the groove from the band and the bass thump of Ira Coleman.

The band is fabulous with the pick for me being Ira Coleman's contribution on bass as he puts down one thumping Reggae time and being so out front it keeps that Reggae influence right in there but still Monty Alexander's contribution on piano is perfect dipping in and out between Ernest's guitar and adding his little beautifully deft solos. The drumming is just as good from Idris Muhammed with Gary Mayone's keyboards and percussion which keeps not the whole foot but a good size toe in Reggae waters. Wonderful album and one that is interesting from start to finish with not a dull spot present. Island Jamacia Jazz like Chris Blackwell's Mango and Fourth And Broadway labels are all gone these days which really is a shame as Chris always has something interesting to release from anywhere in the world but I suppose Reggae will always be his favourite as this little Jazz gem of an album shows.