Ernst Ranglin

Besides being a fascinating experiment in musical cross-pollination, the music on this disc spectacularly succeeds both from the standpoint of pure musical genius and as a demonstration of jazz's ability to turn (somewhat) mundane materials (in this case mainly sixties ska and rocksteady tunes) into pure alchemic gold, in the hands of the right players. And that's the key to the success of this disc: both the principals' bona fides as authentic Jamaican pop icons, each having been an integral and essential part of the explosion of pre-reggae music that eventuated in the full glory of Bob Marley and the Wailers, and their absolute mastery of the jazz idiom. That they could magically meld such disparate music materials into one entirely captivating whole bespeaks both their authenticity as original practitioners of Jamaican pre-reggae pop and as stellar jazz improvisers.
Really, this disc is the best of both worlds: It centers on that mysterious and mesmeric ska/rocksteady beat, all the while magically expanding its boundaries into authentic jazz territory on account of the leaders' brilliant improvisational talents.
Don't miss out on the protean talents of Monty Alexander and Ernest Ranglin, two master of Jamaican music, fully on display here. – J. Dennis "Longboard jazzer"

Очередное произведение щедрого на выдумки и поиски пианиста Монти Александера, которого вообще не понятно к исполнителям какого стиля музыки относить. Известен, например, его альбом импровизаций на темы песен Боба Марли. На этот раз он выбрал в качестве основы музыку середины 60-х — родившуюся на Ямайке музыку ска, предка рэггей. С этой целью он пригласил для записи, надо думать, одного из отцов ска гитариста Эрнеста Ранглина.
Следует признать: музыка эта слушается с большим удовольствием. Не знаю, правда, сколь целиком она покоится в ложе собственно джаза, но джаза в ней достаточно много. Пульсирующий ритм ска создает основу для импровизаций пианиста, гитара же Ранглина работает скорее в рамках ямайской традиции. Наиболее яркая пьеса — “Row Fisherman”, в которой и можно найти квинтэссенцию всего проекта. Среди авторов пьес — большей частью мало известные у нас авторы. И только завершающая альбом “Redemption Song” принадлежит Бобу Марли. – Дмитрий ПОДБЕРЕЗСКИЙ, © 2004 Jazz-Квадрат

The Jazz Club series is an attractive addition to the Verve catalogue. With it's modern design and popular choice of repertoire, the Jazz Club is not only opened for Jazz fans, but for everyone that loves good music.

Ernest Ranglin - Surfin' (2005)
1CD | EAC Rip | FLAC(tracks) + Cue + Log | No Scans | 421 MB
Genre: Jazz | Label: Telarc

Septuagenarian Jamaican guitarist Ranglin has seen and done it all. A long-time big band player, he is also widely credited with having invented ska, an infectious shuffling rhythm that presaged rock-steady, reggae, ragga and practically everything that has emerged from Jamaica since. A master of smoothly melodic instrumental music, he is comfortable with large or small combos and is equally gracious whether he is acting as as a lead player or sideman. His long study of American jazz has informed his arrangements with an urban sophistication as redolent of New York City's Harlem or 52nd Street as downtown Kingston. But his sound also encompasses an endearing squareness, a mainstream 60s soundtrack vibe that narrowly misses becoming a more evolved species of elevator music. The album recalls festive Island holidays of yore, when pastel-clad tourists enjoyed long rum drinks and a water view while dancing all night to the world's best hotel band. With Bo Pee on rhythm guitar and Robbie Lyn on keyboards.

Zembrocal Musical is, like all the most exciting adventures, the result of an unexpected meeting between the acclaimed Dutch cellist Ernst Reijseger and the group from the Reunion Island, Groove Lele. The title of the album refers to one of Reunion's most famous dishes, zembrocal, which combines different ingredients such as meat, grain, rice and spices. Creating a musical blend as tasteful as zembrocal, Ernst Reijseger, Groove Lele and Mola Sylla successfully bring together their different musical universes and take us on a journey from the Netherlands to the Reunion Island.