Ernest Ranglin has one of those split personalities. A native of Jamaica, he contributed his guitar work to countless ska sessions in the '50s and later played with famed Jamaican bands such as The Melodians and The Wailers and with Jimmy Cliff. The flip side is his love of jazz. As a genuine guitar virtuoso, he is capable of improvising in the best jazz tradition. His new release on the Telarc label, "Gotcha!" brings these two sides together delightfully.
 |
On top of sleek reggae rhythms, Ranglin lays down lovely guitar explorations of "simple" popular reggae melodies. With support from saxophonist Antonio Hart and pianist Warren Bernhardt, both better known for their jazz chops, Ranglin demonstrates a limitless ability to find new melodies inside the old, while keeping the overall tone island-cool.
Even though all instrumental, except for one track, "Pass the Dutchie," this collection never feels repetitive. The rhythms lock into place in a soft Jamaican style that has a dash of ska and rock-steady mixed into the infectious reggae beat.
All too often, such clever, mixed-genre experiments fail, but Ranglin has the technique and experience to make it work. He keeps a laid-back, mellow feel even with all the nimble fretwork.
"Gotcha!" is a followup to last year's equally interesting "Modern Answers to Old Problems," which paired him with African musicians to explore the fusion of jazz with wilder African rhythms reminiscent of the sound of Fela Kuti.
Also worthy of recommendation in the jazz-reggae mode are three other Telarc releases by a colleague of Ranglin's, pianist Monty Alexander, who also explored the fusion of reggae and jazz on 1999's "Stir It Up: The Music of Bob Marley," last year's funky gem "Monty Meets Sly and Robbie" and "Goin' Yard" earlier this year.