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My favourites are the title track, 'Below the Bassline', 54 - 46 Was my Number and Nana's Chalk Pipe. But the whole album is well recorded and great to listen to. It is especially good as a Hi-Fi demo because it has an especially well recorded bass line and is such involving music. Its ... Read review
master a number of styles--from swing through ska, from Cuban music to jazz and bluebeat. A musician's musician, he's an unfailingly tasteful player, and passionat...
master a number of styles--from swing through ska, from Cuban music to jazz and bluebeat. A musician's musician, he's an unfailingly tasteful player, and passionat...
A review by NomisG on Below The Bassline - Ernest Ranglin October 2nd, 2007
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Not applicable
Quality and consistency of tracks
Flawless
How does it rate alongside the competition
Outstanding
Value for Money
Excellent
Advantages:
Great fun music . Sunshine on a rainy day . . .
Disadvantages:
Watch out if you have a dodgy back !
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
This is another Hi-Fi demo favourite of mine.
The music is perhaps best defined as Roots Reggae with Ska and Rocksteady influences. Although Ranglin is such a stalwart of all those and more musical styles that he is responsible for his own influences, if you get my drift! I could even use the word 'Jazz' without too much fear of reprisals from the cogniscenti! Anyway, I'm no expert on any of those styles so don't read too much into my categorizations.
I hate to pigeonhole music. So lets just call it upbeat, foottapping music from the soul, for the soul (but not soul music, per se). There I go again.
Ranglin was born in Jamaica in 1932. I was lucky enough to see him live last year and all I can say is he does not look his age and is still an awe inspiring guitar player. Ranglin's best known recording is probably the worldwide hit 'My Boy Lolipop' with Millie which I believe he also produced. But don't let that put you off. And I really hope that that is not what he ends up being remembered for.
This album is a great collection of 'standards' and new tunes given the Ranglin once-over and polish. All are instrumental only, not that that really matters.
My favourites are the title track, 'Below the Bassline', 54 - 46 Was my Number and Nana's Chalk Pipe. But the whole album is well recorded and great to listen to. It is especially good as a Hi-Fi demo because it has an especially well recorded bass line and is such involving music. Its great to show people how good Hi-Fi should get you involved and moving with the music (especially when its such great music).
Anyway here's a track list (easily available off the 'net, btw).
Congo Man Chant Surfin King Tubby Meets The Rockers Satta Massagana 54-46 (Was My Number) Ball Of Fire Black Disciples Bourbon Street Skank None Shall Escape The Judgement Nana's Chalk Pipe Below The Bassline
And a muscicians list (also easily available off the 'net)
Ernest Ranglin Guitar Gary Mayone Percussion & Keyboards Idris Muhammad Drums Ira Coleman Acoustic Bass Monty Alexander Piano & Melodica (also Producer) Roland Alphonso Soprano & Tenor Sax
Please forgive me for not ranting on about each of these guys, but as I have already said I'm no expert on Reggae - I just love this album - and I'm sure there is plenty elsewhere about each of them.
In summary, why do I like this album? Its fun. Pure and simple. Its sounds like the guys had fun when they made it, it draws you into it and gets you moving and emotionaly involved. If you can sit still and listen to this then change your Hi-Fi ('cause you ain't hearing it right) or call the undertaker! Enjoy.
Label / Distributor: Island Jamaica Jazz / Universal Music
Engineer: Mark Wilder; Andrew Page
Producer: Monty Alexander
Pieces in Set: 1
Studio / Live: Studio
Stereo: Stereo
Format: Performer
EAN: 731452429926
Additional notes
Album Notes: Personnel: Ernest Ranglin (guitar); Roland Alphonso (tenor & soprano saxophones); Monty Alexander (piano, melodica); Gary Mayone (keyboards, percussion); Ira Coleman (acoustic bass); Idris Muhammad (drums). Recorded at Sony Music Studios, New York, New York. Includes liner notes by Steve Barrow. If there is was ever one Jamaican musician who should be considered a representative of all things musical in that tropical paradise, it is guitarist Ernest Ranglin. In the nearly 50 years of playing leading up to the release of 1996's BELOW THE BASSLINE, Ranglin has not only seen musical trends metamorphosize from mento to ska to rock-steady and reggae, but has also had a hand in participating in sessions for many hit songs. BASSLINE bubbles over with Ranglin's distinctive and fluid guitar lines. He is joined by a talented back-up band, including Jamaican pianist Monte Alexander, jazz great Idris Muhammad on drums and Skatalites saxman Roland Alphonso. The mix of songs in this instrumental setting contains not only a number of Ranglin originals, but material by Augustus Pablo ("King Tubby Meets The Rockers"), Burning Spear ("Black Disciples") and Toots Hibbert ("54-46 [Was My Number]"). Regardless of origin, this talented crew manages to have great fun changing gears for this ska, reggae and dub material delivered with a jazzy touch. This wonderful instrumental opus is a Jamaican musical history lesson. In addition, Ranglin's exquisite phrasing makes BELOW THE BASSLINE the perfect soundtrack for Sunday brunch.
Album Reviews: Q (7/96, p.122) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...These are Jamaica's standards but they have never felt as intimate as this. Invariably light of touch, Ranglin never overstates his case, relying instead on filigree melody and a delicious, mellow elegance....BELOW THE BASSLINE is peacefully magnificent." The Beat (V.15 #4 1996, p.28) - "...a recording of such deep quality, of such straight-ahead radicalness, infused with such satisfying wonderfulness and fantastic guitar playing that I defy anyone not to be immensely enamored of the intelligent, subtle grooves contained in this major release." JazzTimes (10/96, p.81) - "...Ranglin settles comfortably into this disc's reggae jazz grooves...moving from velvety Wes-styled octaves to bluesy, Green-styled runs."
Titles on disc 1
1.: Congo Man
2.: Surfin'
3.: King Tubby Meets The Rockers
4.: Satta A Masagana
5.: 54-46 Was My Number
6.: Ball Of Fire
7.: Black Disciples
8.: Bourbon Street Skank
9.: None Shall Escape The Judgment
10.: Nana's Chalk Pipe
11.: Below The Bass Line
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Listed on Ciao since : 20/05/2005
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