In 1996 Chris Blackwell launched his new label Island Jamaica Jazz with two new albums by Monty Alexander and Ernest Ranglin. Three more albums, by Ranglin, Dean Fraser, and the Skatalites, followed in 1997 but after that, someone pulled the plug and that was the end of Island Jamaica Jazz …
All five albums featured an interesting mix of jazz, reggae, dub, ska, and mento, combining classic reggae/ska covers with original compositions!
The five albums are:
Monty Alexander - Yard Movement (1996)
Ernest Ranglin - Below The Bassline (1996)
Dean Fraser - Big Up! (1997)
The Skatalites - Ball Of Fire (1997)
Ernest Ranglin - Memories of Barber Mack (1997)
Ernest Ranglin played guitar on all of the albums, except for Dean Fraser’s Big Up! Monty Alexander played piano on Ranglin’s Below The Bassline.
A sampler of these 5 records was never released, therefore I decided to rectify this omission with 2 songs from each album, resulting in a decent 1 hour+ CD.
Note from jonder: Thank you Koen for another excellent post and compilation! A pdf is included in the download with more information on each of the Island Jamaica Jazz albums. The always excellent blog Things And Time Will Tell recently posted Monty Alexander's Love And Sunshine (1975), which also features Ernest Ranglin.
Island Jamaica Jazz Sampler: tinyurl.com/JazzFromJA
ReplyDeleteThanks again, Koen!
Welcome Jonder, also for that blog link, Things and Time was new to me!
DeleteIf Jonder+Skinky=Jonky then Jonder+Art58koen=...Joko (read "Yoko")? Anyway, thanks for the sampler, write-up, and link to the other Monty album!
ReplyDeleteNot sure I follow this new math, but you're welcome! What's Jonder+Art58koen+Stinky=?
DeleteThanks art58koen (& jonder). Ernest Ranglin is a lone-time favorite, dig his jazzy twist on JA musical styles. Thanks for this sampler. Also, I have Charlie Hunter, Chinna Smith, & Ernest Ranglin - Innovation as well as the above mentioned Below the Bassline if anyone so desires. Happy holi-daze all.
ReplyDeleteSounds tasty, and your offer reminds me that I have "Natty Dread" by the Charlie Hunter Quartet, which was part of another short-lived concept, the Blue Note Cover Series! https://www.discogs.com/label/1222122-The-Blue-Note-Cover-Series
DeleteHere you go:
DeleteErnest Ranglin - Below the Bassline
https://mega.nz/file/CldTxRoJ#KngdfMqfQw5rZ3ugJkK89qL1KtVzuLzrGxBwlEQdmcA
Charlie Hunter, Chinna Smith, Ernest Ranglin - Innovation!
https://mega.nz/file/2oVGmaqS#IeREvxe6kMg1X-tVKX7yUPRkQAkJ273ANRuKqcjLLB0
Excited to listen to this! A wonderful (and odd) mix of people that pop up in the credits- Idris Muhammad on drums, liner notes from Steve Barrow, Paul Groucho Smykle mixing a jazz album... I love it. Glad you enjoyed the Things and Time posts, thanks for the props. Another Ranglin side just went up and more from him and M Alexander soon.
ReplyDeleteAlways a pleasure to find something new at T'ings & Time! Reggae & jazz make a good mix. A lot of these musicians are still active: Monty Alexander released a new album of standards (Love Notes) in 2023. Dean Fraser & Ernest Ranglin collaborated on "Two Colors", which came out in 2022.
DeleteLooks like great collection - thank you for spreading the Island Joy !
ReplyDeleteJonder+Art58koen+Stinky = Human Centipede.
ReplyDelete- Stinky
That is NOT the answer I was looking for!
DeleteJarsky; you just need to find Yutch to complete the team
DeleteJonder and Stinky, thanks to you both for your posts - there's been so much to enjoy this year.
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the best for the festive period and New Year. See you in '24!
Have a blessed Xmas & New Years...thanks for all you do.
ReplyDeleteGreat comp...many thanks. All the best for the New Year...and beyond!!
ReplyDeleteMy thanks and Hammy Holidays to Mr. Dave, Khayem, D, & all our regular visitors! - Stinky
ReplyDelete