Jazz Articles about Phil Ranelin

The Time Is Now!

by Joshua Weiner
March 5, 2024

The early '70s were difficult times in the United States, not least for the jazz community. The optimism of the flower-power and peace movements had given way to political radicalism, conflict and paranoia, and the excitement of the initial free jazz and jazz-fusion eras had begun to wane. John Coltrane and Albert Ayler were dead. Miles Davis was playing thick, unrelenting funk. Important record labels such as Columbia and Atlantic were largely pursuing multiplatinum rock acts rather than jazz. Some ...

Phil Ranelin & Wendell Harrison: Jazz Is Dead 16

by Chris May
January 12, 2023

There is much to love about Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad's Jazz Is Dead label and an equal amount to hate. The production duo's declared mission is “to foreground legends from the past" and “to highlight their contributions" to popular music in general and jazz in particular. Admirable. Spread the love. Trouble is, the results are inconsequential as often as they are substantial. When it works, as on bassist Henry Franklin's Jazz Is Dead 14 (2022), the music will ...

Phil Ranelin: Phil Ranelin Collected 2003-2019

by Vincenzo Roggero
January 20, 2020

Il trombonista Phil Ranelin—classe 1939—rientra a buon diritto nella lunga schiera di unsung heroes, musicisti ai margini della notorietà che da sempre costellano le vicende della musica afroamericana e ne determinano spesso pagine significative. Specialista del trombone a coulisse, Ranelin ha inizialmente prestato i suoi servigi come session man per la prestigiosa Motown per poi fondare agli inizi degli anni settanta The Tribe, una band ed etichetta discografica che attraverso un jazz sperimentale, poi declinato in territori funky, ...

Phil Ranelin: Phil Ranelin Collected 2003-2019

by Chuck Koton
September 30, 2019

One day, in Indianapolis in 1948, a nine year old Phil Ranelin made a fateful visit to his paternal grandmother's home. She was a real music buff and that afternoon, before she went to do some work out back, she told young Phillip, “Any of these records, feel free to play 'em and see what kind of music you like. Just don't scratch 'em!" That afternoon, Phillip discovered “everything from Big Maybelle to Charlie Parker." A couple of ...

Tribe: Rebirth

by AAJ Italy Staff
December 17, 2009

A volte ritornano. O li fanno ritornare. I Tribe nascono nel 1971, collettivo nel cuore della Detroit nera, dell'urgenza che va oltre la musica, del jazz che cambia e che scende nella giungla urbana più elettrica e estatica che mai: protagonisti il trombone di Phil Ranelin [riscoperto qualche anno fa dall'etichetta Hefty con una manciata di splendide ristampe e una strepitosa raccolta di remix], il sax di Wendell Harrison, la tromba di Marcus Belgrave e molti altri, animati da un ...

A Fireside Chat with Phil Ranelin

by AAJ Staff
November 8, 2004

Loyalty and Los Angeles are seldom companions. However, Phil Ranelin's loyalty to the City of Angels is not confined to a championship banner. His fidelity can be measured by his acute sense of brotherhood and community. Actively involved in contributing to the tradition, Ranelin's life mirrors his music, principled, cultivated, and perpetually progressive.

All About Jazz: Inspiration is your tribute to those who have inspired you.

Phil Ranelin: The title is pretty fitting because I think I was inspired by ...

Phil Ranelin: Inspiration

by John Kelman
August 15, 2004

While he started out as a Motown session player, trombonist Phil Ranelin left that behind in the '70s, instead pursuing a style that blended post-Coltrane post bop with Afro-Cuban rhythms and harmonies. With Inspiration , Ranelin delivers an album firmly planted in these traditions, paying tribute to a number of his influences and past collaborators, including Freddie Hubbard, Horace Silver, Eric Dolphy and, of course, Coltrane.

Ranelin's nonet combines saxophones, bass clarinet and, on occasion, flutes, to create a rich ...