Ernest Ranglin - Guitar in Ernest - Vinyl LP

2025

Those who associate Ernest Ranglin solely with the upbeat riddims and tropical timbres of his native Jamaica do so justifiably, but the reissue of Guitar in Ernest offers a reminder of the guitarist’s mastery of straightahead jazz. For both its style and its sound, this 1965 record could just have easily been made for the Contemporary label with the Hampton Hawes Trio as at Kingston’s Federal Recording Studio with pianist Leslie Butler, drummer Carl McLeod and bassist Stephen Lauz.

Ranglin, then 33, plays especially lyrically, like Kenny Burrell and Barney Kessel, and hits a relaxed, playful and mellow stride that makes the most out of “Green Dolphin St.,” “Jordu,” while a couple of Ranglin originals (“Ernest’s Tune,” “Ernest’s Delight”) showcase the guitarist’s compositional prowess and technical virtuosity. For a man who helped create the loping rhythms of reggae, Ranglin can be a stunningly fast guitarist.