Artiste: Ernie Ranglin
Title: E.B @ Noon
Producer: Floyd Lloyd Seivright
WHEN AN Ernie Ranglin CD lands in one's hands for the first time, bated breath is necessary as the plastic wrapper (which has the annoying tendency to take its own time) is removed and the disc is placed into the player. Only when the first notes issue from the speakers is it okay to breathe.
E.B. @ Noon made that temporary asphyxia quite worth it. The album is good not only in the technical skill and musicianship applied to arrangement and performance, but also in the variety which it presents. The album is a great way to start a music collection and enhance a fledgling one. The variety of genres through which E.B. @ Noon bounces allows you to add to your reggae, ska, and jazz collection all at one.
The easy variety which exists on the album is best seen through the difference between the title track which starts the album and the final track Minimum. Written by Floyd Seivright (who either writes or co-writes all the tracks on the album) E.B. @ Noon is an energetic mix of big band jazz and reggae. Its rich texture stands in complete contrast to the stark nature of the aptly name Mininum.
There are some albums that make you thank the heavens for the skip button. E.B. @ Noon makes you thank the heavens for the repeat button. Tracks like Something Gotta, one of the big band ska tunes may well make you wear that button out. The track features Ranglin on guitar, Sonny Binns on piano and keyboards, Mikey Chung on bass, Derrick Stewart on drums, Larry McDonald on percussion, Bob Smith on Trombone, Todd Schwartz and Mark Fineberg with spectrum brass, tenor sax and brass arrangement. The title track, Rasta Roots Woman and Ska Wey Dat will also allow you to overwork the repeat button.
With 16 tracks, the shortest of which is 3:58 minutes, the album presents a hearty helping for the music lover to sink their groove into. E.B @ Noon features several master craftsmen busily making good music. It's well worth playing again, and again, and yet again.
