Impressions: Chronixx x Ernest Ranglin x Monty Alexander at the Blue Note

January 27, 2014


Monty-Alexander-Ernest-Ranglin-Blue-Note

As Ernest Ranglin re-emerged all three went into the Chronixx tune, “Dread.” Chronixx offered insight into the tune’s origination, explaining he originally recorded over the riddim from Eek-A-Mouse’s “Ganja Smuggling,” but when he teamed with Major Lazer for his Start A Fyah mixtape, Walshy Fire suggested he do a version of “Dread” over the Surfin’ riddim arranged by Ernest Ranglin for Studio One. Acting almost like a mixing engineer fading up individual instrumental tracks, Chronixx proceeded to direct different players to add their parts to the Surfin’ riddim, starting with the bass, then the guitar percussive parts so unique to Ernest’s style, and finally the distinctive organ phrases. A final Chronixx tune, “Odd Ras” started as usual, then morphed into an impressive bossa nova progression with Monty soloing on the melodica again.