According to the sleeve this was recorded in Jamaica in 1960-1. If the date is correct, the musicians on this date (all Jamaicans, presumably) were very advanced in their musical thinking. The pianist, Cecil Lloyd, is a splendid performer, his solos being very modern in concept, but played with a very definite swing. Ranglin, as we know, is an outstanding guitarist. He has great melodic gifts, and is the possessor of an enviable technique.
The standards on side 1, particularly the long, rambling opening to Tea For Two (a tiresome tune at the best of times) are inclined to be a little pretentious, but they all contain some excellent playing from Ranglin. On side 2, the compositions are all originals, and on these the group perform much better. Gra’s Tune and Try It Nuh, in particular, really come alive and are played with a great swing, and a wonderful melodic approach. Not quite perhaps as good as Wranglin, but very nearly so.
Discography
(a) Tea For Two; (a) Taking A Chance On Love; (a) All The Things You Are; (b) S’Wonderful (22 min) – (c) Reflections; (b) One For The Picka; (c) Gra’s Tune; (c) Try It Nuh (24 min)
(a) Ernest Ranglin (g); Cluit Johnson (bs); Cecil Lloyd (p).
(b) Same, add Lowell Morris (d).
(c) Taddy Mowatt (bs) replaces Johnson. Clarence Bean (d) replaces Morris. Jamaica, B.W.I., 1960-1.
(Island ILP 915 12inLP 29s. 11d.)
