Phil Ranelin
Encyclopedia
Phil Ranelin is an American jazz
and experimental music
trombonist.
Ranelin was born in Indianapolis
, and lived in New York
before moving to Detroit in the 1960s. He played as a session musician
on many Motown
recordings, including with Stevie Wonder
.
In 1971, he and Wendell Harrison
formed a group called The Tribe, which was an avant-garde jazz
ensemble devoted to black consciousness. Alongside it he co-founded Tribe Records
. He released several albums as a leader in the 1970s, and continued with The Tribe project until 1978. following this, Ranelin worked with Freddie Hubbard
.
Ranelin worked mostly locally in Detroit in the following decades, and did not find widespread acceptance among jazz aficionados. However, he eventually came to the attention of rare groove
collectors who became increasingly interested in his work. As a result, Tortoise
drummer John McEntire
remastered some of Ranelin's older material and re-released it on Hefty Records
. A remix album soon followed, which included an appearance from Telefon Tel Aviv
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and experimental music
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
trombonist.
Ranelin was born in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, and lived in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
before moving to Detroit in the 1960s. He played as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
on many Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
recordings, including with Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
.
In 1971, he and Wendell Harrison
Wendell Harrison
Wendell Harrison is an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist.- Career :Harrison began playing clarinet at age seven, and switched to tenor saxophone in high school. He studied under Barry Harris before moving to New York City in 1960...
formed a group called The Tribe, which was an avant-garde jazz
Avant-garde jazz
Avant-garde jazz is a style of music and improvisation that combines avant-garde art music and composition with jazz. Avant-jazz often sounds very similar to free jazz, but differs in that, despite its distinct departure from traditional harmony, it has a predetermined structure over which ...
ensemble devoted to black consciousness. Alongside it he co-founded Tribe Records
Tribe Records
Tribe Records was an American jazz record label active during the 1970s whose artists included Doug Hammond, Marcus Belgrave, Phil Ranelin and Wendell Harrison.-History:...
. He released several albums as a leader in the 1970s, and continued with The Tribe project until 1978. following this, Ranelin worked with Freddie Hubbard
Freddie Hubbard
Frederick Dewayne "Freddie" Hubbard was an American jazz trumpeter. He was known primarily for playing in the bebop, hard bop and post bop styles from the early 1960s and on...
.
Ranelin worked mostly locally in Detroit in the following decades, and did not find widespread acceptance among jazz aficionados. However, he eventually came to the attention of rare groove
Rare groove
Rare groove is defined as very hard to source or relatively obscure soul or jazz music. Rare groove is primarily associated with funk, jazz and pop, but is also connected to sub-genres including jazz fusion, Latin jazz, soul, R&B, northern soul, and disco. Vinyl records that fall into this...
collectors who became increasingly interested in his work. As a result, Tortoise
Tortoise (band)
Tortoise is an American post-rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1990.-Music:Tortoise's almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, playing in...
drummer John McEntire
John McEntire
John McEntire is an American recording engineer, drummer and multi-instrumentalist. He is best-known for being in Tortoise and The Sea and Cake, as well as being a highly in-demand producer and engineer....
remastered some of Ranelin's older material and re-released it on Hefty Records
Hefty Records
Hefty Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois . Founded in 1995 by John Hughes III , the label releases a range in genres that include post-rock, IDM, down-tempo, nu jazz, experimental music, and hip-hop.-History:...
. A remix album soon followed, which included an appearance from Telefon Tel Aviv
Telefon Tel Aviv
Telefon Tel Aviv is a Chicago, Illinois-based American electronic music act. Formerly comprising Charles Cooper and Joshua Eustis, Telefon Tel Aviv continues with Eustis as the sole official member since Cooper's death in 2009.-History:...
.
Discography
- Message From The Tribe (Tribe RecordsTribe RecordsTribe Records was an American jazz record label active during the 1970s whose artists included Doug Hammond, Marcus Belgrave, Phil Ranelin and Wendell Harrison.-History:...
, 1972) - The Time Is Now! (Tribe, 1974; reissued Hefty RecordsHefty RecordsHefty Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois . Founded in 1995 by John Hughes III , the label releases a range in genres that include post-rock, IDM, down-tempo, nu jazz, experimental music, and hip-hop.-History:...
, 2001) - Vibes From The Tribe (Tribe, 1975; reissued Hefty RecordsHefty RecordsHefty Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois . Founded in 1995 by John Hughes III , the label releases a range in genres that include post-rock, IDM, down-tempo, nu jazz, experimental music, and hip-hop.-History:...
, 2001) - Love Dream (Rebirth Records, 1986)
- A Close Encounter of the Very Best Kind (Lifeforce RecordsLifeforce RecordsLifeforce Records is a German record label that specializes in metalcore, death metal, and post-hardcore. Their current roster contains bands such as Burning Skies, This or the Apocalypse, Light Pupil Dilate and Nightrage, and they have helped to launch the careers of a number bands who went on to...
, 1996) - Remixes (Hefty RecordsHefty RecordsHefty Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois . Founded in 1995 by John Hughes III , the label releases a range in genres that include post-rock, IDM, down-tempo, nu jazz, experimental music, and hip-hop.-History:...
, 2002) - Inspiration (Wide Hive RecordsWide Hive RecordsWide Hive Records is an independent record label based in Berkeley, California. It was originally founded by Gregory Howe in 1999 in San Francisco’s Mission District as a record label, live music venue, recording studio and café....
, 2004) - Living a New Day (Wide Hive RecordsWide Hive RecordsWide Hive Records is an independent record label based in Berkeley, California. It was originally founded by Gregory Howe in 1999 in San Francisco’s Mission District as a record label, live music venue, recording studio and café....
, 2009) - Reminiscence (Wide Hive RecordsWide Hive RecordsWide Hive Records is an independent record label based in Berkeley, California. It was originally founded by Gregory Howe in 1999 in San Francisco’s Mission District as a record label, live music venue, recording studio and café....
, 2009) - Perseverance with Henry Franklin and Big Black (Wide Hive RecordsWide Hive RecordsWide Hive Records is an independent record label based in Berkeley, California. It was originally founded by Gregory Howe in 1999 in San Francisco’s Mission District as a record label, live music venue, recording studio and café....
, 2011)
Session work
- The Red Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili Peppers (album)The Red Hot Chili Peppers is the debut studio album by American funk rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on August 10, 1984 on EMI America Records. The album was produced by Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill, and is the only album to feature guitarist Jack Sherman.-Background and recording:Red...
- The Red Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili PeppersRed Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...