Nesses dias que estive viajando pela Jamaica tive a oportunidade de conhecer e trocar figurinhas com o guitarrista das antigas Ernest Ranglin (Skatalites), o mestre do vibrafone Roy Ayers, o cantor /produtor/executivo Tony Rebel e o guitarrista que mais gravou discos de raggae, Eal “Chinna” Smith, onde na casa dele até uma jam session “inna de yard” rolou magicamente.
Eles irão participar do proximo Bambas & Biritas: Inna Jama Brazilian Yard
E vi de perto duas personalidades fundamentais da música Jamaicana:
O desdentado, vesgo e estranho King Stitt, que mora ao lado do Studio One, e que nos recebeu em sua casa. Ele foi o primeiro toaster (MC) da Jamaica. Uma lenda viva.
E o poeta, cantor e apresentador de programa “tipo bíblia” Mutabaruka, que concedeu uma entrevista pra nós. Reparem no design do trono afro….
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E aqui uma pequena Bio desses mestres (da Wikipedia) pra quem não os conhecem:
Ernest Ranglin is a Jamaican guitarist and composer. Best known for his session work at the famed Studio One, Ranglin helped give birth to the ska genre in the late 1950s. Some credit Ranglin with the invention of the core style of guitar play (sometimes known as “scratching”) found in nearly all ska music.
Ranglin played on many classic Jamaican recordings, and he performed with artists such as Jimmy Cliff, Monty Alexander, Prince Buster, The Skatalites and the Eric Deans Orchestra. He has also explored other styles of music, notably blending jazz and reggae.
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Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a jazz player, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records before his tenure at Polydor Records, during which he progressed a new R&B style, slowly molding the new Disco genre.
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Tony Rebel was initially a singer, appearing as Papa Tony or Tony Ranking in local talent contests and on sound systems including Sugar Minott’s ‘Youth Promotion’.[1] His first release was the single “Casino” that appeared in 1988 on the MGB record label, although his career took off when he worked with Donovan Germain’s Penthouse setup in the early 1990s.[1] He had a big hit in 1990 with “Fresh Vegetable”, and established a singjay style of delivery. He is notable as one of the few dreadlocked ‘cultural’ deejays of the ragga era.[1] In 1992 he signed a deal with Columbia Records who released Vibes of the Times the following year.[1] In 1994 he founded his record label, ‘Flames’.
Earl “Chinna” Smith aka Earl Flute is a Jamaican guitarist active since the late 1960s. He is most well known for his work with the Soul Syndicate band and has recorded with many reggae artists like Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Augustus Pablo, and also appears on more than 500 albums.
