Customer Reviews

Gotcha!

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What appears to be a ska-lite or eazy listening reggae-jazz cd on first listening reveals itself as a deep groove! The deceptively simple melodies are a foil for exceptional solos and artistry. There is just good playing in abundance. It IS easy to listen to, and has a mature feel, but man, the more carefully I listen, the more I find that draws me in and back again. Moondance is exceptional stuff. A terrific little gem!

Ranglin's roots are in reggae, and Gotcha! has much more of a reggae feel to it than does his recording Old Solutions, which features more of a an African/World Music sound. However, Gotcha! is not really a reggae recording, it is a jazz recording with reggae at its core. Ranglin is a master at weaving his guitar around a melody, never seeming to be trying to impress, but always impressing with his inventiveness and exquisite sense of timing. It goes without saying that the engineering is first-rate, making this a disk that is highly recommendable both musically and sonically.

This is the group of reggae/jazz incredibles right here. Guitar mastermind Ernest Ranglin dazzles me and will never stop. First he recruits Antonio Hart, who probably is one of the greatest saxophonists living today, and has him blow the house down. His solos on all the songs are great. Ernest himself does quite a job himself, and matches all his solos. I'd have to say this is one of the only reggae cds I like. Take a listen to all the songs, you'll never get bored.

P.S Please Check Out My Other Reviews!

This CD is worth getting. I got this CD for over 17.99, and Amazon sells it cheaper. I listened to the CD over and over, and have never gotten sick of it. I have memorized the solos which are incredible by both the saxophones and the guitar. It really is a nice mix, since the sounds of the saxophone and guitar really blend together nicely. It also helps that the players have nice flowing solos, so the songs are upbeat and never get boring. Track 3, The Bubbler has a good solo by the saxophone who sounds exactly like Michael Brecker. This is a good buy!

Here we have a fine blend of sax, vibes, guitar, percussion, and some other varying instruments resulting in superb, rhythmic jazz flavored Jamaica sounds. Every piece is excellent, and there are some nifty guiter solos for the guitar buff! All in all, darn good. My only criticism is that the tunes and rhythms do get a bit repetitive, but still a 5-star piece!

This is as good as music gets! Ranglin has again prooved himself as a guitarist without peer. This music is appropriate for any occasion and will be appreciated by everyone from 4 to 100 black, white or whatever. Ranglin needs to be heard to be believed.