Phil Ranelin

Jazz Trombonist

Inducted into the Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame in 2016

Phil Ranelin

(May 25, 1939 - Present)

Photographed on September 16, 2014 at the Jazz Kitchen, Indianapolis

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Ranelin’s grandmother likely influenced his choice of a music career in jazz. His earliest educators at School 37 were Larry Liggett and Reggie Duvalle and for Ranelin, he was fortunate to have an early educator whose specialty was his own – the trombone.

He attended Arsenal Technical High School and participated in its musical programs but attributes Russell Brown of Crispus Attucks in challenging him to be his best through private instructions. He later took lessons from David Baker before joining the Renaud Jones Orchestra on the Avenue. Melvin Rhyne later introduced Ranelin to Wes Montgomery who he sat in with on a number of performances. He continued to perform on the jazz circuit at the Place to Play, the British Lounge and Club 13.

In 1960 Ranelin moved to Detroit and was a part of that city’s jazz scene for more than 9 years when he moved again to Los Angeles. In LA, he hooked up with his high school classmate Freddie Hubbard. Ranelin has performed in LA for many years.

The Found Tapes: Live in Los Angeles

The Found Tapes: Live in Los Angeles is a four LP box set from Tribe Records co-founder Phil Ranelin, celebrating a trio of LA club performances from 1978-1981 which remain especially significant to the visionary trombonist. Backed by a young Billy Childs on piano, Ralph Penland on drums, and Tony Dumas on bass, Ranelin was in peak form as a player and bandleader during this period. This is particularly true of one specific outing at the now shuttered Maiden Voyage in Los Angeles on July 19, 1981, which is presented in full within this set. The audio was restored from decades-old cassette tapes which have never been heard until now. A master trombonist of the J.J. Johnson tradition, Ranelin’s career has spanned over five decades with eleven records as a solo artist, four as a Freddie Hubbard sideman, session recordings for Motown, and work with artists ranging from Stevie Wonder and Ella Fitzgerald to Red Hot Chili Peppers and Telefon Tel Aviv. The release is available everywhere on January 26th as a 4 LP box set, three CD set, and digital download.

Buy Now