Ticket to Slide

Phil Ranelin, the modern jazz trombonist with a round singing sound who delivers memorable, melodically rich improvisations, has had a long and fruitful career.

He has mixed jobs as a bandleader with sideman appearances with some of music’s best--trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, pianists Freddie Redd and the late Horace Tapscott, saxophonist Vi Redd and stints with the Duke Ellington Orchestra (conducted by Paul Ellington) and the Frank Capp Juggernaut. Ranelin also is a co-founder of the four-trombone band Bone Soir.

The trombonist plays tonight with his quartet at Rocco in Bel-Air. He started in music at age 11 in his native Indianapolis. He was hoping to get a saxophone when he joined his grade-school band, but he got a trombone because all the saxes had been given out, he said. At first, he was unhappy. In the end, perseverance paid off.

“It took me a couple of days just to assemble it,” Ranelin said of the slide instrument. “But then I started making a little music and I got interested.”

Hearing the innovative trombonist J.J. Johnson on records a few years later sparked Ranelin, who is now a spirited 61.

“Just the sound he got and the way he articulated so well grabbed me,” Ranelin said.

His grandmother also was an inspiration, playing records for him and hosting parties for musicians. Finally, there was the superlative Indianapolis-based guitarist Wes Montgomery, who let Ranelin sit in with him at Saturday matinee performances.

“Wes was my greatest teacher,” he said. “Just listening to him showed me what to play, what not to play.”

After several years in Detroit, where Ranelin worked in backup bands behind Motown stars such as the Temptations and the Four Tops, he moved to Los Angeles in 1977. He soon hooked up with Indianapolis schoolmate Hubbard, recording three albums including the well-received “Mistral.” Ranelin has appeared at all of Los Angeles’ top jazz clubs, including Catalina’s, the Jazz Bakery and Donte’s.

At Rocco, Ranelin will head up a superb band that includes greats John Heard on bass and Roy McCurdy on drums and rising pianist Danny Grissett. They will mix standards with some of the trombonist’s loosely arranged original material, all designed for swinging jazz improvisation.

Ranelin, with many good years behind him, simply wants more of the same.

“I still have the desire,” he said. “I love the trombone.”

BE THERE

Phil Ranelin plays tonight at 10 at Rocco Ristorante, 2930 Beverly Glen Circle, Bel-Air. $10 cover, no minimum. Call (310) 475-9807.

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Zan Stewart writes about jazz for the Valley Edition. He can be reached at Zansky@AOL.com.