The appeal of any art form is to take one to another place, perhaps a place never seen or heard before.
For Ranky Tanky, that transporting power comes from a mixture of ingredients: the Gullah culture of the Carolinas, griot stories, poems and children’s rhymes. Those elements further combine with an incendiary blend of gospel, folk and jazz that gives the group both youth and depth.
Loosely defined, Ranky Tanky means “get funky.” The five members of the band — drummer Quentin Baxter, guitarist and vocalist Clay Ross, trumpeter and vocalist Charlton Singleton, bassist Kevin Hamilton and vocalist Quiana Parler — brought the fire from their latest recording, Good Time, to Morning Jazz.
Here is the title track of Good Time, performed in our studio.
Here is "Freedom."
And here is "Stand by Me."
Quiana Parler, vocals; Charlton Singleton, trumpet and vocals; Clay Ross, guitar and vocals; Kevin Hamilton, bass; Quentin Baxter, drums
Videography: Chris Tobin
Audio Mix and Video Edit: Corey Goldberg
