Ranky Tanky

Ranky Tanky are a quintet from South Carolina who have quite a professional pedigree behind them: vocalist Quiana Parler has appeared on the American Idol TV show while drummer/producer Quentin E Baxter has twice been nominated for a Grammy. Several members share Gullah heritage – Gullah being the African-American community from the coastal community of North and South Carolina and Georgia whose spirituals and language have long been celebrated by folklorists. Ranky Tanky play Gullah spirituals while adding contemporary jazz elements. They retain the playfulness (and mournfulness) and this album is beautifully executed. Too beautiful in some ways: there is, at times, a supper-club slickness about some of the performances that recalls less Gullah choirs and more the likes of Harry Belafonte and The Kingston Trio, both of whom once earned fortunes by blanding out calypso tunes and folk ballads so to sell them as easy listening. For newcomers to Gullah I'd suggest checking out the many recordings of spirituals that are available from choirs in the region. Ranky Tanky are gifted musicians and may well take a rural tradition into mainstream America but it would be refreshing if they could relax along the way and stop sounding so damn smooth.