Tribe Records co-founder to lead jazz quartet

Acclaimed jazz trombonist Phil Ranelin, co-founder of Detroit's famed 1970s jazz label Tribe Records, will showcase his musical talents in a Pierce Street Jazz concert April 7.

The Phil Ranelin Quartet will perform at 7 p.m. at the La Sierra University Alumni Center, 11500 Pierce St., Riverside. Admission is free. For more information call 951-785-2148, or e-mail summer@lasierra.edu. A campus map is available here.

Ranelin's ensemble is comprised of a cast of seasoned musicians with Mahesh Balasooriya on piano, Don Littleton on drums and Edwin Pleasants on bass.

Ranelin, a former Freddie Hubbard sideman, is a trombonist in the J.J. Johnson tradition. He has studied and played with numerous top jazz acts over the years including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Gerald Wilson, Stanley Clarke, Christian McBride, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Smith and many others. He has appeared at jazz festivals around the world and with his group, The Phil Ranelin Jazz Ensemble, has collected an array of top musicians. A long-time Los Angeles resident, Ranelin's musical contributions have been recognized by city, county, state and national legislative leaders. By official resolutions he has been deemed a “Rare and Valuable Cultural Treasure” and a “Cultural Ambassador throughout the Nation and to the world audience.”

La Sierra's Pierce Street Jazz concerts, periodic performances by local and regional
professional jazz musicians, officially kicked off last Nov. 4 with a first concert under the new series title. These jazz events continue the university's rich tradition of providing high quality music for the community's enjoyment.

PR Contact: Larry Becker
Executive Director of University Relations
La Sierra University
Riverside, California
951.785.2460 (voice)