The return of Phil Ranelin / Indianapolis reggae pioneers Reggaenomix

February 07, 2024

This week’s edition of Cultural Manifesto is all about making a comeback. We’ll join the legendary Indianapolis jazz trombonist Phil Ranelin at the Chatterbox for his first gig after suffering from a debilitating stroke in 2021. Ranelin is best known for his work with the Tribe, a Detroit-based collective of avant-garde jazz musicians and activists. Ranelin has performed and recorded with artists including Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, Pharoah Sanders, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and more. 

Plus, listen to an interview with Indiana reggae music pioneers Keith Baptiste, Tim Johnson, and John Loflin of Reggaenomix. Reggaenomix has reunited for the first time in over 25 years. Their music mixes Jamaican rhythms with socially conscious lyrics. We’ll discuss their 1990 song “Who Killed Michael Taylor?”, written about a 16 year old Indianapolis resident who was found dead in police custody in 1987. We’ll also listen to the band’s new single “I’m Not Against the Police (I’m Against Police Brutality.)