Mitchum Chin - contributed

GUITARIST MITCHUM 'Khan' Chin gives an approving nod to a new Ernie Smith track as it is being edited at the Grafton studio in east Kingston. He has been around long enough to know a hit song in its formative stage.

The 38 year-old Chin has been a professional musician for almost 20 years, but is largely unknown outside studio circles. Solid work for top acts like Luciano, Morgan Heritage, Tarrus Riley and I-Wayne has helped the stocky axe-man shed his phantom image.

"I would say things really pick up in the last five years, especially wid the studio work. I love working onstage but I enjoy the session work more because you get to create," said Chin.

Some of Chin's creativity can be heard on Riley's 2006 Parables album and Jah Is My Navigator, the recently released set by Luciano. He played on 13 of Jah Is My Navigator's 15 tracks, delivering a fiery solo on For I and showing off his acoustic skills on the ballads Darkness and Paradise Last.

Most of Chin's studio time in recent years has been directed by saxophonist/producer Dean Fraser who produced the aforementioned albums. He has worked, as well, with big names in the dancehall, which he says calls for an entirely different vibe.

"What they (dancehall producers) want most of the times is a phrase, something funky they feel will catch on," he said.

But for a stint at the Jamaica School of Music, Chin learned his chops on the studio and live show circuits. He started out in the late 1980s with the Firehouse Crew at the legendary King Tubby's studio in Waterhouse.

The band would go on to record with dancehall and roots-reggae's top acts, the biggest being Luciano and Sizzla. Steady session work with the 'Crew' opened doors for Chin who has played his Gibson Les Paul Custom on hits by I-Wayne (Lava Ground), Gentleman (Serious) and Riley's Pick Up The Pieces.

Ironically, Chin says he was not into guitar music in his youth. His father operated a bar where he played standard 'oldies' which introduced him to the soul of Jerry Butler and the rocking sounds of Studio One.

Tough going

Later, he got into Black Uhuru and roots-reggae and the eclectic sounds of Third World before discovering Ernie Ranglin, Earl 'Chinna' Smith and Eric Clapton.

Ranglin, Coore and Smith made their names in the 1960s and 1970s when musicians ruled the roost in Jamaica. Since reggae met the computer through the Sleng Teng beat in 1985, local musicians have oftentimes found the going tough.

With more producers and entertainers opting for a natural feel, musicians like Mitchum Chin have made a comeback.

"Everywhere you turn now is a studio, so there is a demand for us. It can only get better," he said.