Bassist Ray Brown has been a quietly forceful presence in the jazz world since he joined Dizzy Gillespie's band in 1946. He's played in a variety of settings since then, and has always returned to the trio format (he formed his first one in the late '40s, with pianist Hank Jones). This release is part of a continuing series that has teamed Brown with a variety of singers, trumpet players, saxophonists, and pianists. Here the 75-year-old Brown augments his regular trio (pianist Geoff Keezer and drummer Karriem Riggins) with a half-dozen guitarists. From the snappy articulation of Herb Ellis to the big-bodied warmth of Kenny Burrell and the smooth coolness of John Pizzarelli, these dozen performances are a veritable tour through contemporary traditional stylists. The repertoire is a mix of standards and a few originals, with Burrell's gorgeous "Soulful Spirit" (dedicated to Billy Higgins) bringing the set to a close with quiet grace and emotional resonance. --David Greenberger
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
Ray Brown:
This was my first CD of Ray Brown, and It is very good. It features several different guitar players from Kenny Burell to Bucky Pizzarelli. Get tunes.
Jazz guitar fan:
This album mixes good jazz-blues and standards. Great version of Autumn Leaves by Kenny Burrell and Herb Ellis plays some great blues. A must for all guitarists, we can learn by listening to the masters.
One Of My Best Albums Is This CD!:
One Of my best albums is this cd. Undoubtedly the most stellar performance throughout the cd is by Russell Malone on track 3 Heartstrings, one of his own ballad compositions. Around half-way through they speed up into a faster beat and Russell has an excellent and uncomparable solo. His technique is unmatched. Herb Ellis is a different story, his technique on the following song was horrible, but throughout the rest he was great. Ulf Wakenius has a lot to offer on this cd especially. Watch out for him.... more info
Very swinging!:
As an aspiring jazz guitarist I picked this up on a whim a while ago, coincidentally around the time Ray Brown died. I knew little about him or the trio, but had heard some of both John Pizzarelli and Russell Malone so expected good things. I was just delighted by this record from the get-go. Pizzarelli's version of 'Squeeze Me' opens with a strangely classical-sounding piano intro (think George Shearing) but immediately opens into a happy & strongly swinging tune with a great groove that sets the tone... more info
