Ray BROWN - Jazz Cello 1960

Ray BROWN - Jazz Cello 1960
MG VS-68390

Jazz

On the last day of August and the first day of September 1960, bassist Ray Brown recorded his third album for the Verve label, focusing most of his attention upon the cello while Joe Mondragon handled the bass. The 11-piece band on this date was conducted by arranger Russ Garcia and included reed players Paul Horn and Bob Cooper as well as pianist Jimmy Rowles. The results were typical of late-'50s West Coast mainstream jazz: familiar ballads and friendly, uplifting standards, tidily performed. Some of the tunes reach back to the 1920s, with "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" serving as a surprisingly hip link with vaudeville as Brown's pizzicato maneuverings are punctuated with punchy blasts from reeds and brass. If one takes the time to place this recording within an historical context, an impressive evolution reveals itself. The first bassist to cross over to cello on records in modern times is believed to have been Oscar Pettiford, while Fred Katz popularized the warm-toned instrument through his work with drummer Chico Hamilton. The progression of jazz cellists since then is impressive, from Ray Brown, Sam Jones, Percy Heath and Ron Carter to Abdul Wadud, David Holland, David Darling, David Eyges and Diedre Murray. By the first decade of the 21st century, an unprecedented number of improvising cellists had appeared, making Ray Brown's 1960 Jazz Cello album seem like a sunny little episode in the foundation of a fascinating modern tradition spanning several generations.
By arwulf arwulf.
**
Ray Brown- (Cello, Bass)
Russ Garcia- (Arranger, Conductor)
Don Fagerquist- (Trumpet)
Jack Cave- (French Horn)
Harry Betts- (Trombone)
Bob Cooper, Med Flory, Bill Hood, Paul Horn- (Reeds)
Jimmy Rowles- (Piano)
Joe Mondragon- (Bass)
Dick Shanahan- (Drums)
**
A1. Tangerine  3:13
A2. Almost Like Being in Love  4:11
A3. That Old Feeling  4:35
A4. Ain't Misbehavin'  5:09
A5. Alice Blue Gown  2:37
B1. Rosalie  3:03
B2. But Beautiful  3:57
B3. Poor Butterfly  3:13
B4. Memories of You  4:50
B5. Rock a Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody  2:07
**
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The Ray BROWN Trio - Bam Bam Bam 1989

The Ray BROWN Trio - Bam Bam Bam 1989

Jazz

Ok, this is one of those jazz records you must have if you are looking for lots of swing and superb piano and bass playing. Gene Harris will play it brilliantly in your home hi-fi if you give him the chance to perform his own version of «Summertime» (beware because you may become addicted to it...). As for Ray Brown you can't help liking his palying in «F.S.R.» and RIO. Don't hesitate in buying this record. It will pay you back in pleasure evey dollar you are spending.
By João Moreira dos Santos.
**
The Ray Brown Trio is caught on this CD live at a Tokyo concert and sounds obviously inspired by the enthusiastic crowd. The group (which also stars pianist Gene Harris and drummer Jeff Hamilton) stretches out on four standards, "Put Your Little Right Out," Victor Feldman's "Rio" and two Brown originals: "F.S.R. (For Sonny Rollins)" and the title cut. This release is a perfect introduction to the many fine Ray Brown-Gene Harris Concord recordings; it consistently swings with soul.
**
Ray BROWN- Bass
Gene HARRIS- Piano
Jeff HAMILTON- Drums
**
01. Introductory Anouncement 
02. F.S.R. (For Sonny Rollins) 5:12
03. Put Your Little Foot Right Out 5:45
04. Rio 6:49
05. If I Loved You 3:38
06. Introductory Anouncement 
07. Summertime 6:49
08. Days Of Wine And Roses 6:43
09. Introductory Anouncement 
10. A Night In Tunisia 6:10
11. Bam Bam Bam 4:03
**
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Ray BROWN Trio- The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio 1987

Ray BROWN Trio - The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio 1987
The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio (Concord, 1987) employed Mickey Roker and Gene Harris
and was recorded at the Blue Note in New York City, November to December 1985.

Jazz

Leader Ray Brown I always referred to as the "all univers bassist" because of his huge and comfortable sound and his ability to interact and enhance the performance of his companion players. His supportive talents are evident throughout the whole album, but never more than "That's All" which also contains some beautiful time shifts. Listen to the room expression of appreciation during and after this one! Ray also has some terrific intros on "Lady Be Good" and his original, "Captain Bill", where he cleverly inserts a few notes of "Chloe". An example of his fine arco bass playing is on the title song from the 1956 Elvis Presley movie "Love Me Tender".

Gene Harris, whose career revival was largely attributable to Ray, was an Oscar Peterson influenced pianist who(my opinion) was a superlative practitioner of the blues, frquently displaying a funky overtone. He was also very under rated in his abilty to play an excuciatingly beautiful ballad. A perfect example of this occurs with Victor Young's "Street of Dreams" which starts out as a ballad and transitions briefly into hard blues before segueing back into the ballad. Note also on this selection the fine accompanying bass work by Ray Brown. The influence of Erroll Garner on Gene really comes through on Tyree Glenn's composition, "How Could You Do A Thing Like This To Me".

The trio is rounded out by Mickey Roker, a veteran drummer who has played over the years with a host of name players, his work with Ray and Milt Jackson being most familiar to me. His work can best be appreciated on "Meditation" and his brush work especially on both "Street of Dreams" and "That's All".

"Captain Bill", a tribute to Count Basie", is the closer to this happy set complete to the ending Basie signature by Gene Harris.

This is a Album you will be glad to have added to your collection!
By  Robert J. Ament.
**
Bassist Ray Brown's 1985 trio (featuring pianist Gene Harris and drummer Mickey Roker) is heard in fine form throughout this swinging set. In addition to five standards and Brown's own blues Captain Bill, there are a couple of unlikely but successful selections Tyree Glenn's How Could You Do a Thing Like This to Me and Love Me Tender. Although there is actually only one blues among the eight numbers, Gene Harris infuses all of the selections with the feeling of the blues and consistently steals the show.
By Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
**
Ray Brown- Bass
Gene Harris- Piano
Mickey Roker- Drums

A1. Have You Met Miss Jones?   
A2. Meditation   
B1. Street of Dreams   
B2. Lady Be Good   
C1. That's All   
C2. Love Me Tender   
D1. How Could You Do a Thing Like This to Me?   
D2. Captain Bill
**
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Ray BROWN - Brown's Bag 1975

Ray BROWN - Brown's Bag 1975
Label: Concord
Audio CD (August 26, 1991)

Jazz

Chicago neo-soul duo Brown's Bag paired Ward Brown and Sherrod Brown (no relation), both longtime veterans of the Windy City music scene. According to Bob Mehr's profile in the June 30, 2006, edition of the Chicago Reader, Ward Brown grew up next door to blues immortal Muddy Waters, and spent the 1970s and early '80s performing with his siblings in a series of R&B show bands; in 1983 he signed as a staff writer with the local Black Hole label, and a decade later founded his own studio, Early Park Limited. Sherrod Brown was one of the studio's first clients. The son of Lyric Opera mainstay Willie Brown, he honed his skills as a pianist, composer, and arranger for hire before teaming with Ward Brown in 1995 to form the R&B group King Kat. When Sherrod relocated to Florida they lost contact, but upon his return to Chicago in 2001, they resumed their partnership, summoning the spirit of old-school Chicago soul to write and record the first Brown's Bag LP Labor of Love, issued in late 2005 on the tiny indie Bush Man Entertainment. Despite an initial pressing of only 1,000 copies, the album earned a rabid cult following in Europe, and in the summer of 2006, Brown's Bag made its live debut in London.
By Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide.
**
Good, occasionally exciting combo set with some pithy trumpet solos by Blue Mitchell, good tenor sax from Kamauca, and generally excellent playing by all involved, even fusion ace Dave Grusin on piano.
By Ron Wynn, All Music Guide.
**
01.  Blues for Eddie Lee  3:31
02.  A Time for Love  7:38
03.  Keep on Pumpin'  6:38
04.  The Surrey With the Fringe on Top  4:27
05.  You Are My Sunshine  4:28
06.  Emily  6:09
07.  The Surrey With the Fringe on Top (Reprise)  1:54
**
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The Ray BROWN Trio With Ralph Moore - Moore Makes 4 1990

The Ray BROWN Trio With Ralph Moore - Moore Makes 4 1990
Label: Concord
Audio CD: (September 10, 1991)

Jazz

The members of the Ray Brown Trio (the bassist-leader, pianist Gene Harris and drummer Jeff Hamilton) all grew to love the playing of tenor-saxophonist Ralph Moore when the four were traveling as members of Gene Harris' big band. On this Ray Brown CD, the veteran bassist virtually turned over the entire session to Moore. The quartet performs a variety of veteran standards (including some from the bop era such as Charlie Parker's "Quasimodo" and Dizzy Gillespie's "The Champ") plus Wes Montgomery's "SOS" and Brown's "Ralph's Boogie." Ralph Moore rises to the occasion and shows that, even though his sound is inspired by John Coltrane, he was fully capable of playing tunes from the swing and bop era; Moore sounds delighted to have the Ray Brown Trio as his backup group. This is a fine collaboration that works quite well.
By Scott Yanow, All Music Guide.
**
High inspiration for each musician, and it shows with the eleven tracks on this outing by - Ray Brown (bass), Gene Harris (piano), Jeff Hamilton (drums) and the fourth member - Ralph Moore (tenor sax) - "Moore Makes 4", what other title could you want?
Another Carl E. Jefferson (producer) and Nick Phillips (assistant producer) gem, like all the previous Ray Brown Trio sessions, this one had a twist - Moore picked some tunes and Ray put it together, he's a master of doing just that on the spot...that's what makes him so great. Brown who is always so generous, brought some tunes for Ralph to shine...and shine he does.
Of course there are stand outs - "THE CHAMP", the 1944 John "Dizzy" Gillespie tune, gives Moore the necessary workout to prove he's worthy of the company he's in..."SQUATTY ROO", a zesty number composed by the great Johnny Hodges, Ralph leans back and takes it all in.
And the highlight is - "RALPH'S BOOGIE", sort of the funky grandchild of "It Don't Mean a Thing", Ray composed this for Ralph to give him the spotlight, and Gene gets his two-cents worth in...what an awesome track this turned out to be.
If you're a big fan of jazz, funk, blues and want something you can sink your teeth into...this Concord Jazz album is the one you've got to have...and that "jazz-lovers" is my final answer!
By  J. Lovins.
**
Ray Brown- Bass
Gene Harris- Piano
Jeff Hamilton- Drums
Ralph Moore- Tenor Sax
**
01. Sos 4:43
02. Bye Bye Blackbird 6:42
03. Stars Fell On Alabama 5:11
04. Ralph's Boogie 4:27
05. Quasimodo 3:03
06. Like Someone In Love 5:58
07. Polka Dots And Moonbeams 7:43
08. Squatty Roo 4:43    Preview
09. Everything I Love 6:14
10. My Romance 5:34
11. The Champ 2:24
**
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Ray BROWN & Laurindo ALMEIDA - Moonlight Serenade 1981

Ray BROWN & Laurindo ALMEIDA - Moonlight Serenade 1981
Label: Jeton

Jazz

Artists Ray Brown, bass, Laurindo Almeida, guitar, transcribe the works of an electric mix of composers from Beethoven to Thelonious Monk. A harmonious encounter which blends classical music, jazz and South American melodies. Transparent, dreamy, late night music.
**
After all these years, some jazz historians continue to lament the end of the big-band era; they continue to remind listeners how much of a thrill it can be to hear 20 or 25 seasoned jazz musicians playing together. But there is also a lot to be said for intimacy in jazz, the sort of intimacy that serves bassist Ray Brown and Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida delightfully well on Moonlight Serenade. Recorded in Germany in 1981, this session finds Brown and Almeida forming an acoustic duo and the two of them enjoy a consistently strong rapport on lyrical, introspective performances of material that ranges from Tin Pan Alley standards ( "Blue Skies," "Beautiful Love" ) to Brazilian songs (Ary Barroso's "Inquietaçao" ) to European classical music (Johann Sebastian Bach's Air). One of the most ambitious tracks on the album is a medley that combines Thelonious Monk's "Round Midnight" with Ludwig van Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (as opposed to "Moonlight Serenade"  although this 70-minute CD is titled Moonlight Serenade, the gem that became Glenn Miller's theme song is not part of the program). "Round Midnight," of course, is one of those standards that has been recorded thousands of times over the years; it has been recorded so often that veteran producer Orrin Keepnews once described it as "the national anthem of jazz. " But it isn't every day that one hears "Round Midnight" successfully blended with Beethoven -- something that Brown and Almeida are able to accomplish because they obviously know one another so well musically. Moonlight Serenade, it should be stressed, wasn't the first time the two of them joined forces: Brown and Almeida had played together in the L.A. 4 in the '70s, so they were a perfect combination when, in 1981, they recorded the cohesive guitar/bass duets on this excellent CD.
By Alex Henderson, AMG.
**
Ray Brown (Double Bass)
Laurindo Almeida (Guitar)
**
01. Mondsheinsonate/Round About Midnight (L. v. Beethoven/Thelonius Monk) 6:04
02. Samba De Angry (Tamar Burdett) 3:45
03. Beautiful Love (Haven Gillespie/Wayne King/Egbert Van Alstyne/Victor Young) 6:34
04. Air On A 'G'-String (J. S. Bach) 2:32
05. Malaguena (Ernesto Lecuona) 4:48
06. Blue Skies (Irving Berlin) 3:48
07. Make The Man Love You (Traditional) 2:15
08. Inquietacao (Ari Barroso) 3:12
09. My Man Is Gone (Ira Gershwin/George Gershwin/Dubose Heyward) 3:44
10. Laurindos (Laurindo Almeida) 2:37
11. Mondsheinsonate/Round About Midnight (L. v. Beethoven/Thelonius Monk) 6:06
12. Beautiful Love (Haven Gillespie/Wayne King/Egbert Van Alstyne/Victor Young) 6:46
13. Air (J. S. Bach) 4:12
14. Malaguena (Ernesto Lecuona) 4:48
15. Blue Skies (Irving Berlin) 3:34
16. Make The Man Love You (Traditional) 2:16
17. Inquietacao (Ari Barroso) 3:14
**
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