Some of My Best Friends Are... Guitarists

Some of My Best Friends Are... Guitarists

ASIN: B00006878R

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
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

Some of My Best Friends Are... Guitarists,Ray Brown,Telarc,Bop,Jazz,Jazz Music,Mainstream Jazz,Pop

Some of My Best Friends Are Guitarists
Average customer rating:

Jazz guitar fan

One Of My Best Albums Is This CD!

Very swinging!

Crowning achievement of a long life in and for jazz.

Some of My Best Friends Are Guitarists
Ray Brown
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006878R
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Tracks:

Squeeze Me
I Want To Be Happy
Heartstrings
Blues For Ray
Fly Me To The Moon
The Song Is You
Little Darlin'
Blues For Junior
Tangerine
My Funny Valentine
Blues For Wes
Soulful Spirit (Dedicated To Billy Higgins)

Amazon.com

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:

Jazz guitar fan.......2007-03-16

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!.......2005-03-06

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. Overall, this cd is great, exposing you to many different styles of soloing. All the music is straight jazz. Ray Brown, Kareem Riggins, and Geoff Keezer all do spectacular jobs comping behind the featured soloists. Below are some other cd's I recommend from artists similar to these:
1. Last Session or Ray Brown/Monty Alexander/Russell Malone (Ray Brown (b), Monty Alexander (p), Russell Malone (g)) Very similar to this, however without a drummer, extraodinary solos.
2.Straight Ahead (Ray Brown(b), Monty Alexander(p), Herb Ellis (g)) Very similar to this, however without a drummer, two cds included!
3. Summertime (Ray Brown (b), Geoff Keezer (p), Gregory Hutchinson (d), Ulf Wakenius (g) Similar to this.

P.S Please Check Out My Reviews On The Recommended CDs!

Very swinging!.......2004-05-27

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 for the whole record. There's not a bad tune on the record, and it's great to hear such a great variety of guitar styles. Blues for Wes is just awesome -- impossible not to think of Wes Montgomery when hearing this. And the closing ballad 'Soulful Spirit' is just so sweet and touching. A great record!

Crowning achievement of a long life in and for jazz........2002-07-03

I bought this CD on Tuesday, July 3, 2002. The very next morning
-today- I found the notice on German TV-videotext that Ray Brown had died. The album is a fitting tribute to his genius. Accompanying a stellar cast of guitarists, among them Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis and John Pizzarelli, Ray proves for the last time the defining qualities of his musicianship - the swing, the precise timing and, on the fast tracks, an astonishing nimbleness: he recorded this album at 73! Each of the guitarists featured on this CD are first-rate; they present a collection of mosty traditional, in some cases original material. Three of the most outstanding tracks are blues: 'Blues for Ray' (Ulf Wakenius), 'Blues for Junior' (Herb Ellis) and 'Blues for Wes' (Bruce Forman), the latter a tribute to may favourite jazz guitarist (maybe yours, too?). On each of these blues Ray's bass accompaniment is excellent. On 'Tangerine', John Pizarrelli
and Ray Brown play so fast it's unbelievable. The recording is excellent, although my stereo is not good enough to bring out the subtleties promised by 'Direct Stream Digital', so I can say nothing about that.

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