Brown Trio, Ray - Some of My Best Friends Are?Guitarists

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Telarc
Catalog Number: CD-83499
Format: CD
Total Time: 63:29:00

Ray Brown (god rest his soul) was one of the most respected and loved bass players in jazz. He knew many people in the jazz world and played with most of them at one time or another. He put together a series of albums featuring fellow artists focusing on their instruments with Ray accompanying them.

Some Of My Best Friends Are?Guitarists was released in late 2002 and Brown passed away shortly thereafter leaving a legacy of music behind.

Being that the guitar is my favorite instrument, I listened to this CD with great interest and along the way had a great time taking in every single track. Some of the best jazz you will have the opportunity to hear is available on this one CD. How could you miss with such an impressive lineup such as Herb Ellis, Bruce Forman, Russell Malone, Kenny Burrell, John Pizarelli and Ulf Wakenius sitting in on guitar, then add Karriem Riggins on drums and Geoff Keezer on piano, and you have some great quartets playing on every song. Because of the variety of styles and players on the guitar it really does sound like Brown is playing with a different quartet on each song. I especially liked "Blues For Wes" (featuring Bruce Forman) and "Soulful Spirit" (featuring Kenny Burrell). This group of jazz elite knows how to make the guitar sing with a grace and smoothness beyond compare.

This recording is wonderful for many reasons, first and foremost because it was Brown's last studio session and secondly because he sat in with some of the top players in the world and it was captured in the studio to be immortalized on tape (or any other format that is developed) for eternity. It is comforting to know that we can keep an artist's flame burning long after he (or she) are gone. This one is a real keeper and a five star album in every way.

Tracklisting:
Squeeze Me (7:28) / I Want To Be Happy (3:36) / Heartstrings (5:30) / Blues For Ray (3:13) / Fly Me To The Moon (5:11) / The Song Is You (5:01) / Little Darlin' (7:47) / Blues For Junior (6:01) / Tangerine (4:27) / My Funny Valentine (6:04) / Blues For Wes (4:42) / Soulful Spirit (6:56)

Musicians:
Ray Brown - bass
Karriem Riggins - drums
Geoff Keezer - piano
Russell Malone - guitar (3, 7)
Herb Ellis - guitar (2, 8)
Bruce Forman - gGuitar (6, 11)
Kenny Burrell - guitar (5, 12)
John Pizzarelli - guitar (1, 9)
Ulf Wakenius - guitar (4, 10)

Discography:
extensive discography at AllMusic.com

Genre: Jazz/Trad. Jazz

Origin US

Added: May 18th 2003
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website:
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Language: english