Search - Ralph Sutton :: Easy Street

Easy Street

A. Day | 04/11/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"All I can do is to second the excellent comments of Mr. Graham. Bob Barnard has a tone and style eerily close to that of Billy Butterfield. Ralph is in his usual great form. The first track, "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" gives us a delicious taste of what is to come. It has so many upward key changes that it's a wonder Ralph didn't fall off the right-hand side of the piano stool! Well, Ralph is "Gone", but thousands miss him and do "Talk About Him", which I am sure he would appreciate. Younger generations do not know what they missed, and I urge them to buy this CD to find out.



Arnold Day"

Overlooked Gem

John C. Graham | toronto, ontario Canada | 07/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This one is recorded in May of 1991 at ABC studio, Sydney, Australia. Bob Barnard is on all tracks except 6, 8, and 11 and the brother Len is on all except 9, 11, and 12. It's sort of a follow up to the earlier(and exceptional)Partners In Crime except that Milt Hinton couldn't make the gig. Not to worry, Ralph's left hand takes care of all the bass chores and the Barnard's are left plenty of space to show what they can do...and that's what makes this disc such a treasure.



The 13 tunes should all be familiar to anyone listening to earlier jazz. China Boy, Tea For Two, A Hundred Years From Today, Wolverine Blues, Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gave To Me, Handful Of Keys, and seven other standards(warhorses)make up the program. Even if the melodies are familiar, you've never heard them played this way.



Len Barnard was a complete master of the drum kit and the washboard, playing in his own way since the early fifties. This cd is a nice showcase for his enormous talent. Brother Bob is one of the top cornettists in the world today. Most of his recordings are exceptional and well worth owning. He makes every tune he plays sound good. It's that gorgeous tone that is so expressive and vital.



The playing of these three master musicians does not disappoint in any way. There are moments of fire and passion. There are moments of sublime beauty. Don't let this one pass you by."