Search - Ray Bryant :: Ray Bryant Trio

Miles Must Have Been Impressed...

Tom | Palatine, IL USA | 04/16/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Coming off his first studio gig with Miles Davis (if I read the liner notes correctly,) Ray stands tall as an exceptionally wise sounding kid.Playing here somtime in his mid-twenties, Ray demonstrates the wonderful stride influence that will gild all his subsequent work. It's as if, every early on, Ray has decided never to take himself too seriously - and as you listen, you always have the sense that he would be just as happy in front of a slightly out-of-tune upright.This is a great disc, and serves the Bryant collector well as a great benchmark of his early work.If you are new to Ray Bryant, this disc. will have you asking, "How much better can he get?" Pick up "Somewhere in France," for the answer to that question.As always, Ray plays without pretense or distraction. Music seems to flow effortlessly from him, as if he is thinking it, rather than playing.Big Ray is very cool indeed."

Excellent jazz album

Johann | St. Croix, US Virgin Islands | 10/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I started really listening to jazz about two years ago. Since then I am heavily involved in listening and purchasing jazz albums. This album ranks as one of my best buys. The music is so moving that I listen to this album over and over again more than any other album that I own. Ray Byrant Trio is skillfully crafted and I recommend it to all listeners, but especially to those that are learning about this genre of music and not sure how good an album is for purchase. I use this album time and again as the standard for my other purchases."

One of my favorite trio recordings ever..simply soulful

douglasnegley | Pittsburgh, Pa. United States | 09/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ray Bryant was somewhat of a boy-wonder, in that his playing at an early age seemed to reflect the soulfulness and rhythmic wisdom of a more mature player. Prior to this '57 recording, Ray served as the "house" pianist for the Blue Note, where he played with talent like Miles, Sonny Stitt, and Bird. 1958 found him playing dates with Benny Golson. In '59, Bryant became the "house" pianist at the Newport Jazz Festival, and suprised a whole lot of people with his range and versatility. It may sound like a strange comparison, but Bryant sounds to me a lot like the Cannonball of the keyboard. Both his mother and sister were gospel pianists. This recording, with Ike Isaacs and Specs Powell, grooves the entire way through. Bryant really likes John Lewis' "Django" (he also played it solo at Montreaux in '77) and it shows. Boogie-woogie is a Bryant mainstay and he throws some in on "Django" with impeccable interjection. "Golden Earrings", "Angel Eyes", and, for me, especially Clifford Brown's "Daahoud" are highlights."