Search - Ray Anthony :: Dream Dancing 7: The Harry James Songbook

85 -- And Still Playing Better Than Ever!

Russ Heitz | Sarasota, Florida, USA | 12/22/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you remember, and still enjoy, the Big Band era and the trumpet-playing leaders like Harry James, Randy Brooks, and Charlie Spivak, you'll also remember Ray Anthony. But while James, Brooks, and Spivak have all gone on to join Gabriel's trumpet section in the sky, Ray Anthony is still playing, still making CDs, and still sounding as good as ever--maybe even BETTER than he ever sounded before. And the man is 85 years old!



This album, "Dream Dancing #7" was recorded in 2005 and is sub-titled "The Harry James Songbook." It is Ray's tribute to Harry who was one of Ray's own favorite trumpet players. Ray, like Harry in his later years, was known primarily for his warm, full, mellow, and what some would call his "sweet" tone. While trumpet players in the 50s, 60s and 70s (like Maynard Ferguson and Dizzy Gillespie) were trying to outdo each other by playing warp-speed bop, high Cs, double high Cs, and "screech trumpet," Ray's speciality was playing slow, romantic ballads in the trumpet's lower register. Seldom venturing above middle C, Ray became the master of the big, fat, low sound that was featured on many of his earlier "Dream Dancing" albums.



For us current and ex-trumpet players, middle C and downward is known as the easy register. A red, contorted face is not necessary here. Nor are bulging, bullfrog cheeks. And no six-pack abs are needed to compress a muscular diaphragm. All that this kind of playing requires is an easy, gentle breath control with lots of vibrato, an emotional interpretation, and a lush, romantic, ballad sound.



For the "sweet-tone" trumpeters like James and Anthony, the emphasis was on the fullnes of the tone and the breadth of the vibrato. Some of the sweet trumpet players like Anthony and James had a vibrato that jazz-oriented trumpet players snidely called a "nanny." It was called that because it was broad, soft, and fat. Some critics also said these performers sounded more like braying nanny goats than trumpet players. But for those of us who still love the old-time trumpet balladeers, a broad, soft, and fat vibrato sounds just fine.



In this tribute album, some of Harry James' most popular recordings are brought back to life with all of the warmth and intimacy that only digital recordings can master. I Had The Craziest Dream. I've Heard That Song Before. You Made Me Love You. I Cried For You. And September Song are just a few of the James' classics that Ray Anthony revives. But these are not note-for-note copies of the James solos. Anthony provides his own way of musically saying the same things.



But one of the most amazing things about this album is that 85 year-old Ray Anthony no longer lingers in the trumpet's lower, easy register. He doesn't venture into the "screech-like" stratosphere of the high register boys, either. But he certainly climbs well past middle C without losing any of the warmth and lushness that always marked his lower register.



The arrangements for all the songs on this album were done by Don Simpson. And all are reminiscent of the Glenn Miller sound that featured a well-stocked sax section with Sal Lozano's first-chair clarinet carrying the lead melody. Not surprisingly, one of Ray Anthony's first professional jobs was playing lead trumpet with the Glenn Miller band in the early 40s.



Playing this album is like unearthing a musical time capsule that was buried some fifty years ago. But instead of being dead or even stale, Anthony and his golden trumpet are an anachronism that continues to be reborn with the release of every new CD. And there's a bunch of Ray Anthony CDs still out there and available everywhere. So if you don't have any Anthony discs in your personal library, the Harry James Songbook (Dream Dancing #7) is a great way to start your collection. And for those who do have a few Anthony gems, this will be a smooth, mellow and thoroughly enjoyable addition.



Russ Heitz

www.russheitz.com

Author of CROSSHAIRS: A Novel of Suspense"