Ray Brown, Monty Alexander, Russell Malone Ray Brown Monty Alexander Russell Malone Genres:Jazz, Pop Before he left us in July 2, 2002, Ray Brown reigned as the king of jazz bassists for over five decades. As a disciple of Oscar Pettiford and Jimmy Blanton, Brown's sturdy tone, impeccable technique, and swinging drive ... more »propelled Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Milt Jackson, and countless other jazz stars to fame. On this CD, his 18th recording for the Telarc label and his fifth in his celebrated Best Friends series, Brown is joined by the young guitar wizard Russell Malone and the lyrical, Jamaican-born pianist Monty Alexander. The drumless lineup is a tribute to the groundbreaking trios Brown lead with Oscar Peterson, and the music is simply remarkable. With Alexander's flowing pianisms shadowed by Malone's articulate guitar work, Brown's deep grooves are only topped by his flawless melodic ideas. If that isn't enough, this specially priced set also contains another CD with tracks from Brown's previous Telarc releases, selected by producer Elaine Martone. It further proves that no one has, or will, play the bass like Ray Brown. --Eugene Holley Jr.« less
Before he left us in July 2, 2002, Ray Brown reigned as the king of jazz bassists for over five decades. As a disciple of Oscar Pettiford and Jimmy Blanton, Brown's sturdy tone, impeccable technique, and swinging drive propelled Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Milt Jackson, and countless other jazz stars to fame. On this CD, his 18th recording for the Telarc label and his fifth in his celebrated Best Friends series, Brown is joined by the young guitar wizard Russell Malone and the lyrical, Jamaican-born pianist Monty Alexander. The drumless lineup is a tribute to the groundbreaking trios Brown lead with Oscar Peterson, and the music is simply remarkable. With Alexander's flowing pianisms shadowed by Malone's articulate guitar work, Brown's deep grooves are only topped by his flawless melodic ideas. If that isn't enough, this specially priced set also contains another CD with tracks from Brown's previous Telarc releases, selected by producer Elaine Martone. It further proves that no one has, or will, play the bass like Ray Brown. --Eugene Holley Jr.
B. J. Lane | Levittown, PA United States | 02/28/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Recorded just a few short months before he left us last summer, Ray showed us (as he did many times over the years) one prime example of the great musician he was. No one can ever match or exceed the talent this legend possessed.Every track on this CD is a gem, and the musicianship of Russell Malone (guitar) and Monty Alexander (piano) is impeccable. As a bonus, Telarc added another disc showcasing Ray's finest work from his other CDs.This CD should be in every jazz lover's library!..."
A different kind of Ray Brown Trio . . .
Aurpon W. Mitra | 10/13/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I first looked up the album, I was surprised not to see a drummer listed. My assumption was it was going to be kind of boring without somebody like Jeff Hamilton, Karriem Riggins, or Greg Hutchinson(former Ray Brown drummers) in the ensemble. How wrong I was!
Monty Alexander and Russell Malone are just awesome on this recording. Malone has such stylistic range but still maintains a rich tone. Alexander has softer approach that is equally playful. And of course, Ray Brown is always amazing.
Definitely worth purchasing for anyone who likes Jazz, Ray Brown, or just wants some relaxed listening with a swinging trio."
A gem
Powerpack | Saint Paul, MN USA | 08/12/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This remains one of my enduring favorite albums. Have invested in several albums by the three artists involved over the years, with generally more disappointing results (- still think Russell Malone can come up with a similar calibre CD some year!) What a beautifully synthesized, mellow and thoughtful piece of work - just love it."
How Could This Get Any Better?
Jonathan L | United States | 03/06/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"You tell me. I don't know. I tell you, Russell Malone and Monty Alexander's performance on this song has dazzled me for over a year. This was one of the first albums I ever got. It convinced me that jazz was worth listening to. I got this, and the solos have never failed to impress me. If you are a rocker, jazzer, rapper,or even a ukelele player you'll like this cd. My personal favorite is Fly Me To The Moon and Honeysuckle Rose. Ray Brown in himself is a virtuoso. He's played with lots of great players. Below are some other cds I recommend:
1. Straight Ahead (Ray Brown(b), Monty Alexander(p), Herb Ellis (g)) If you liked this album, this is similar with great playing and two cds!
2. Some Of My Best Friends Are Guitarists (Ray Brown (b), Geoff Keezer (p), Kareem Riggins (d), and Ulf Wakenius, Russell Malone, Bruce Forman, Herb Ellis, John Pizzarelli on different songs (guitarists))
3. Summertime (Ray Brown (b), Geoff Keezer (p), Gregory Hutchinson (d), Ulf Wakenius (g) This is also extremely similar to this cd.
P.S Please Check Out My Reviews On The Recommended CDs!"