Ray Bryant Ain't we Got Fun

Pianist Ray Bryant remained very popular among Japanese jazz fans in the later stages of his career, and he made quite a few important albums for Japanese labels. Play The Blues, recorded in 1999 for M&I, is one of them. It's a collection of great blues performances and includes the past hit tunes made famous by Bryant such as "Gotta Travel On" and "Slow Freight." Backed by a superb rhythm section (Ray Drummond and Kenny Washington), Bryant shines with his expression of deep blues feeling and the unique style that fully utilizes both hands. Hugh McCracken, the famous studio musician who just passed away on March 28, 2013, plays harmonica on several tunes.

Ray Bryant's first solo piano album is rightfully considered a classic. Bryant, at the time thought of as a young modern traditionalist, has always felt perfectly at home playing the blues. He performs five original and diverse blues on this set along with "Lover Man" and "Rockin' Chair," showing that he really never needed a bassist or a drummer to sound like a complete band. This Prestige album was reissued in the Original Jazz Classics but thus far only as an LP; highly recommended in any case.

This 2013 reissue brought back one of pianist Ray Bryant's favorite trio records. Supported by either Bill Lee or Arthur Harper on bass and drummer Mickey Roker, Bryant is typically soulful, swinging and reasonably explorative on nine songs (including a previously unreleased version of "Django") that are highlighted by "Con Alma," "Milestones," his popular "Cubano Chant" and "Autumn Leaves."

"Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo" is the second studio album by American singer songwriter, Aretha Franklin, released on February 27, 1961 by Columbia Records. The album is Aretha's first release for Columbia, and is also known under its working title Right Now It's Aretha and sometimes simply as Aretha. Following in the footsteps of her close friend Sam Cooke, Aretha was "discovered" by famed Columbia Records producer John H. Hammond, who on the cover notes of the 1973 edition of "The Great Aretha Franklin: The First 12 Sides" mentions, that she was in fact recommended by the composer Curtis Reginald Lewis.

Ray Bryant, whose inimitable, blues-drenched piano style with a truly strong left hand was revered and appreciated by Japanese jazz fans, returned the favor by visiting the country many times and recording quite a few albums for several Japanese labels in his golden years. Godfather is one of these cherished treasures. Originally released in 2003, Bryant dedicated this album to the memory of John Lewis, who had passed in 2001. Aptly, the program opens with two iconic compositions by Lewis, who also had a strong affinity to the blues. Other highlights include an ambitious "Elevation Suite" which is a collage of John Coltrane's "Impressions", Miles Davis's "So What" and Bryant's own "Elevation".

One of the hardest, heaviest albums that Ray Bryant ever cut - even on the ballads - a monster little record that grabs you from the very first note! Ray did the arrangements for this one himself - working with his core trio that featured Ron Carter on bass and Grady Tate on drums, and adding in a twin-trumpet frontline that cooks the groove over the top with a really righteous sound! The rhythms are complicated, yet really funky - and the album's almost worth it alone for the title track "Up Above The Rock", which will forever be remembered for its monster break. The whole thing's great, though - and Ray follows up the leadoff cooker with other great tunes.

Ray Bryant - Up Above the Rock (1968) {2014 Japan Rare Groove Funk Best Collection 1000 Series UCCU-90071}
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© 1968, 2014 Cadet / Verve / Universal Music Japan | UCCU-90071
Jazz / Jazz Funk / Soul Jazz / Piano

Reissue with the latest remastering. One of the hardest, heaviest albums that Ray Bryant ever cut – even on the ballads – a monster little record that grabs you from the very first note! Ray did the arrangements for this one himself – working with his core trio that featured Ron Carter on bass and Grady Tate on drums, and adding in a twin-trumpet frontline that cooks the groove over the top with a really righteous sound!

Despite some commercial tendencies, this 1970 LP is better than it looks. Pianist Ray Bryant uplifts such pop material as "Let It Be," "Bridge Over Troubled Waters," "Hey Jude," and "Spinning Wheel." Four selections find Bryant's trio (with electric bassist Chuck Rainey and drummer Jimmy Johnson) augmented by either horns (on "Let It Be") or by strings effectively arranged by Eumir Deodata. The colorful results are not essential but are less dated than one might think.

Carmen McRae & Ray Bryant - Complete Recordings (1957) {Decca–Gambit Records ‎69204 rel 2005}
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© 1957-58, 2005 Decca / Gambit Records ‎| 69204
Jazz / Vocal Jazz / Bop / Standards / Soul Jazz

The 1957 release After Glow features McRae in a quartet setting with Ray Bryant, bassist Ike Isaacs and drummer Specs Wright. Four of the tracks feature Carmen in a trio playing her own piano accompaniment! The June, 1957 Mad About The Man album features McRae accompanied by an all-star band including Charlie Shavers, Frank Rehak, Jimmy Cleveland, Barry Galbraith,George Barnes, Ray Bryant, Ike Isaacs, Specs Wright and directed by Jack Pleis. The two bonus tracks recorded in March, 1958 feature a similar line-up led by Jack Pleis and featuring once again Shavers, Bryant, Isaacs, Wright and musical direction by Pleis.

Ray Bryant has long been a well-rounded and versatile yet distinctive pianist. His style, modern compared to the swing and stride players but traditional when matched against the boppers, is flexible enough to fit into many settings. This solo outing finds Bryant playing swing standards, blues, soulful versions of a couple of current pop tunes and even a bit of boogie.