Some of My Best Friends Are Guitarists
Bassist Ray Brown has been a quietly forceful presence in the jazz world since he joinedDizzy Gillespie's band in 1946. He's played in a variety of settings since then, and has always returned to the trio format (he formed his first one in the late '40s, with pianistHank Jones). This release is part of a continuing series that has teamed Brown with a variety of singers, trumpet players, saxophonists, and pianists. Here the 75-year-old Brown augments his regular trio (pianistGeoff Keezerand drummer Karriem Riggins) with a half-dozen guitarists. From the snappy articulation ofHerb Ellisto the big-bodied warmth ofKenny Burrelland the smooth coolness ofJohn Pizzarelli, these dozen performances are a veritable tour through contemporary traditional stylists. The repertoire is a mix of standards and a few originals, with Burrell's gorgeous "Soulful Spirit" (dedicated to Billy Higgins) bringing the set to a close with quiet grace and emotional resonance.--David Greenberger