The previous "last" Ray Brown recording was the well-received
Ray Brown, Monty Alexander, Russell
Malone. Now that finality appears a bit premature, as the last trio date for the late great
bassist was actually Walk On. Like the former release, this is a two-disc set, the second of
which is made up of previously unreleased takes from Brown's most recent Telarc releases.
Walk On was recorded during the same period as Some of My Best Friends Are…The Trumpet Players and
…The Guitarists , in January
2000. The
disc features a quintessential Ray Brown pianist, Geoff Keezer, and drummer Karriem Riggins.
Besides the recording's interest as the last Ray Brown Trio recording (at least for now), it is also
Geoff Keezer’s final recording with the trio before sliding the piano chair to Larry Fuller.
The final trio date contains several new Brown originals, including the three-part Ray Brown
Suite, plus a revamped "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Stella by
Starlight." Brown and his pianists have always tended to favor the older and most established
songs. This disc is no exception, opening the "America the Beautiful" taking a nod
toward Gene Harris with "You are My Sunshine" and the aforementioned
"Honeysuckle Rose." This is very much Brown’s recording. He solos widely and
impeccably. Keezer plays with the dedication one would expect, and Riggins keeps time with the
best.
The second disc features Brown with Benny Green, Monty Alexander, and the Superbass group
of Christian McBride and John Clayton. There is not a wasted cut here, particularly among the
Superbass selections. The duet "In A Mellotone" with Christian McBride presents no
difficulty identifying the bassists, both of whom solo and support in a very outer space manner. Ray
Brown could walk like no one else. "F.S.R." features some of the best Benny Green
piano playing ever, while Monty Alexander’s "Woogie Boogie" doesn't desitate to boogie
woogie. The
second disc is closed with the Superbass group again, playing "Down By the Riverside"
where Brown ends the convocation with a hearty "Amen."
Amen, indeed.
For more information, please see
Telarc Jazz.
~ C. Michael Bailey
