Hip to the max tenor sax Ray Blue – WORK: Ray’s playing is the ultimate in hip to the max tenor sax… on this upcoming release (slated for October, 2019; samples will be added later), he’s joined by some truly stellar players… Ron Wilkins – Trombone, Neil Clark – Percussion, Steve Johns – Drums, Essiet Okon Essiet – Bass Belden Bullock – Bass, Jeff Barone – Guitar, Sharp Radway – Piano, Kirk Lightsey and Benito Gonzalez… they pull out all the stops to give you a jazz treat you’ll be listening to for months (and years) to come. Though there aren’t videos for the new album performances yet, here’s one featuring Ray in solo mode that will give you lots of joy…
…since you’re there already, be sure to SUBSCRIBE to Ray’s YouTube channel, where you’ll find many more intriguing performances – I did.
Now back to the new release… the piano on Nat Adderley’s “Sweet Emma” will just melt in your mind… nice underlying funk rhythms going on, too… this definitely takes me back to my earliest days as a jazz fan (in the 1960′).
Ray’s original, “My Friend and I Took a Walk”, will truly impress you… some of the richest and most mellow reed work I’ve heard (yet) in 2019… I have no doubt that this 4:17 tune will be getting tons of airplay on jazz stations across the globe!
The upbeat tempo on Jimmy Smith’s “Mellow Mood” will improve your outlook in just the first couple of bars… again, I can’t help be reminded of my ’60’s finger-snappin’ & toe-tappin’ days.
It’s nearly always the original tunes that capture my vote for personal favorite… of the thirteen splendid performances offered up, it’s (unquestionably) Ray’s “Attitude” that got my vote… one of the swinginest songs I’ve heard (yet) in 2019!
I give Ray and his musical friends a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) score of 4.98 for this fine album. Get more information about this high-talent player on Ray’s website. Rotcod Zzaj
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