Ray Brown – This is Ray Brown (1958)

Verve – MGV-8290Rec. Dates : February 27 & 28, 1958Stream this Album Bass : Ray BrownDrums : Osie JohnsonFlute : Jerome RichardsonGuitar : Herb EllisOrgan : Oscar PetersonPiano : Oscar Peterson Billboard : 02/09/1959 Ray Brown, one of the Oscar Peterson Trio, one of the top bassists on today’s jazz scene, is the featured soloist on this attractive new jazz set. It

Lester Young – The President Plays With the Oscar Peterson Trio (1956)

Norgran – MGN 1054Rec. Date : August 4, 1952Stream this Album (YT only) Tenor Sax : Lester YoungPiano : Oscar PetersonBass : Ray BrownDrums : J.C. HeardGuitar : Barney Kessel Billboard : 05/05/1956Score of 72 Another re-issue on 12-inch $3.98 vinyl of two complete previously listed 10-inch LPs. The President, of course, is tenor saxman Lester Young, featured here in some of

Lester Young and Harry Edison – Pres and Sweets (1956)

Norgran – MGN 1043Rec. Date : November 1, 1955Stream this Album Tenor Sax : Lester YoungTrumpet : Harry EdisonBass : Ray BrownDrums : Buddy RichGuitar : Herb EllisPiano : Oscar Peterson Billboard : 09/29/1956Score of 72 Lester (Pres) Young is less than a ghost of his once great self in this spotty set. Poor tone and feeble invention will scare off all

Stuff Smith – Stuff Smith (1957)

Verve – MGV-8206Rec. Dates : March 7, 1957, March 12, 1957Stream this Album Violin : Stuff SmithBass : Ray BrownDrums : Alvin StollerGuitar : Barney KesselPiano : Oscar Peterson A nice article about Stuff Smith’s violin, “Big Red,” from the June 2018 issue of Strings Magazine. Billboard : 08/05/1957Score of 70 An appealing slice of the jazz violin work that Smith has long been

Oscar Peterson Trio – At the Stratford Shakespearean Festival (1957)

Verve – MGV-8024Rec. Date : August 8, 1956Stream this Album Piano : Oscar PetersonBass : Ray BrownGuitar : Herb Ellis Billboard : 07/08/1957Score of 81 One of the best Peterson sets in a long while, with the buoyant pianist framed by Ray Brown on bass and Herb Ellis on guitar in “concert.” A loose, relaxed feeling pervades, with subtle ensemble changes giving way to

Illinois Jacquet – Swings the Thing (1957)

Verve – MGV-8023Rec. Date : October 16, 1956Stream this Album Tenor Sax : Illinois JacquetBass : Ray BrownDrums : Jo JonesGuitar : Herb EllisPiano : Jimmy JonesTrumpet : Roy Eldridge Billboard : 04/20/1957Score of 74 Gusto galore here for the go-go fans, with a romping brand of swing that never lets down. Accompanied by some excellent sidemen: Roy Eldridge, trumpet; Jimmy Jones, piano; Ray

Ray Brown – Bass Hit! (1957)

Verve – MGV-8022Rec. Dates : November 21, 1956, November 23, 1956Stream this Album Bass : Ray BrownAlto Sax : Jack Dulong, Herb GellerArranger, Conductor : Marty PaichBaritone Sax : Jimmy GiuffreClarinet : Jimmy GiuffreDrums : Alvin Stoller, Mel LewisGuitar : Herb EllisPiano : Jimmy RowlesTenor Sax : Jimmy Giuffre, Bill HolmanTrombone : Herbie HarperTrumpet : Pete Candoli, Harry Edison, Ray Linn, Conrad Gozzo Billboard : 04/20/1957Score of 78 This

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – Ella and Louis (1956)

Verve – MG V-4003Rec. Date : August 16, 1956Stream this Album Vocals : Ella Fitzgerald, Louis ArmstrongTrumpet : Louis ArmstrongBass : Ray BrownDrums : Buddy RichGuitar : Herb EllisPiano : Oscar Peterson   Cashbox : 11/03/1956 This package has already made a strong appearance on the charts. Little wonder. Two sturdy entertainers are coupled in some rare moments of beautiful jazz

Oscar Peterson – Plays Count Basie (1956)

Clef – MG C-708Rec. Date : December 27, 1955Stream this Album Piano : Oscar PetersonBass : Ray BrownDrums : Buddy RichGuitar : Herb Ellis Billboard : 05/19/1956Score of 80 Peterson salutes Basie, the composer, pianist and bandsman by building a program on numbers long associated with the band (e.g., Lester Leaps In and Easy Does It). Peterson even adopts the “Count’s” sparse piano styling