favourite ray brown album?

IMHO, for me that's kind of like asking what my favorite bass player is.. tough to narrow things down because of just how great Ray is/was. But one of my favorites that comes to mind right away has to be Sonny Rollins' "Way Out West" (I love Sonny's playing as too, and it doesn't hurt that the great Shelly Manne is on drums). Oh, and there's this other Milt Jackson (quintet, I think?) live album from sometime in the 60's where they feature Ray with a solo rubato embellishment on "Tenderly" and yeah, that one's pretty great too.

Edit - The album I'm thinking of is "The Milton Quintet featuring Ray Brown: That's The Way It Is!", Impulse AS-9189.

 

can't pick just one, but if I had to "West Side Story" by the Oscar Peterson Trio would be up there. Ray's inventiveness on that album is nothing short of amazing. He really makes that album, IMO, with all due respect to Oscar and (I think) Ed Thigpen.

 

Any of the trio recordings with Benny Green & Jeff Hamilton. Bassface and Don't Get Sassy are not groundbreaking or high-flying displays of technique, but they simply have a great feel.

The Oscar Peterson recordings are absolutely nuts! (in a good way)

 

Don't get Sassy gets my vote.

Soular Energy, Live at Starbucks, and the one with Monty Alexander & Russell Malone are not far behind.

 

"Way out West", the duo with Duke and Oscar Peterson and Basses. He always sounds, good, though!

 

I really like the box set I bought with Seven Steps to Heaven, Bass Face and LIve at Scullers.

3 awesome records.

I really like Night Train with Oscar Peterson since it's the record that made me discover Mr. Brown. Way out West is also a classic.

 

Night train is great. The OP albums are all pretty solid - no matter who plays bass!

 

Actually, there's a really amazing duo album of Ray Brown and Jimmy Rowles that is just outstanding playing all around. It's called "As Good As It Gets", on Concord Records.

 

Night train or superbass vol. 2.
Both are on my iPod all the time!

 

Blossom Dearie, "Sings Comden and Green" or Art Farmer "On the Road."

 

Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio

 

We Get Requests by the Oscar Peterson Trio. The bass is very well recorded on this one.

 

Night Train and Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsjmzGrab2Y

 

I transcribed that one but can't play it up to speed on the double time parts...I've heard that with guts it's easier to play faster, but man the stuff he plays there is amazing, just to think he came up with such a solo in the spot!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFtwr9ph3Ik

I don't get tired of listening to this one! Ahhh the sound of Ray Brown and Spiros!!!

 

That's the album that Ray said he liked the sound of his bass the best. Recorded in a tent in Stratford, Ontario with the mic on a short stand out on the stage floor, apparently!

 

I like the duo w/Jimmy Rowles!