Quincy Jones: Killer Joe plus Ray Brown!

[Dr. Cheese]

I had emailed PDbass at least twice over the years about doing this analysis. I guess the passing of Quincy Jones was the perfect time to do it!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I think I might have asked him to analyze “Walking in Space” from the same album. That track sounds like it could have been Chuck Rainey, but I think PD says it was acoustic.

 

[turf3]

I think the whole album is Ray Brown, but much of it is on electric.

One of the very hippest single notes ever in jazz is that one rim shot that starts Killer Joe.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I think the whole album is Ray Brown, but much of it is on electric.

One of the very hippest single notes ever in jazz is that one rim shot that starts Killer Joe.

I know he play electric for some sessions. The title song sounds very much like a P-bass to me.

 

[jim nolte]

I had that album when it came out, Hot Buttered Soul, if I remember correctly Ray Brown was the only bassist on it, between him being the bassist in the house band on the Merv Griffith Show and that album this was my first exposure to jazz upright bass playing, Killer Joe, go man go.

 

[Aaron]

Given the simple, somewhat paddy, vocal lines and horn arrangements, I'm curious if Quincy Jones told Ray that the tune was going to be a bass feature and to take the spotlight as much as possible. Even in the Ray Brown Trio, I never heard Ray Brown play a bassline that draws that much attention. Or maybe Ray needed to vent about something.