Ray Bryant - The Essential Ray Bryant: Trio & Solo Albums 1956-59 (2026)

Tracklist

CD1
01. Cubano Chant
02. Off Shore
03. Well, You Needn't
04. Cry Me a River
05. In a Mellow Tone
06. You're My Thrill
07. A Night in Tunisia
08. Goodbye
09. Philadelphia Bound
10. Pawn Ticket
11. The Breeze and I
12. It's a Pity to Say Goodnight
13. Golden Earrings
14. Angel Eyes
15. Blues Changes
16. Splittin'
17. Django
18. Daahoud
19. Sonar

CD2
01. Joy (Blues No. 2)
02. Lover Man
03. Me and the Blues (Blues No. 1)
04. Rockin' Chair
05. Stocking Feet
06. Delauney's Dilemma
07. Blue Monk
08. Misty
09. Sneaking Around
10. Now's the Time
11. Wheatleigh Hall
12. Doodlin'
13. A Hundred Dreams from Now
14. Bags' Groove
15. Walkin'
16. Take the A Train
17. Whisper Not
18. Little Susie



Born in Philadelphia in 1931, Ray Bryant learnt piano from an early age, playing in church, but soon switched from classical to jazz, and turned professional when he was 14. In the late '40s he toured with Tiny Grimes' band, and then was a solo pianist in Syracuse,N.Y. before returning to Philadelphia to play in clubs there, accompanying visiting musicians like Lester Young and Charlie Parker, and for a while was Carmen McRae's accompanist until he began recording as soloist and leader. Although he was a fluent player in the bebop idiom, he combined blues, boogie-woogie, gospel, and stride in a distinctive, soulful, and swinging style; as Scott Yanow at Allmusic.com says, no one played 'After Hours' quite like him. This 37-track 2-CD featuring most of the titles from the albums with his trio Ray Bryant Trio on Epic, Ray Bryant Trio on Prestige, and Ray Bryant Plays on Signature, and from the solo album Alone With The Blues on New Jazz. It also includes 1959 No. 12 R&B hit single Little Susie on Signature. It features recordings with bass players Wyatt Ruther, Ike Isaacs and Tommy Bryant and drummers Kenny Clarke, Jo Jones, Osie Johnson, Specs Wright and Oliver Jackson. His music was always accessible and entertaining, with fluent improvisations, and this collection of recordings from his early years is an enlightening showcase for his particular brand of jazz piano.