Russell, Ray
Cuneiform, 2007, CD
Instrument: Guitar
Issue: 13.2
Jazz Ruler Type: Fusion
Performance: 4
Sound: 4
Score: 
O’s Notes: Russell (g) is reflecting on his days with RMS and Bill Evans. Mo Foster (b) and Simon Phillips (d) reunite for this session and Gil makes a posthumous appearance with some newfound recordings form 1988. The simple duo with Evans (Fender Rhodes) on “Pork Pie Hat” works well. Ray takes us in several directions here. It’s almost scary with the eerie tones of “Wailing Wall” and “So Far Away”. Then he’s into honky-tonk fusion on “Prayer to the Sun”. Ray really takes control on the funky blues of “Now Here’s A Thing” with Robin Aspland pushing the B3 and Amy Baldwin on bass. They save the best for last, “Blaze” a dynamic, driving number with Anthony Jackson running on base getting the juices flowing for the entire band.
Publicist: Cuneiform
