Search - Ray Bryant :: Through the Years 1

Ray Bryant's best compilation......BUT WAIT!!!

J. A. Connolly | Oak Park, IL USA | 03/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"(ORIGINAL REVIEW: March 29, 2005) Five stars? Probably. As any Ray Bryant fan can see, this appears to be a wonderful collection of some of his most popular performances. I'm sure it must be -- however, I can't swear to it BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN UNAVAILABLE HERE AT AMAZON FOR A GOOD FOUR YEARS (maybe more)! I've ordered it again and again, only to wait months for the inevitable "we're sorry, but we have been unable to locate..." message. Still, as long as Amazon insists that the album can be purchased I'll keep ordering it; hope you'll have better luck than I've had.



(April 1, 2006) FOLLOW UP: Well, today I FINALLY received this album! After a brief moment of disappointment when I realized that it wasn't an actual "compilation" (which I should've realized when I'd seen the other two members of the trio: Rufus Reid and Grady Tate) I quickly changed my mind upon listening!



This recording was made in early 1992, in celebration of RB's 60th birthday (1991). It is the first of two such recordings available via Japanese pressings (with no English translation of liner notes, however - another slight downer). None of these guys has lost a step "Through the Years." The playing is top-notch, with particularly nice updates of "Cubano Chant," "Blues Changes" and "Little Susie." Highly recommended (still worth 5 stars!) - if you don't mind waiting 5 or 6 years to get it! Now...any bets on how long it'll take before I can get my hands on Volume Two?"