Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ray Brown’s Great Big Band: Kayak

Ray Brown’s Great Big Band: Kayak

By Robert J. Robbins
December 16, 2010
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Not to be confused with the late, legendary bassist of the same name, San Francisco-based bandleader/arranger Ray Brown, an ex-trumpeter with the

Stan Kenton

piano
1911 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Stan Kenton and

" data-original-title="" title="">Full Faith & Credit Big Band big bands, drives his own nineteen-piece ensemble populated by the Bay Area's A-list musicians. Brown, whose percussionist father pioneered jazz education in the public schools of Long Beach, New York over seven decades ago, steadfastly maintains the legacy of the recently-deceased Canadian composer/arranger

Rob McConnell

trombone
1935 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob McConnell in his deft yet swinging charts of Great American Songbook and contemporary jazz standards.

Cole Porter

composer / conductor
1891 - 1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Cole Porter's "So In Love" (including an interpolation of

Henry Mancini

composer / conductor
1924 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Henry Mancini's "Charade") kicks off the CD with lead altoist

Mary Fettig

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Fettig, one of three Kenton alumni (the others are trumpeter Steve Campos and the leader) aboard, displaying her formidable solo abilities. Fettig also shines on "Indian Summer," along with Brown's brother Steve on guitar. The title track, by Canadian-born trumpeter

Kenny Wheeler

flugelhorn
1930 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Wheeler, showcases Steve Brown together with trumpet prodigy Erik Jekobsen. Tenor saxophonist Charlie McCarthy occupies center stage on "I Fall In Love Too Easily" (the Jule Styne/

Sammy Cahn

composer / conductor
1913 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Sammy Cahn classic immortalized by

Frank Sinatra

vocals
1915 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Sinatra and, later,

Chet Baker

trumpet and vocals
1929 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Chet Baker), and also contributes to Frank Loesser's "I've Never Been In Love Before" (from the original Broadway production of Guys and Dolls but sadly cut from the film version), which contains this album's lone vocal by Gail Dobson.

The five-man trombone section is featured individually and collectively in

Frank Rosolino

trombone
1926 - 1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Rosolino's jazz waltz "Blue Daniel," while

Oscar Pettiford

bass
1922 - 1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Oscar Pettiford's "Tricrotism" spotlights three-quarters of the rhythm section (guitarist Steve Brown, pianist Eddie Mendenhall, and bassist John Shifflett), backed by smooth woodwinds. Young Mendenhall also sparkles on

Bill Evans

piano
1929 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Evans' standard, "Turn Out the Stars," and "Del Sasser," by the late bassist

Sam Jones

bass, acoustic
1924 - 1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Sam Jones.

Brown dedicates his chart on Gershwin's "Our Love Is Here to Stay" to his late brother, Glenn, Jr., and his wife, Barbara (this was their favorite tune), and showcases trombonist

Dave Eshelman

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Eshelman (Ray's colleague in

Full Faith & Credit Big Band

" data-original-title="" title="">Full Faith & Credit Big Band and erstwhile leader of his own Bay Area-based large ensemble) and tenorist Bennett Friedman, the latter of whom also delivers a blistering improvisation on

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane's "Moment's Notice."

Sergio Mendes

piano
1941 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Sergio Mendes' ballad, "Song of No Regrets," presents Jekobsen, this time on flugelhorn, with the reed section beautifully led by Fettig on alto flute. Last, but most certainly not least,

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis and

Victor Feldman

multi-instrumentalist
1934 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Victor Feldman's "Seven Steps to Heaven," carries the band out in a most swinging manner, complete with tongue-in-cheek quotes from

Harold Arlen

composer / conductor
1905 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Harold Arlen's "Ding-Dong, The Witch Is Dead!" and

Stevie Wonder

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely,," plus solo statements from McCarthy, trumpeter Don Beck, and, in his only solo, Los Angeles-based drummer

Steve Houghton

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Houghton, who otherwise propels the band with great precision.

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Track Listing

So In Love; Indian Summer; Kayak; I Fall In Love Too Easily; Blue Daniel; Del Sasser; Our Love Is Here to Stay; I've Never Been In Love Before; Turn Out the Stars; Tricrotism; Moment's Notice; Song of No Regrets; Seven Steps to Heaven

Personnel

Ray Brown: leader, arranger; Mary Fettig: lead alto, flute, alto flute; Paul Contos: alto, flute; Bennett Friedman: tenor, clarinet; Charlie McCarthy: tenor, clarinet; Paul Tarantino: tenor; Mike Young: baritone, bass clarinet; Rich Bice: lead trumpet, fluegelhorn; Steve Campos: trumpet, fluegelhorn; Don Beck: trumpet, fluegelhorn; Louis Fasman: trumpet, fluegelhorn; Erik Jakobsen: trumpet, fluegelhorn; John Gove: lead trombone; Dave Gregoric: trombone; Dave Eshelman: trombone; Dave Martell: trombone; Derek James: bass trombone; Steve Barnhill: bass trombone; Eddie Mendenhall: piano; Steve Brown: guitar; John Shifflett: bass; Steve Houghton: drums

Album information

Title: Kayak | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Brown Cats Productions

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