Meet Betty Carter & Ray Bryant

Betty Carter, Ray Bryant | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 27, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002ADV
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #131,885 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This CD reissues a brilliant 1956 LP of the same title that served as the debuts of both Betty Carter and Ray Bryant as leaders, Bryant acting as accompanist to Carter as well as leading a trio with bassist Wendell Marshall and drummer Philly Joe Jones. Even at this stage in her career Carter was an unusually complete singer, using her wide range and nuanced diction effectively, whether for huskily intimate ballads or soaring, inventive scat. Her fluency is mirrored perfectly by Bryant, a pianist whose stylistic palette could comfortably span swing, funk, and bop, investing everything he touched with a special rhythmic spark. The CD also includes additional tracks by the Bryant trio and four stunning performances by Carter with a big band arranged and led by Gigi Gryce, among them intensely swinging versions of Gryce's "Social Call" and "Frenesi." --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two for One Ray Bryant! Plus Betty Carter!, January 10, 2002

By 

Tom (Palatine, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meet Betty Carter & Ray Bryant (Audio CD)

Let's start with the bad news, if you're looking to condense your LP collection with this nifty 2-for-1 deal, I have one piece of very bad news, Sony has chosen to omit the track "If I Can Just Make Into Heaven" from the original "Little Suzie." There are really nice live versions of "heaven" on other discs, however.

Anyway...

Who is this Betty Carter??? I have been collecting only the instrumental work of Big Ray, worried that any vocals would obscure the man's genius, but I really, really like him playing under Miss Carter.

Betty Carter has a vocal range that rivals Aretha at the top end, and James Earl Jones at the bottom (I am not kidding! This can be almost alarming at times. I can only imagine how many dates she frightened at moments of passion...but I digress.)

Betty joins Ray on every other track of the first record, and Ray plays some fun and light stuff in between.

"Little Suzie" is a special treat, with a nice studio version of the tittle-track tribute to his cute-as-a-button daughter (featured on the album's cover) and ranging to an especially soulful "Greensleeves.

This is nice collection for dedicated Bryant collectors. If you are new to the genius of Big Ray, start with "Here's Ray Bryant," or maybe the slightly raucous "North of the Border," not that any Ray is gonna do you wrong.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic fusion, February 27, 2001

By 

"tinhead98" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meet Betty Carter & Ray Bryant (Audio CD)

This album combines the equally great talents of Betty Carter and Ray Bryant to create a classic fusion of jazz group and vocal. The first half of the album showcases Betty Carter's phenomenal singing, from racing scat riffs ("Thou Swell") to the deep, husky renditions of "Moonlight in Vermont" and, my absolute favourite, "Gone with the Wind". The second half features Ray Bryant and his band and some truly awesome jazz.

This collection of songs is easy to listen to; if you're itching for more Betty Carter and are up for something a little more adventurous (and truly Betty), I highly recommend her CD "I Can't Help It". I guarantee you'll never hear jazz the same way again.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am addicted to this CD, June 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Meet Betty Carter & Ray Bryant (Audio CD)

There are so many wonderful songs on this CD. Betty singing and scatting "Thou Swell" is absolutely mind boggling. Other favorites for me are "I could write a book.." and "Can't we be friends..." "Let's fall in love..." Betty has more character in her voice than any other jazz singer. She squawks, shouts, and croons and somehow it combines in a a rich and sublime sound you won't hear anywhere else. Ray Bryants ensemble is a great partner that swings and improvises right along with her.