The Weeper

A. Ray Fuller

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 15, 2003)
• Original Release Date: June 25, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A Ray Artist Music
• ASIN: B0000AJ0A6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #213,072 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

From a hard working teen on the scene in the `70s to A-list session player and world touring Guitarist/Musical Director in the present, Ray Fuller has earned the enviable title of the chosen few in his profession: that of "musician's musician." For three decades, Ray has been honing his skills in the service of some of the greatest, most diversified artists of all-time. His resume includes legends Curtis Mayfield, Quincy Jones, The Staple Singers, Nancy Wilson and "Mr. Motown" himself, Berry Gordy. It also includes all-around musician/producers such as George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, David Foster and Mike Post. It includes vocal divas Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole, Whitney Houston, Anita Baker and Oleta Adams. And it includes Contemporary Gospel royalty The Winans, Kirk Franklin, Tramaine Hawkins and Yolanda Adams.

Ray was gently pushed into this more foreground position by several ‘key’ people who recognized his greater potential as a lead artist. Ray was gently pushed into this more foreground position by several ‘key’ people who recognized his greater potential as a lead artist. One was Boney James’ late artist manager Howard Lowell, who told Ray he envisioned him playing beautiful melodies. Peer saxophonist Everette Harp keenly elaborates, "Ray’s ability to subtly emote through his guitar is merely an extension of his soul. With the exception of the late, great Eric Gale, I have never heard anyone play this style. And 'The Weeper' has taken it a step or two further."

Perhaps the biggest push came in 1997, in the form of some tough love from Ray’s frequent employer and close friend, George Duke. When Ray asked him to produce some music for him, Duke said, "No, because you already know what you want. All of the choices that you make around for me are the same ones you need to go ahead and make for yourself."

The making of "The Weeper", his first album as a leader, is something Ray Fuller sums up with a tired but happy shrug as a challenging but much needed and appreciated "process." The sheer determination that Fuller had to finish this project in the face of ceaseless personal distractions is a shining testament to his commitment to seeing it through.

"It's just real and a long time coming," Ray concludes. "There's always something else for a popular musician to do, but at some point we know when it's time to tell our own story.

Product Description

Lovers of classic R&B and jazz have an 'unbeatable' buffet of sensitively arranged original compositions and cover songs to choose from. Ray Fuller, who is magnetically drawn to the drama in any good piece of music, hand-picked pieces that have inspired him for decades only to refashion in his own sweet way and thus called on the elite of musical craftsman who are friends first, musicians second—Fuller states, "Every one here is a master of texture and space."

Coltrane’s timeless "Naima", features the brilliantly subdued use of Branford Marsalis on soprano sax. "Friday", featuring George Duke’s funky solo was co-written with Jeff Lorber, and is a likely radio ‘smash’ hit! On the classic "Superstar", stellar vocalist Phil Perry lends his uniquely emotive ad-libs to this most impassioned version. Perry returns on a version of The Isley Brothers’ "Work To Do", which might make Ron Isley himself jealous! "Spanish Flyer", co-composed with Dave Kochanski, is a lush evocation of Mediterranean delights! "Weeper’s Thang" and "Speak Brother", signature Fuller compositions, are ‘funky-deep’ grooves featuring saxman Everette Harp and Duke, respectively.

There is so much more with which to sit back and relax or get up on the dance floor and forget your cares.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Weeper Simply Awesome!!!, March 27, 2005

By	Edward Maxwell "Sweet EDMAX" (Louisville, KY, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you like guitars check this guy out. He is awesome. His music is tantilizing and invigorating. My favorite is "If You
Really Love Me". This album is to be played.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - Hope Ray will keep more like this coming!, March 22, 2004

By A Customer

About every track on Ray's cd is top-notch in musicianship. Lot's of great new compositions (including a couple co-written with Dave Kochanski) and several covers that are done so well that they add to the album, rather than detract. The only track, I can do with out is the Isley Brother's Work to Do. The rest I absolutely LOVE. Besides Ray's awesome, very emotive guitar work, there's a lot of nice sax work from Eric Marienthal, Everette Harp, Jimmy Reid, Branford Marsalis. George Duke plays Rhodes on the bonus track "Speak Brother" which is a remix of track 4, a very nice tune by Ray - probably my favorite track. It's got a little bit of vocals but the composition is so great that the vocals don't bother me on that one. Other than that the only vocals are on "Work To Do" and "Superstar". The playing and feeling between Ray , Jimmy Reed on Sax, Terry Trotter on piano and Phil Perry on vocals is so impressive this song won me over when it wouldn't normally be my style. It's hard to pick favorite tracks when they are all so good, but Weeper's Thang, Spanish Flyer, Free Spirit, Partido Alto, Friday and Naima are all up there.

If you like great Jazz guitar, in the vein of George Benson's best instrumentals and Norman Brown's work like "After The Storm", you'll love CD. Pick it up ... it's worth every cent!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Class Act, February 13, 2006

By	D. Bowen (Los Angeles, ca United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just recently saw Euge Groove in concert, he had Ray Fuller playing in his group, This Man Was Simple Awesome!!! But thats not the best, the next day My family and I ran into Mr. Fuller and his lovely wife at a restaurant I thanked him for such a wonderful show. Before I knew it he was at our table chatting with us. So down to earth, classy. I had to get his cd and I am not disappointed he's great.