Ray Bryant Trio Today

by Scott Yanow "Today" is of course a relative term but this EmArcy release (the first in a series) does feature pianist Ray Bryant's 1987 trio (which includes bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Freddie Waits). Bryant revives his near-classic "Slow Freight," performs his original "Tonk" and plays songs by Nat Adderley ("The Old Country"), Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Billy Strayhorn, Benny Carter and John Lewis ("Afternoon In Paris"). No matter the source of the material, Bryant gives most of the songs bluish interpretations, often providing a fresh slant on some of the more familiar tunes. Nearly all of Ray Bryant's recordings from the past four decades are well worth picking up and this one is no exception.