The Great Ray Charles

by Ray Charles

Overview

This set is rather unusual, for it is strictly instrumental, allowing Ray Charles a rare opportunity to be a jazz-oriented pianist. Two selections are with a trio (bassist Oscar Pettiford joins Charles on "Black Coffee"), while the other six are with a septet taken from his big band of the period. Key among the sidemen are David Newman (soloing on both tenor and alto) and trumpeter Joseph Bridgewater; highlights include Quincy Jones' "The Ray," "My Melancholy Baby," "Doodlin'," and "Undecided." Ray Charles should have recorded in this setting more often in his later years. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	11/21/2025
Label:	Analogue Prod.
UPC:	0753088754777

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ray Charles   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Celeste,Keyboards
Oscar Pettiford   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Bass,Drums,Double Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Joe Bridgewater   Primary Artist,Trumpet
William Peeples   Primary Artist,Drums
Joe Harris   Primary Artist,Drums
Dee Dee Bridgewater   Primary Artist
John Hunt   Primary Artist,Trumpet
David "Fathead" Newman   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor)
Emmett Dennis   Primary Artist,Sax (Baritone)
Roosevelt Sheffield   Primary Artist,Bass,Double Bass,Guitar (Bass)
John Paul Hunt   Trumpet
Emmott Dennis   Sax (Baritone)

Technical Credits

Earl Brown   Engineer,Recording
George A. Norton   Composer
Harry Brooks   Composer
Arthur Moorhead   Project Assistant
Ahmet Ertegun   Producer
Elliott Federman   Mastering,Remastering,Mastering Engineer
Hal Hopper   Composer
Gordon Clifford   Composer
Gary Kramer   Liner Notes
Paul Francis Webster   Composer
Sonny Burke   Composer
Bernie Baum   Composer
Joel Dorn   Liner Notes,Reissue Supervisor
David Ritz   Liner Notes
Reggie Collins   Project Assistant
Tom Dowd   Engineer,Recording
Tom Adair   Composer
Harry Barris   Composer
Boots Mussulli   Arranger
Lee Friedlander   Cover Photo,Photography
Sheryl Farber   Project Assistant
Lee Tanner   Photography
Marvin Israel   Cover Design
Guy Lequerrec   Photography
Vanessa Atkins   Project Assistant
Steven P. Gorman   Project Assistant
Ernie Burnett   Composer
Charlie Shavers   Composer
Greg Allen   Design,Reissue Art Director
Jeff Magid   Audio Supervisor
George Gershwin   Composer
Ira Gershwin   Composer
Leonard Feather   Liner Notes
Ernie Wilkins   Arranger
Horace Silver   Composer
Mark McKenna   Project Assistant
Nesuhi Ertegun   Producer,Supervisor
Jerry Wexler   Producer,Supervisor
Jesse Stone   Arranger
Quincy Jones   Arranger,Composer
Cory Frye   Project Assistant
Earle Brown   Engineer
Stephan Weiss   Composer
Julee Stover   Project Assistant
April Milek   Project Assistant
Sid Robins   Composer
Maybelle E. Watson   Composer
Dorothy Stefanski   Project Assistant
Earl Brown Singers   Engineer
Hal Hooper   Composer
Bob Arnold   Engineer
George Norton   Composer
Johnny Cue   Engineer
Patrick Milligan   Supervisor
Stephen Weiss   Composer
Paul Webster   Composer
Sid Robin   Composer
Sydney Robin   Composer
Andy Razaf   Composer
Ray Charles   Arranger,Composer
Steven Chean   Project Assistant
Fats Waller   Composer