CD1
1. Sometimes I'm Happy
2. Why Shouldn´t I?
3. Just You, Just Me
4. I Want a Little Girl
5. Rockin´ Chair
CD2
1. Dinah
2. Yesterdays
3. The Man I Love,
4. The Man With a Horn
5. Indiana
Ruby Braff - Cornet
Scott Hamilton - Tenor sax
Jon Wheatley - Guitar
John Bunch - Piano
Dave Green - Bass
Steve Brown - Drums
I recently reviewed the last album recorded by tenor-saxophonist
Johnny Griffin, and I feel the same emotions on hearing this - the
last album from cornettist Ruby Braff. My feelings are a mixture of
sadness at his departure but joy at his musical eloquence. The double
CD was recorded at the Nairn Jazz Festival in Scotland on 7 August
2002, and Ruby died the following February. At the time of this gig,
Braff was in a wheelchair and suffering badly from emphysema and asthma
but there are few signs of his powers being diminished. In fact his
appearance at Nairn followed a long British tour, which included two
sets per night for twelve nights at London's Pizza on the Park.
Like Ruby Braff, Scott Hamilton has sometimes been
regarded as "old-fashioned" but, like Ruby, he is a superb
mainstream player whose music can never go out of style. The supporting
musicians consist of Scott Hamilton's working group of the time, with
the addition of guitarist Jon Wheatley.
When Braff introduces the first tune, Sometimes
I'm Happy, the audience reacts with laughter and applause, recognising
that Ruby is being ironical and that he will do his best despite his
breathing difficulties. The audience's warm response adds to the pleasure
of this album, as it will match the listener's feelings at hearing
such good music. Ruby fills the gaps between tunes to chat informally
and humorously, which allows him to regain his breath, although his
remarks are not always easy to hear.
Why Shouldn't I? is a little-known Cole Porter
song, performed here with graceful elegance. As on other tracks, the
melody is shared around between the musicians. Just You, Just Me
includes several choruses from Jon Wheatley - a guitarist who is not
particularly famous but who shows his abilities impressively on this
album. Ruby's cornet sounds as mellow as it ever did. In fact he had
the most appealing tone on his instrument, matching the great Bix
Beiderbecke. Scott Hamilton spices his own playing with several quotations,
including a brief hint of Cocktails for Two. Ruby Braff also
inserts a quote from The Wizard of Oz into his eloquent solo
on I Want a Little Girl. Rockin' Chair has some lovely
interplay from Braff and Hamilton, with one supporting the other considerately.
The second CD is as good as the first. Dinah
is a tune in danger of being overworked, but the solos from Ruby and
Scott flow beautifully, although I wish drummer Steve Brown had thought
of less repetitive bass-drum accents (he uses the same pattern rather
often during the concert). The comradely empathy between Braff and
Hamilton in Yesterdays fully justifies Ruby's verdict: "The
whole thing was like a nice conversation". The Man I Love
is taken at a brighter tempo than usual but it allows Braff to exhibit
that special yearning quality in his playing.
Ruby takes a rest while Scott is featured in The
Man With a Horn, played very slowly and providing a good example
of his penchant for rhapsodising. The CD closes with Indiana,
which actually ended the first half of the concert but has been moved
here because the final tune of the evening (Honeysuckle Rose)
wasn't recorded in full. Ruby sounds fragile towards the end of his
solo on Indiana but it is generally a swinging performance.
Throughout the album, the rhythm section keeps things moving smoothly.
As I said at the end of my review of Johnny Griffin's
last album, this double CD captures Ruby Braff clearly enjoying himself
(despite his considerable health problems), and it makes a fitting,
if poignant, farewell to a great jazzman.
Tony Augarde
CD Reviews
Arbors Jazz ARCD 19368
