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Music Reviews Apr 23, 1999 - The Ray Brown Trio - A Sensational Night of Jazz By Jack Neal As you might guess, the centerpiece for the Ray Brown Trio is the long-time jazz string bass master Ray Brown, himself. Brown, the centerpiece, was gloriously in place Thursday night at Nightingale Hall for the kick-off concert of this year's Reno International Jazz Festival. ø0aA trio, however, is defined by its pianist, even when its leader is the great Ray Brown. Jazz pianist extraordinaire Geoff Keezer and drummer Karriem Riggins, a fabulous musician himself, along with Brown make up the Ray Brown Trio as it's appearing in Reno. They and it (the trio) are terrific. ø0aIt's easy to side step what Riggins brings to the group because the spotlight tends to go elsewhere, but its hard to find better, more sensitive and inventive drumming than that which Riggins brings to everything the Brown Trio sets out to do. And the trio sets out to do much. ø0aMuch of that much has everything to do with Keezer's superb jazz pianoing. Keezer has introspection, flair, tremendous drive and an uncanny way of getting into a song and making it sing jazz. Whether it's an upbeat "Stella by Starlight" or a sweetly turned retooling of Cole Porter's "Everything I Love," Keezer's close-to manic concentration sends all he plays into the upper stratospheres of inspiration. Jazz pianists don't come any better. ø0aThen, of course, there's Brown's incomparable string bass playing. With its usual taste and subtlety, Brown's prime grade-A musicianship is in evidence throughout all the trio plays. Does any other bassist have the pedigree of the great Mr. Brown? With one astonishing teaming of talents through the years after another with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and the jazz musician of greater-than-mythic proportions - Duke Ellington, I think not. Unquestioned pedigree is unquestioned pedigree and Brown has it. ø0aIt's Brown's penetrating approach to Ellington that sets his playing apart. He makes his bass talk, and when his bass talks it sings soliloquys of pure, unadalterated jazz a la Ellington. It's all so gorgeous to hear, it's criminal to miss. ø0aThe Ray Brown Trio's jazz isn't just cerebral, it's sensational. ø0aSaxophone great Joe Lovano joins the Ray Brown Trio for a special Reno International Jazz Festival appearance at Lawlor Event Center Friday (4/23/99) on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. For information about the concert and other Reno International Jazz Festival events call 775 784 4046 or 1 800 233 8928.
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