Recovered Treasures (2006)

This 2006 CD features previously unreleased performances by the great cornetist Ruby Braff dating from 1961 and 1981. The first six selections are unique third-stream efforts in which Braff, pianist Ralph Sutton and a rhythm section are joined by the Beaux Arts String Quartet to play Dick Hyman arrangements of classical themes. The music was recorded as a demo tape for André Previn when he conducted the Pittsburgh Symphony as a possible future project, but Previn had departed before the recording was completed. Although ... Read More

This 2006 CD features previously unreleased performances by the great cornetist Ruby Braff dating from 1961 and 1981. The first six selections are unique third-stream efforts in which Braff, pianist Ralph Sutton and a rhythm section are joined by the Beaux Arts String Quartet to play Dick Hyman arrangements of classical themes. The music was recorded as a demo tape for André Previn when he conducted the Pittsburgh Symphony as a possible future project, but Previn had departed before the recording was completed. Although Braff and Sutton are restricted a bit in this format and the strings do not improvise, the music has its charm. The next four songs are much hotter, featuring Braff and Sutton at Eddie Condon's club in 1961. Following that are the only four performances that matched together Braff with fellow cornetist Bobby Hackett including two medleys. The interplay between the cornetists is delightful, as is the playing of pianist Dave McKenna. The closing "When You're Smiling" returns to 1981 with Braff in a freewheeling setting with Kenny Davern, Vic Dickenson and Al Klink. All of the music is well recorded (even with some crowd buzz on the live numbers), making Recovered Treasures a valuable addition to the rich discography of Ruby Braff. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi Read Less