Guitarist Jimmy Raney had lived in Europe for some time when he recorded this trio set with pianist Tommy Flanagan and bassist George Mraz, but he had lost none of his fire or drive. The quiet yet hard-swinging guitarist, still in prime form at age 58, performs his own "Ovals," an original by Mraz, two lesser-known Benny Golson tunes and the standards "I Could Write a Book" and "Everything I Love." The interplay between the three musicians is impressive, and the subtle creativity makes repeated listenings of the modern mainstream music quite valuable. Recommended. - Scot Yanow
Tracks
1. Hassan's Dream (Benny Golson)
2. Wisteria (George Mraz)
3. Ovals (Jimmy Raney)
4. Out of the Past (Benny Golson)
5. I Could Write a Book (Lorenz Hart/Richard Rodgers)
6. Everything I Love (Cole Porter)
7. All the Things You Are (Oscar Hammerstein II/Jerome Kern)
JIMMY RANEY guitar
GEORGE MRAZ bass
TOMMY FLANAGAN piano
Recorded December 30, 1985 at Van Gelder Recording Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (1-6)
Recorded December 5, 1990 at Manhattan Recording Studio, New York, NY (7)
Criss Cross Jazz - Criss 1019 CD (Netherlands)