Jazz piano trio sophistication at its best…
Kenny Barron/Ray Drummond/Ben Riley – So Many Lovely Things, Live in Brecon – Elemental Music # 5990564 – Two 180 gm vinyls – 1995 – ****1/2
(Kenny Barron – piano; Ray Drummond – bass; Ben Riley – drums)
So many previously unreleased jazz treasures from Europe over the last several years, are from artists who have passed on years ago, so they can’t receive honors in person from their fans. So it’s a distinct pleasure now to hear a living national treasure, Kenny Barron, still in his prime, with his veteran trio, of bassist, Ray Drummond, and drummer, Ben Riley, in an unissued live performance from the Brecon Jazz Festival, in Wales, UK, from August, 1995. Its title is So Many Lovely Things: Live in Brecon.
Sadly, we lost Ray in 2025, and Ben, in 2017. They were Kenny’s long time trio from the mid 80’s to the early 2000’s. But thanks to “the jazz detective,” Zev Feldman, who worked with Jordi Sunol, the European jazz impresario, who has archives of many American jazz artists who toured Europe, their cooperation has yielded a deluxe package of two 180 gm remastered vinyls.
The label, Elemental Music, has provided a deluxe treatment, with mastering by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab. It’s a gate fold package with liner notes by jazz writer, Ted Panken. The acoustics are crisp and vibrant. (In addition, there is a 2 CD set being issued, as well.)
Released around the time of Kenny’s 83rd birthday this month, the ten tracks are a mix of standards and two original Barron compositions. Over 105 minutes, listeners can hear Kenny and Company weave their magic. The group had been together around a decade then, and there is an intuitive communication present. Ray and Ben have space to help Kenny improvise over the tunes’ changes.
Barron’s mastery of ballads is demonstrated on tracks like “Silent Rain,” and “The Very Thought of You.” His version of “Time Was,” can be compared to his classic version done in 1983, on Green Chimneys. Monk’s “Ask Me Now,” shows the trio in full stride, after a wondrous opening solo by Kenny. Riley begins with a shuffle drum beat, and Ray’s warm bass is rock steady. Barron goes from reflective to insistent, a master of improvisation.
We get to hear “Nikara’s Song,” as a trio, as opposed to versions with several larger groups that Kenny has fronted over the years. Ben and Ray share the spotlight on a vigorous presentation of Freddie Hubbard’s “Up Jumped Spring.”
Throughout, there is a polish and sophistication that veteran musicians, who have honed their craft together over years, can show in a live setting. Now over thirty years later, we get to hear their skills on audiophile vinyl. Don’t miss your opportunity…
—Review by Jeff Krow
So Many Lovely Things, Live in Brecon
Tracklist:
Side A: Oh, Look at Me Now (10:44), Up Jumped Spring (10:03), Shuffle Boil (6:29)
Side B: Time Was (8:53), Silent Rain (5:10), Ask Me Now (12:38)
Side C: Nikara’s Song (12:31), The Surrey With the Fringe on Top (12:06)
Side D: The Very Thought of You (12:44), Canadian Sunset (16:25)
