1977 · Album
Just For Fun
Recorded 1977 · Galaxy · Produced by Not specified in available sources
Three Musicians Testing the Waters
Fine interplay between the musicians and concise, purposeful solos that uplift the tunes.
Hank Jones, Ray Brown, and Shelly Manne came together in 1977 for what turned out to be a straightforward trio session on the Galaxy label. Three seasoned professionals, each comfortable in their own space, no elaborate concept or thematic arc — just a piano player, a bassist, and a drummer picking material and seeing what happened. The session has that feel of musicians who know their craft well enough to take chances without needing a safety net.
What emerges is a record built on genuine conversation. Brown's bass and Manne's drumming give Jones plenty of room to move, and when he does move, it lands with purpose. The solos are direct, the tune selections lean toward standards and lighter fare that don't demand heavy interpretation. AllMusic heard this clearly, awarding the album four stars and noting that the fine interplay and purposeful solos uplift the tunes. There's a looseness here that works — this isn't Jones proving anything or reestablishing himself, it's just three people making music that swings.
The Penguin Guide dissented, finding the record consistently disappointing and suggesting Jones lacked the irony his material sometimes needed. Fair enough — not every session produces magic, and not every listener connects with what's on offer. This one sits somewhere between solid and slight, the kind of album that rewards a listener looking for good trio playing without needing it to be transcendent.
Who's playing
Where next?
More by Hank Jones
All 26 albums →
The musicians on this record
This One's for Blanton! 1975
Ray Brown
plays double bass here
plays double bass here
The Drum Sessions 1975
Shelly Manne
plays drums (drum set) here
plays drums (drum set) here
