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1970 · Album

MCMLXX

↑ Ray Bryant

Recorded 1970 · Atlantic
MCMLXX

Ray Bryant's Orchestra Moment

Bryant brought a full orchestra into the studio, trading his trio intimacy for sweeping arrangements and horns.

MCMLXX is Ray Bryant doing something he rarely did — leading a full jazz orchestra on record. The session brought together a substantial ensemble: Joe Newman on trumpet, Garnett Brown on trombone, King Curtis, Joe Gentle, and George Dorsey handling the saxophone section, with strings arranged across multiple chairs and Ron Carter anchoring the bass. Jimmy Johnson on drums. This was orchestral jazz in the Thad Jones or Gil Evans mode, built for space and color rather than small-group swing.

Bryant's piano sits deeper in the mix here than listeners used to his trio work would expect. The arrangements give the horns room to breathe, and the strings — five violins, a cello — add a formality that pulls away from the loose, conversational energy Bryant was known for. Tracks move with deliberate pacing. There's nothing rushed. The music is confident but occasionally stiff, as if the size of the band required a tighter leash. It works best when the arrangement opens up enough for individual voices to emerge, but those moments are rationed.

This is not Bryant's strongest record. His real power came from the trio format, where he could swing hard and respond in real time to what Ron Carter or a drummer was doing. MCMLXX feels like an experiment that proved the opposite — that Bryant's gift was for intimacy, not orchestration. It's a solid session, well-recorded and professionally executed, but peripheral to his main body of work. Start elsewhere.

Who's playing
Ron Carterdouble bass
Leon Cohenbass clarinet
Chuck Raineyelectric bass guitar
Ray Bryantpiano
Joe Gentletenor saxophone
Pepper Adamsbaritone saxophone
King Curtistenor saxophone
George Dorseyalto saxophone
Joe Newmantrumpet
Garnett Browntrombone
Jimmy Johnsondrums
Julien Barberviolin
Selwart Clarkeviolin
Winston Collymoreviolin
Noel DaCostaviolin
Paul Gershmanviolin
Emanuel Greenviolin
Joseph Malignaggiviolin
Charles McCrackencello
Gene Orloffviolin
Matthew Raimondiviolin
Listen next
By Ray Bryant
Ray Bryant Plays 1960
Ron Carter's own record
Uptown Conversation 1969
Ron Carter plays double bass here
More Hard Bop
Red Clay 1970
Freddie Hubbard
Recording Info
Track listing
1Stick With It5:51
2Let It Be4:01
3Bridge Over Troubled Waters3:20
4Hey Jude4:50
5Shake-A-Lady2:38
6Unchained Melody4:45
7My Cherie Amour4:56
8Spinning Wheel3:39
Musicians
Further Reading
Read more

Where next?

More by Ray Bryant
Ray Bryant Plays 1960
Here's Ray Bryant 1976
♫
All Mine and Yours 1989
♫
Slow Freight 1967
All 26 albums →
The musicians on this record
Uptown Conversation 1969
Ron Carter
plays double bass here
Chuck Rainey Coalition 1970
Chuck Rainey
plays electric bass guitar here
Their own records, close in time
More Hard Bop
Red Clay 1970
Freddie Hubbard
Cornbread 1965
Lee Morgan
Speak No Evil 1965
Wayne Shorter
Go 1962
Dexter Gordon
All 147 Hard Bop artists →

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