|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZANDERSON, Ray(b 16 Oct. '52 Chicago) Trombone, composer. Began with Chicago R&B bands, moved to New York '72, formed trio with bassist Mark Helias and drummer Gerry Hemingway '78; made Performance (Quartet) 1979 on hat Art with Anthony Braxton; then funk band Slickaphonics was formed '81 (album Modern Life on Enja), Anderson commuting easily between styles. His albums: Humatomic Energy '85 on Teldec; Old Bottles, New Wine '85 (a set of standards with Kenny Barron, Cecil McBee, Dannie Richmond), quintet Blues Bred In The Bone '88 and sextet It Just So Happens, all on Enja; Right Down Your Alley on Soul Note; Wishbone '91, Every One Of Us '92 (the latter with Charlie Haden and Ed Blackwell) and Big Band Record '94 (backed by the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band), all on Gramavision, Anderson has done as much as anyone this side of Albert Mangelsdorff to extend the range and expressive possibilities of the trombone. His playing on 'Good Bait' on Lion Hearted by the Bob Thiele Collective on Red Baron is a good example of superb musicianship at the service of wit. Cadence magazine declared that the all-time great comedy jazz band would have to include Dizzy Gillespie, Richie Cole, Fats Waller and Anderson, whose Don't Mow Your Lawn '94 and Heads And Tales '95 on Enja feature his Alligatory band: Lew Soloff, trumpet; Jerome Harris, guitar; Gregory Jones, bass; Tommy Campbell, drums and Frank Colon, percussion, with Harris and Jones singing backup for Anderson's vocals on some tracks and everybody obviously having a ball. Trio Ray Anderson, drummer Han Bennink and guitarist Christy Doran are a superb ensemble on Azurety '94 and Cheer Up '95 on hat Art; Slideride '94 on hat Art is a naked trombone quartet with George Lewis, Craig Harris and Gary Valente. |