Ruby Braff

Reuben "Ruby" Braff (born March 16, 1927 in Boston , Massachusetts , † February 9, 2003 in Chatham , Massachusetts) was an American cornetist of swing jazz .

Braff played in the Boston area from the 1940s and appeared in New York clubs from 1947. In 1949 he played with the clarinetist Edmond Hall's band at the Savoy Cafe in Boston, where he also played with Pee Wee Russell . In 1953 he moved back to New York City , where he played with the Vic Dickenson Septet in 1953/54 . Braff, who followed a rather unique path and played "vintage jazz" of the 1920s and 1930s as a successor to Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke (he simply called it Adoration of the melody ), was in great demand as a result. In the 1950s, because of the flexibility and warmth of its sound, it was also a technical role model (his original dream instrument was the saxophone). He played with Benny Goodman , Woody Herman , Buck Clayton , Bud Freeman , Ellis Larkins , but had difficulties finding engagements in the late 1950s. His childhood friend George Wein came to his aid, who got him regular engagements at his Storyville Club in Boston and brought him to the Newport All Stars in the 1960s and 1970s . In the 1970s he formed a piano-less quartet with guitarist George Barnes , very successful at the time and the only collaboration that lasted over a year for him, until it also ended in an argument in 1975 (he was notorious for his often harsh, hurtful behavior) . 1971-1973 he worked with the singer Tony Bennett . He also played a lot with pianist Dick Hyman ( America the beautiful album on Arbors Records). In 1991/1992 he recorded for Concord Ruby Braff and his New England songhounds 1,2 and with saxophonist Scott Hamilton Bravura eloquence in 1990, With an extra bit of luck 1989, Younger than Swingtime 1990 (the latter both with Dick Hyman), finally in 1996 Inside & Out with Roger Kellaway .

Discographic notes

• Thigamagic ( Vanguard Records 1954) with ( Mel Powell and Bobby Donaldson )
• The Complete Duets (Definitive, 1955) with Ellis Larkins
• Calling Berlin: Volume 1 ( Arbors Records , 1994) with Bucky Pizzarelli, Ellis Larkins
• Inside Out (Concord, 1995) with Roger Kellaway
• Braff Plays Wimbledon: First Set (Zephyr, 1996) with Warren Vaché, Brian Lemon , Howard Alden , Allan Ganley
• Ad Lib Blues (Past Perfect Silver Line 2002)

literature

• Thomas P. Hustad: Born to Play. The Ruby Braff Discography and Directory of Performances . Lanham / MD, Scarecrow Press, 2012. ISBN 978-0-8108-8264-5

Web links

• interview
• Kenny Mathieson's bio
• Hans Ruland in the jazz newspaper
• Obituary in The New York Times
• Ruby Braff at Discogs (English)