The quartet featured in this 1996 recording session for Steeplechase was put together on the spot in New York, just for this date, though
Doug Raney and his rhythm section quickly made themselves sound as if they were a regular working group.
Raney's approach to the guitar is often spacious on ballads, never too busy on up-tempo numbers, and always focused around the melody. Accompanied by pianist
Michael Weiss, bassist
Scott Colley, and drummer Kenny Washington, the quartet's head arrangements of the seven standards on the CD seem to come together effortlessly. The intimate approach to "Skylark" starts slowly, but gives way to a brisk, more complex development of its theme. The rhythm section swirls behind
Raney in a driving rendition of "All or Nothing at All," and also features a fine solo by
Weiss. Of particular interest is
Raney's careful development of "I'm Old Fashioned." Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden