Ray Charles

Ray Charles' band was always stocked with superior jazz musicians. Charles usually let his star soloists take the spotlight a few times in concert, and every once in a while he cut an instrumental jazz album with them. This set shines the light on his band circa 1975, when hard-bop trumpeter Johnny Coles and saxophonist James Clay were delivering hot solos night after night (listen to their duel on Benny Golson's "Ray Minor Ray"). Highlights include the modernist "Samba De Elencia" (which sounds like something from the '70s edition of Woody Herman's band) and the relatively gentle "For Her."