''Heard Ranier Ferguson'' is a studio album by 1980s jazz trio Heard Ranier Ferguson, composed of bassist John Heard, pianist

Tom Ranier Thomas John Ranier (born July 13, 1949) is an American instrumentalist who primarily plays piano but also saxophone and clarinet. As a jazz artist he has recorded widely under his own name and as a sideman for Warner Bros., Concord Records and se ...

and drummer

Sherman Ferguson Sherman Eugene Ferguson (October 31, 1944 – January 22, 2006) was an American jazz drummer. For a time he was a member of the jazz trio Heard Ranier Ferguson. Background Ferguson once said that when people asked him what he did, he wouldn't ...

. All highly experienced musicians with a wealth of recordings behind them.

The album

The album was the third release for Californian record label ITI Records in 1983, then a fledgling label. It was Manufactured and marketed by Allegiance Records Ltd. The album was what could be expected from a small jazz group such as Heard Ranier Ferguson. As an experienced trio they worked well together on it. Ranier's piano was the dominant sound with the presence of Heard's bass being felt. The material covered included classics from

Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

and

Billy Strayhorn William Thomas Strayhorn (November 29, 1915 – May 31, 1967) was an American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, who collaborated with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington for nearly three decades. His compositions include "Take ...

etc.

Re-releases

The album first made it to compact disc in 1987 as ''Back To Back'' issued on Allegiance, expanded with three extra tracks that weren't on the original album. They were "Tricitism", "Tones for Joan's Bones" and "In Walked Bud" . It was announced on the ''Jazz Monthly'' website in 2012 that their album along with others by

Ruth Price Ruth Price (born April 27, 1938) is an American jazz singer and Artistic Director of the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, California. Price attended ballet school in 1952. In 1954, she sang with Charlie Ventura and later worked as a singer and dancer ...

, Tom Garvin,

Bill Mays William Allen Mays (born February 5, 1944), known professionally as Bill Mays, is an American jazz pianist from Sacramento, California. Biography Mays came from a musical family and at the age of 15 became interested in jazz at an Earl Hines co ...

and

Red Mitchell Keith Moore "Red" Mitchell (September 20, 1927 – November 8, 1992) was an American jazz double-bassist, composer, lyricist, and poet. Biography Mitchell was born in New York City. His younger brother, Whitey Mitchell, also became a jazz ba ...

were to be re-released that year as the ITI Records back catalogue was being released through Warrant Music. It has been released again in May 2015.

''Heard Ranier Ferguson''

''Back To Back''

Artist Direct ARTISTdirect is an American online digital media entertainment company. Overview Founded in 1994, it owns several websites, including artistdirect.com and artistdirectinterviews.com. These websites are a group of affiliate websites offering mul ...

Back to Back
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Releases

Reviews

Review by Bob Karlovits of the Pittsburgh Express

References

{{Authority control 1983 albums Jazz albums by American artists