Telarc presents the veteran innovator, bassist Ray Brown again leading a ground-breaking session, SuperBass. The all-acoustic, three-bass performance features Brown collaborating with John Clayton, Jr. former bassist with the Count Basie Orchestra.

Individually and collectively, the three bassmasters showcase the broad capabilities of the instrument—from versatile plucking and bowing, to killer time-keeping, to the bass as a melody instrument.

A diverse 10-tune celebration, SuperBass features popular jazz favorites peformed by the three bassists in lively trio and duo settings—Thelonious Monk’s “Blue Monk,” Ray Henderson’s “Bye, Bye Blackbird,” Kurt Weill’s “Mack the Knife,” and Harry “Sweets” Edison’s “Centerpiece.” Brown’s “Super Bass Theme” opens and closes the set.

The Ray Brown Trio breathes new life into an up-tempo version of George Gershwin’s popular favorite, “Who Cares,” and Brown’s swinging tribute, “Sculler Blues.” Christian McBride’s modern, toe-tapping original, “Brown Funk,” highlights tasty time-keeping by Hutchinson and McBride’s spectacular bowed solo.

The Legend continues. SuperBass is perhaps Brown’s most intriguing Telarc recording, and followed his successful 1996 album, Some of My Best Friends Are...The Sax Players (CD-83388), and his 1995 trio release, Seven Steps to Heaven (CD-83384).