“DON’T FORGET THE BLUES.” Ray Brown. Concord...

“DON’T FORGET THE BLUES.” Ray Brown. Concord Jazz CJ-293. Don’t forget the ballad either: “Jim” is a ringer in this set, though none the worse for it under Al Grey’s plunger-muted control. The guitarist Ron Eschete, in a splendid indigo mood on “Rocks in My Bed,” seems not at all out of his league among such senior heavyweights as Gene Harris on acoustic and electric piano, bassist Brown and drummer Grady Tate. Nothing new here, just a comforting reminder of an ancient verity, well expressed in Brown’s title tune. 4 stars.