Play Ray Charles!

3 More Sounds is:

• Robert Turner - piano
• Henry Franklin - bass
• Carl Burnett - drums

From LA Jazz Scene:

More sounds from Henry Franklin, Robert Turner and Carl Burnett – “3 More Sounds Play Ray Charles!”

Henry Franklin, bass; Robert Turner, piano; Carl Burnett, drums.

This is my kind of trio; bluesy and swinging! These three incredibly talented musicians have chosen to celebrate the unforgettable brilliance of Ray Charles. Well, to do that you have to be able to play the blues, drenched in gospel, and also know how to swing. No problem! Each of these players are more than proficient to do just that! Opening with "Let the Good Times Roll," this trio splashes on the scene with confidence and credibility. You have to be amazing players to reference the legendary Three Sounds, a jazz group who was originally comprised of Gene Harris, Bill Dowdy and Andy Simpkins. These three gentlemen were some of my favorite jazz musicians on the planet and man, could they swing! Franklin, Turner and Burnett wave the "swing" flag brightly and precociously. Each is a master musician in their own right. Just listen to their take on Ray's "Unchain My Heart" or "Hit the Road Jack" smokin' with gospel flavor, straight-ahead arrangements and solid jazz swing. When they play, "Georgia" I am captured by the dexterity and deep, blues innuendos that Robert Turner plays on the piano. What a wonderful and uniquely talented pianist he is!

Robert Turner gained his first musical "chops" playing at the local Baptist churches in California before studying music at LA City College and Sacramento State University. You quickly hear how Turner is influenced by piano genius Gene Harris and perhaps he was also inspired by Erroll Garner. On a more contemporary note, Robert Turner has performed with the likes of Stevie Wonder and Dr. Dre. Turner spent 5 years in Japan, partly studying music at the Yamaha school of music in Nagoya and the other part of the time, "gigging." Later he relocated to Shanghai, China and became a steady member of the band PGP, as well as working as a featured and award-winning artist with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. Turner has scored music for films such as "Contradictions of the Heart" and produced several CDs including "China Piano," "Silent Night," and "Blues for Gene" (referencing Gene Harris).

Henry Franklin has long been a mainstay of jazz bass in the Southern California community. At age eighteen, he was the bassist with the now historic Roy Ayres congregation.

"Roy had the Latin Jazz Quintet that included Bill Henderson (piano), sometimes Elmo Jones on piano, me and Carl Burnett (drums)," Henry recalled.

Henry has worked with Billy Higgins, Willie Bobo, and was part of the Hugh Masekela ensemble that recorded the historically famous "Grazin' In the Grass" hit single. He recorded with Stevie Wonder on the "Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants" album and recorded with Gene Harris for Blue Note's "Soul Symphony" release and "Live at the IT Club." Franklin has toured with jazz nobility like Freddie Hubbard, Archie Shepp, O.C. Smith, Count Basie and Al Jarreau, just to name a few. He continues to be an in-demand bandleader and sideman.

Carl Burnett, the drummer in this 3 More Sounds group, has also experienced an illustrious career. Carl's drums have backed artists ranging from Sarah Vaughn, Freddie Hubbard, Billy Childs, Art Pepper and Eddie Harris to Marvin Gaye and O.C. Smith. He can be heard on albums by Horace Silver, Art Pepper, the Three Sounds, Freddie Hubbard and Kenny Burrell, among others. Together, these three very impressive gentlemen offer an album beautifully produced and exquisitely played to tribute not only Ray Charles, but the unforgettable memory and music of The Three Sounds.

- Dee Dee McNeil