MARCH 15

              RAY DRAPER
              Tuba Sounds
              
                 Recording Date:
                      March 15, 1957

                 Personnel:
                     Webster Young   TP
                     Ray Draper         TU
                     Jackie McLean    AS
                     Mal Waldron        P
                     Spanky DeBrest   B
                     Ben Dixon           D

              






Review by Scott Yanow
One of the first tuba players to lead his own recording session in a bebop setting, Ray Draper was only 16 when he recorded the music on this set, his debut. Teamed in a sextet with trumpeter Webster Young (also making his recording debut), altoist Jackie McLean, pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Spanky DeBrest, and drummer Ben Dixon, Draper fits in pretty well. His solos are sometimes a touch awkward rhythmically and it takes one a little while to get used to his sound in this setting but, overall, this is a successful effort. The fairly modern sextet performs straight-ahead originals by Draper, Young, and Waldron in addition to the standard "You're My Thrill."