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Weighing in at a hefty 46 minutes and 51 seconds, Eric Byrd and his trio (plus 4 horns) come out swinging on their latest release aptly titled, brother ray. Citing Ray Charles as, “The Genius of Soul” to whom Byrd owes “his musical life,” he pays his dues to the late genius by covering songs Charles either popularized or co-wrote.

On Track 1 Byrd and his band mates strut their stuff as they boldly swing with a confident and brassy rendition of Let the Good Times Roll. The song begins with a perfect blending of drums, horns and piano. Byrd and his band mates, Alphonso Young Jr. (drums) and Bhagwan Khalsa (acoustic bass), along with Brad Clements (trumpet), Lyle Link (Alto sax), Paul Carr (Tenor sax) and Chris Watling (Baritone), assert themselves as credible jazz musicians, and let the good times roll. Though Byrd’s vocals on the opening track carry the song well enough, he shines on Track 2, Them That’s Got. His smooth vocals are better suited to the lighter arrangement of the song, and all the boys just swing.

He slows things down with a somber interpretation of Come Rain or Come Shine, and Byrd’s insightful arrangement captures the tune’s melancholy. His outstanding piano solo is rivaled only by Clements’ introspective trumpet solo and the muted horns, whose presence is always felt but never menacing.

With help from his +4, Byrd continues flexing his musical muscles on the next number, I’ve Got News For You, with a performance so steeped in the blues that it just drips the whole way through.

The only other song really worth your time is, Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying, another thoughtful, slightly melancholy track. Lyle Link puts down his Alto sax and picks up a flute for this one; his bluesy riffs compliment Byrd and make this a track worth listening to at least once.

One warning: Byrd’s duet with Lea Gilmore, titled Watch Them Dogs, much to any listener’s chagrin, is an overacted, pedagogic tale of caution; but don’t be too put off by it.  The rest of the album is decent. None of the songs are really innovative, but Byrd’s piano playing is enjoyable, and the other players—especially the +4—aren’t half bad either, thanks to Brother Ray.