If you’re looking for information about the late, great guitarists Jimmy & Doug Raney and pianist Jon Raney, you’ve come to the right place!
The Jimmy Raney Book. Finally published! See Chuck Sher site
Remember: this is just the Welcome page! Be sure to click through all the nav items above to see all the content this site has to offer:
Blogs, transcriptions, rare recordings, and more!
Also make sure to review New items in the “Stuff to Check Out! section (below video) as well!
The amazing solo on you’re hearing is from the famous 1976 Live in Tokyo recording on the Charlie Parker’s, “Anthropology”. A free transcription is located here!
Note that with the passing of my brother, Doug Raney in 2016, this site is officially devoted to both Jimmy & Doug Raney.
Doug Raney’s solo, “Touch of Your Lips”
THIS SITE AND ITS CONTENT IS SOLELY CREATED AND ADMINISTRATED BY JON RANEY. ALL DONATIONS VIA DONATION BUTTON AT RIGHT ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Stuff to Check Out…
The Jimmy Raney Book – Finally published! Available at Chuck Sher
New Transcription – Jimmy’s blistering solo on “Strike up the Band“! from 1953
Jimmy’s Humor Writing: “How I Became a Living Legend” & “The Composer” (Original copies!)
New Doug Raney Tracks from his last album!
The Bob Brookmeyer Inteview. At long last decided to publish it!
Keyboard Musings (My stuff from the apt…)
Rare Recordings tab update – Jazz Loft recording 1965
15 Comments
Dom Minasi
Hi Jon.
A question:
Years ago, maybe in the 80’s I heard a recording with Barry Harris and Your father in Tokyo,
I can’t seem to find it. Am I wrong?
Dom
Jon Raney
Yes, that was the group concert at the end, with McPherson from ’76
As an example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MPCwFwbeAk
Kacper Wierzchos
I recently acquired the LP “Introducing Doug Raney” and was blown away. It’s a true hidden gem. I started reading about him and somehow ended up here. Great work with this website keeping his memory alive.
Jon Raney
I remember when he sent the record to us. He was so young (21). It’s amazing how far he had come in such a short time. He really only started playing at age ~ 14
Dale Tweedly
The recording of that concert is available on LP or CD at the Discogs website.
https://www.discogs.com/master/1131069-Barry-Harris-Tokyo-1976
Gilberto Molina
Jimmy and Doug Raney some of my favorite players, also Rene Tomas from Belgium had a big influence from Jimmy’s style ! He bought a guitar same model as Jimmy’s while visiting the US, I believe a Gibson ES-150 ! I have some Jimmy’s and Doug’s recordings too, wich I listen to frequently ! Cheers !
Jon Raney
Hello Gilberto, to say an influence on Rene Thomas is sort of understatement. He came down from Canada to visit and played several of Dad’s solos for him note for note in front of him. So he was completely absorbed by him in the beginning with all of his cliches
Abraham
Thank you for sharing this amazing and historically significant material. Your father is one of the top 5 greatest guitar masters, the likes of Wes, Joe Pass, Barney Kessel, in more modern times, Pat Martino. The interview is a fundamental piece on true insights of an intellectual man with a soul.
Jon Raney
Thanks for your kind comments Abraham!
Matt
On Rick Beato’s YouTube channel, two guitarists whom he recently interviewed mentioned Jimmy as influences on their playing. I think they were Andy Summers (of The Police) and Steve Morse (fusion /progressive guitarist). I think Rick, who is a great fan of Bach, said that Jimmy constructed solos in a way reminiscent of Bach. My ear is not developed so as to notice this, though as I listen to Jimmy, I think I hear something of that. All I know for sure is I can listen to him play for hours, which I can so for very few musical artists. What say you about the Bach angle?
Jon Raney
It’s funny you mention that. More and more people are mentioning him on Rick Beato’s “vlog”. By my count and your mentions it’s:
(btw – see also my Everybody digs Jimmy tab on the Homepage)
I didn’t see his mention of my father/Bach. I sent him an email about his not mentioning him. He never responded.
As far as Bach he was heavily influenced by him. He has mentioned it often. You can tell in his compositions “the Fugue” and several from the 1950s (on the Square, Minor, Invention etc) and also where he overdubs.
He also used to have sight reading sessions with his girlfriend Pianist Ola Miracle. They would do Bach Flute and Piano pieces and he would play the Flute part in the appropriate style.
To boot he also played Cello, so he would give the Bach Cello Suites a try. Not an expert but he was working on it.
so there you have it:)
Best, Jon
phil
Thanks so much for these valuable and historic insights. I hear lots of Jimmy Raney in Grant Green’s style. Grant must have been a big fan of Jimmy Raney.
Jon Raney
Hi Phil,
Yes I had that understanding about his influence. I haven’t read or seen an interview where he states it but I have no reason to doubt.
Generally speaking he was a hero among guitar players despite his age he was the prototype for bebop guitar (as early as ’49). I was still old enough to see the guitarists swinging by – there were like school kids. They included Kenny Burrell, John Abercrombie, Jack Wilkins, George Van Eps, Sal Salvador, Tal Farlow, Joe Puma, Jim Hall and there were others I know about Benson for example sat in. With the exception of Tal they all came after
Federico
Hello Jon, I’m trying to contact you to do an interview about Doug. I’m writing my Jazz guitar thesis About your brother’s music. I don’t know if you have received my email. I would feel very honored to be able to interview you.
Jon Raney
Federico, I’ve answered you via your email to me