Jimmy Rainey
Never a false step.
Information on Jimmy Rainey seems even harder to come by than his
recorded legacy. He was born in 1927 and was influenced by Charlie
Christian and he expanded upon this influence with the emergence of
Bebop. Before he was even 30 he was working with pianist Jimmy
Lyons.
Listening to his recordings reveals a man that was capable of being both innovative and mainstream at the same time. He uses many familiar devices in his playing but he seems to always maintain his individuality. He was slightly more aggressive than Jim Hall but never lapsed into the ragged edge as so many players have. He seems to have found a very nice balance of being an adventurous Bebop player without sacrificing the melodic elements of his art.
Of all his recordings I find that I like "But Beautiful" the most. It is quite lyrical and warm without being boring or trite. In many ways it reminds me of the phrasing and feel of Paul Desmond's recordings. One can only wonder at what such a pairing would have produced.
