Imagine you are sitting in a nightbar having a whiskey on the rocks and you are thinking about why the world is so bad to you. Then you hear a piano playing softly and you don't really care but it puts you even more into depression. But after a few moments of listening to the music you widen your eyes, bring your ears into the direction of the music and awake from your depressions : what a great piece of music, how the piano together with the sax give a beautiful melody in rock music rythm. What you hear is Ray Charles how you usually do not know him.

This all instrumental jazz collection from Ray's early years is not what most people would expect from the soul music great. Tasty piano and sax grooves - makes for excellent cocktail music. Highly recommended - among my top 5 favorites in my 200+ CD collection.

This is absolutely my favorite of all my cds. Mellow but not too soft. Great background music for a party or for just chilling out in front of the fireplace. All my friends have been looking for it and couldn't find it anywhere else. I'm glad you carry it.

This is 'mos definitely my favorites and exactly the first one I ever listen to on tape. Hope to get it on CD pretty soon. My love for Ray Charles is that he always make a good song w/o ever missing a beat. He always bring a lot of good memories to his songs. My most favorites are Blues Waltz, Doodlin, Hard Times and Sweet Sixteen Bars as necessary. R.I.P. to my man Ray Charles who is at peace and may his music and spirit lives on.
Ray Charles, you're da man!!!

everything said in these reviews is absolutely true. my favorite song on this cd is "How Long Blues". it gets me everytime and I feel like my heart is breaking, but in a good way!