Doug Raney (1956-2016) was born in New York City and is the son of guitar legend Jimmy Raney. Doug started playing guitar at age 14 and his earliest explorations were in rock and blues. By age 17 he was almost exclusively into jazz, swapping his Gibson SG for an L7. His first gigs were with bebop piano great, Al Haig at age 18.
Doug went on a concert tour with Jimmy in Europe at age 20, eventually deciding to make it his home and finally settling in Denmark. Gigs with Johnny Griffin and Dexter Gordon followed. His debut record, Introducing Doug Raney for the Steeplechase label, recorded when he was just 21, was very well received.
Other Steeplechase records followed including he legendary trio recordings from one night at the Montmartre with Chet Baker and Niels Henning Ørsted Peterson, producing 3 classic albums (Daybreak, This is Always and Someday My Prince Will Come).
With his reputation solidified, several great records followed with Jimmy on Steeplechase (Stolen Moments, Duets, Nardis) and Criss-Cross labels (Raney ’81). In total Doug has recorded close to 30 records and has truly established his voice as one of the best of the modern bop guitarists in the tradition — no small feat given his illustrious father’s achievements on the same instrument.
A great video and analysis of Doug’s bebop chops is featured on Guitarist/Educator, Jens Larsen’s YouTube Channel below:
Despite his recognition and following by critics, contemporaries and jazz fans alike, Doug (like his father) continues to fall under the radar of the jazz listening public.
Doug’s last official date as a leader is not widely known: BLUES, BALLADS, BEBOP AND A BLUE GIRL from 2008. It was originally distributed by the Japanese label, Marshmallow Records but – to my knowledge – is no longer available. (The CD is still being sold by resellers on Amazon but at ~$70 is a little steep…)
My brother sent me the below 5 tracks via email in 2013. So in keeping with my practice of sharing my brother’s wonderful legacy, I am sharing them with you below:
BLUES, BALLADS, BEBOP AND A BLUE GIRL
Doug Raney (guitar), Jesper Lundgaard (bass) and Morten Lund (drums)
Oblivion
This is New
Little Girl Blue
Photograph
Dear Old Stockholm
He left out Blue Monk and Who Cares from the attachments. I think it was just an oversight where he resent a few of the same tracks but left it out. Blue Monk’s omission however was intentional because in his words:
“Left out Blue Monk. I(t) was supposed to be a warm-up. D.”
Doug-Jon Correspondence Feb 2013
Doug made a comeback in 2012 and 2013 doing several gigs at the famous Montmartre Club in Copenhagen, Denmark knocking people out. Below video is the likely the last documment of Doug’s playing at Copenhagen’s Jazz Cup in 2013. It is with long-time bandmates Bernt Rosengren, bassist, Jesper Lundgaard, along with drummer, Niclas Campagnol. Jesper told me he was sick with the flu prior for quite a while and not really up playing in public. But with some encouragement showed up. Even with that you can hear the magic coming thru the struggle. For me the real stunner is on one of his favorites, “How Deep is the Ocean”.
2 Comments
Joe Nania
I love the father and son – JIMMY RANEY and his son DOUG are 2 great guys- I am sad that both are not with us any longer- And also sad that there is very little – if not any videos – of these 2 great guitar players, Joe Nania Whitestone , New York
Ricardo Pelegrini
Doug Raney, great inspiration.