Doug Raney Has Died
She was not on the list.
Doug Raney (1956-2016), a son of guitar legend Jimmy Raney
and a brilliant lyrical guitarist in his own right who lived in Denmark for
much of his career, died of heart failure in Copenhagen on May 1, according to
his brother Jon. He was 59.
Many jazz fans in the States are unfamiliar with Raney,
since he toured here infrequently and gave few interviews. Those who do know
his music have been exposed to it largely through his albums, many of which
were recorded in Copenhagen for the SteepleChase label. Raney's first album was
Strings Attached, recorded in 1975 in New York with his father Jimmy and
pianist Al Haig. By 1977, Raney had moved to Denmark.
Two albums with his father—Stolen Moments and Duets—were
recorded in New York in 1979. Raney wouldn't record in the States again until
1996, when he made Back in New York and Two Funky People. He also recorded Jam
Session, Vol. 10 in New York in 1998. Most of the balance of his albums were
recorded in Scandinavia.
Raney's style combined the easy swing of Wes Montgomery with
the tasty emotionalism of Jim Hall. Raney often was teamed with pianist Horace
Parlan, who was in perfect sync with Raney's approach and was a Denmark-based
expatriate. Raney's last known album was as a sideman on Jesper Lundgaard's
2013 release for the Danish Storyville label called Love & Peace: The Music
of Horace Parlan.
There are no bad Doug Raney albums. Virtually everything he
played was executed with enormous taste and technical discipline. He was a
carefully listener of his own playing and knew exactly which notes sounded best
to make a personal statement. His juicy swing could be deceptive, since the
careful listener also could hear significant sensitivity and sadness in Raney's
notes. It's unclear why Raney chose Denmark as a save emotional haven or why he
preferred to remain there. One assumes that whatever demons Raney had, he could
better manage them there in the company of those he trusted and loved there.
His guitar will be missed.
Last week, I caught up with Jon, Doug's brother, shortly
after Doug's passing:
“I'm in Copenhagen sorting out the details of Doug's
memorial and final resting place. There is a memorial here Monday, May 9, that
a Danish guitarist and I are organizing. I'm collecting my thoughts today as to
what to say. The things I feel are pretty well expressed in the blog I wrote
about him a few days ago titled Goodbye My Brother at my site. [Photo above of
Jon Raney]
“Doug was in very poor health recently, with his smoker's
lungs sometimes requiring oxygen. He had other things wrong with his legs. His
health had been deteriorating over the years with a few bounce-backs here and
there. He died in his sleep in a chair. The attendants didn't wish to disturb
him and came back later and found he had passed. The official death was likely
heart failure. There wasn't an official autopsy as we felt that was unnecessary
under the circumstances.
“Doug was struggling with prior drug addiction and was on
the program for a long time. But it was really his addiction to alcohol, in
excess, that did him in. He was a different type of drunk than my father, who
became more of a Mr. Hyde when he drank. Doug lived much of his life as a
functioning alcoholic so it was sort of a wide spectrum in terms of behavior.
But in later years, his personality under the influence had moved closer to my
Dad's, where he suddenly was more frequently not capable of fulfilling his
musical commitments.
“A non-traditional memorial and service is being held in
Copenhagen in the famous Jazzhus Montmartre club on Monday, May 9, at 4 p.m. We
are treating it like a church. There will be musicians coming up and playing in
his honor. This is sort of full circle for Doug as it is likely the first major
club he played in when arriving in Europe in '77. I am working on the program
and details now. There will be more details as I can voice them. All the while
struggling with my own grief as I'm sure you understand."
Discography
As leader
Introducing Doug Raney (SteepleChase, 1978)
Cuttin' Loose (SteepleChase, 1979)
Stolen Moments with Jimmy Raney (SteepleChase, 1979)
Duets with Jimmy Raney (SteepleChase, 1980)
Listen (SteepleChase, 1981)
I'll Close My Eyes (SteepleChase, 1982)
Nardis with Jimmy Raney (SteepleChase, 1983)
Blue and White (SteepleChase, 1984)
Meeting the Tenors (Criss Cross, 1984)
Lazy Bird (SteepleChase, 1985)
Guitar Guitar Guitar (SteepleChase, 1985)
Everything We Love with Thorgeir Stubø (Hot Club, 1985)
Something's Up (SteepleChase, 1988)
The Doug Raney Quintet (SteepleChase, 1989)
Blues On a Par (SteepleChase, 1994)
Back in New York (SteepleChase, 1997)
Raney '96 (SteepleChase, 1997)
The Backbeat (SteepleChase, 1999)
As sideman
With Chet Baker
The Touch of Your Lips (SteepleChase, 1979)
Daybreak (Steeplechase, 1980)
This Is Always (Steeplechase, 1982)
Someday My Prince Will Come (SteepleChase, 1983)
With others
John McNeil, I've Got the World On a String (SteepleChase,
1983)
Red Mitchell, Soft and Warm and Swinging! (Phontastic, 1982)
Horace Parlan, Hi-Fly (SteepleChase, 1978)
Jimmy Raney, Raney '81 (Criss Cross, 1981)
Hugo Rasmussen, Sweets to the Sweet (RCA Victor, 1978)
Hugo Rasmussen, More Sweets... (Music Mecca, 2000)
Bernt Rosengren, Bernt Rosengren Big Band (Caprice, 1980)
Bernt Rosengren, Surprise Party (SteepleChase, 1983)
Louis Smith, Once in a While (SteepleChase, 1999)
Thorgeir Stubo, The End of a Tune (Cadence, 1988)
Jan Erik Vold, Obstfelder Live Pa Rebekka West (Hot Club,
1994)
Martin Jacobsen, At The Jazz House (SteepleChase, 2015)
