Things Ain’t What They Used to Be - Freemium

“Things Ain’t What They Used to Be” — from This One’s for Blanton
1972 — Pablo Records

This One’s for Blanton is a 1972 duo recording featuring Duke Ellington and Ray Brown, created as a tribute to Jimmy Blanton, the bassist who reshaped the role of the instrument within Ellington’s orchestra in the early 1940s. Presented in an intimate piano-and-bass setting, the album strips the music down to its core — exposing time, harmony, and interaction without the support of drums or a full ensemble.

On “Things Ain’t What They Used to Be,” Ray Brown immediately establishes the bass as a leading voice. He opens by stating the melody on the instrument, using rich tone and clear phrasing, then incorporates double stops to outline the harmony before settling into his walking line. Those double stops function as both harmonic reinforcement and melodic commentary, demonstrating complete command of the fingerboard.

Once the walking begins, Brown drives the performance with deep, buoyant quarter notes. With no drummer present, his time feel becomes the engine of the tune. His lines are confident and harmonically grounded, built from strong chord tones, chromatic approaches, and seamless voice-leading that keeps the swing alive throughout.

In this duo setting, every detail is exposed — articulation, sustain, note length, and internal pulse. Brown honors Blanton not through imitation, but by expanding the bass into a fully expressive, melodic, and authoritative voice. For bassists, this recording is a masterclass in tone, leadership, and harmonic clarity from the bottom up.