Ruby Braff

Biography

Reuben 'Ruby' Braff was born on March 16, 1927, in Boston, Massachusetts, and became one of the most distinctive voices in jazz cornet and trumpet playing of the 20th century[1][3][6]. A self-taught musician, Braff began performing in Boston clubs as a teenager in the early 1940s, quickly establishing himself in the local jazz scene[1][2][3]. By the late 1940s and early 1950s, he was playing with established stars such as clarinetists Edmond Hall and Pee Wee Russell, and in 1953, he moved to New York City, where his inventive, lyrical style brought him work with both traditional and modern bands[1][3][5]. Braff’s career flourished in the 1950s and 1960s, including stints with Benny Goodman and as a member of George Wein’s Newport Jazz All-Stars, with whom he toured internationally[1][2].

Braff was renowned for his warm, expressive tone and melodic phrasing, drawing deeply from the swing tradition while incorporating subtle modern harmonic ideas[1][4]. Though he emerged after the Swing Era, his style was firmly rooted in the swing idiom, and he became a leading figure in the 'mainstream jazz' movement—a bridge between swing and bebop that featured both veterans and younger players[1][4]. Braff recorded 14 albums as a leader and many more as a sideman, working with artists like Scott Hamilton, Milt Hinton, Woody Herman, and Dave McKenna[1]. He continued performing and recording until his death on February 9, 2003, in Chatham, Massachusetts[1][2][4]. Braff’s legacy endures as a masterful interpreter of the Great American Songbook and a vital link in the continuum of jazz trumpet and cornet artistry.

Fun Facts

• Ruby Braff was once described by Jack Teagarden as 'the Ivy League Louis Armstrong' for his sophisticated yet deeply swinging style[3].
• Despite health challenges, Braff gave a memorable final U.S. performance in 2002 at Boston’s Tremont Theater, sharing humorous stories and anecdotes between songs[2].
• Braff was known for his sharp wit and candid opinions about the music business, often joking about the songwriters whose tunes he kept alive[2].
• He was entirely self-taught on cornet, having originally wanted to play saxophone, but his father bought him a cornet instead[4].

Associated Acts

• Ruby Braff Quintet - trumpet
• The Ruby Braff, George Barnes Quartet

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Louis Armstrong - Primary musical inspiration and stylistic touchstone (N/A) [Lifetime]
• Bix Beiderbecke - Influenced Braff's lyrical approach and tone (N/A) [Lifetime]
• Bobby Hackett - Admired for his melodic style and tone; later paid tribute to Hackett in concert (2002 tribute concert at Boston’s Tremont Theater) [Lifetime]

Key Collaborators

• Edmond Hall - Played in Hall's band at the Savoy in Boston (Ed Hall All-Stars (Savoy recordings)) [Late 1940s–early 1950s]
• Pee Wee Russell - Frequent collaborator in clubs and recordings (Various live and studio sessions) [Late 1940s–early 1950s]
• Benny Goodman - Worked in Goodman's band (N/A) [Mid-1950s]
• George Wein - Long association with Newport Jazz All-Stars (Newport Jazz Festival appearances) [1960s]
• George Barnes - Formed a quintet with Barnes in the 1970s (Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet albums) [1970s]
• Scott Hamilton - Frequent collaborator in later years (Multiple albums for Concord Jazz and Arbors Records) [1980s–1990s]
• Howard Alden - Collaborated on recordings and performances (N/A) [1980s–1990s]

Artists Influenced

• Scott Hamilton - Hamilton cited Braff as an influence on his mainstream jazz approach (N/A) [1970s–2000s]
• Warren Vaché - Vaché admired Braff's lyrical cornet style (N/A) [1970s–2000s]
• Jon-Erik Kellso - Contemporary cornetist influenced by Braff's swing-based approach (N/A) [1990s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. I've Got A Crush On You
2. Yesterdays
3. Embraceable You
4. Mean to Me (Brass and Blues)
5. When It's Sleepy Time Down South (Music For The Still Of The Night)
6. You're a Lucky Guy
7. My Funny Valentine
8. Diga Diga Doo
9. That Old Feeling (Just for Fun)
10. When It's Sleepy Time Down South (Hustlin' And Bustlin')

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in provided sources)
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #dixieland, #jazz, #swing