Ruby Braff


Reuben "Ruby" Braff was an American jazz trumpeter and cornetist. Jack Teagarden was once asked about him on the Garry Moore television show and described Ruby as "the Ivy League Louis Armstrong".
Braff, who was of Jewish heritage, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. He was renowned for working in an idiom ultimately derived from the playing of Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke. He began playing in local clubs in the 1940s. In 1949, he was hired to play with the Edmond Hall Orchestra at the Savoy Cafe of Boston. He relocated to New York in 1953 where he was much in demand for band dates and recordings.
He resided in Harwich, Massachusetts and died of complications from emphysema, heart failure, and glaucoma on February 9, 2003, in Chatham, Massachusetts. He had spent a good part of his life living in the Riverdale section of The Bronx, New York City.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Buck Meets Ruby with Buck ClaytonJazz at Storyville, Vol. 1 and 2 with Pee Wee RussellRuby Braff Swings Holiday in Braff Ball at Bethlehem with Braff Braff!! Ruby Braff featuring Dave McKenna Hi-Fi Salute to Bunny The Ruby Braff Octet with [Pee Wee Russell & Bobby Henderson at Newport] Ruby Braff Goes 'Girl Crazy' Easy Now You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me Blowing Around The World The Ruby Braff Marshall Brown Sextet Very Sinatra Live at the Regattabar Ruby Braff Remembers Louis Armstrong: Being with You You Can Depend on Me Born to Play Ruby Braff and Strings: In the Wee, Small Hours in London and New York The Cape Godfather Music for the Still of the Night I Hear Music Relaxing at the Penthouse with the John Pizzarelli Trio Variety Is the Spice of Braff Watch What Happens You Brought a New Kind of Love Controlled Nonchalance' at the Regattabar, Vol. 2

With George Barnes">George Barnes (musician)">George Barnes

The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet Salutes Rodgers and Hart The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet – Live at the New School The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet Plays Gershwin
  • ''The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet – To Fred Astaire with Love''

With [Ellis Larkins]

2 Part Inventions in Jazz, Vol. 2, The Grand Reunion Ruby Braff & Ellis Larkins: The Complete Duets
  • ''Ruby Braff and Ellis Larkins: Calling Berlin, Vols. 1 & 2''

As sideman

With Larry Adler
With Louis Armstrong
With Tony Bennett
;With Buck Clayton
With Scott Hamilton and Dave McKenna
  • Controlled Nonchalance at the Regattabar, Volume 1
  • Controlled Nonchalance, Volume 2
With Woody Herman
With Milt Hinton
  • The Judge at His Best
With Dick Hyman
With Pee Wee Russell
  • The Individualism of Pee Wee Russell
  • A Portrait of Pee Wee
With Ralph Sutton
  • R & R
  • Remembered
With George Wein