Hot on the heels of Avid's first Ray Charles set, this similarly mouthwatering 2CD collection brings together Yes Indeed!, What'd I Say, the self-titled Ray Charles and The Great, all recorded in New York City between 1956-1958. An entirely instrumental album featuring Horace Silver's ‘Doodlin’, the self-penned ‘Sweet Sixteen Bars’ and more, The Great is of especial interest as it highlights the key influences that make up Charles's singular piano style, namely Art Tatum, Bud Powell, Nat ‘King’ Cole and Oscar Peterson. Tatum and Powell were important to Charles from a technical viewpoint, Cole and Peterson for their communication of emotion. As on the first Avid set, David ‘Fathead’ Newman is a key presence, contributing fine work on both tenor and alto sax. Standouts on the remaining three albums include Charles channeling blues and gospel in ‘Blackjack’ and ‘What Would I Do Without You’ (from Yes Indeed!), the classic title track from What'd I Say (one of his greatest hits), plus the evergreen ‘Hallelujah I Love Her So’ (from Ray Charles), covered by everyone from The Beatles and Stevie Wonder to Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.