Ray Brown
The huge and comfortable sound of Ray Brown's bass was a welcome feature on bop-oriented sessions for over a half-century. He played locally in his native Pittsburgh in his early days.
Arriving in New York in 1945, on his first day in town Brown met and played with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Bud Powell. He was hired by Gillespie for his small groups and his big band; "One Bass Hit" and "Two Bass Hit" were early features, and he can be seen with Dizzy Gillespie in the 1947 film Jiving in Bebop. Although not a soloist on the level of an Oscar Pettiford, Brown's quick reflexes and ability to accompany soloists in a swinging fashion put him near the top of his field. After playing with Jazz at the Philharmonic, he married Ella Fitzgerald (their marriage only lasted during 1948-1952), and for a time led his own trio to back the singer. Brown recorded with an early version of the Modern Jazz Quartet (under Milt Jackson's leadership), and then became a permanent member of the Oscar Peterson Trio (1951-1966).
With Peterson, the bassist traveled the world, guested with other top jazz artists, was featured on JATP tours, became famous, and recorded constantly. He began playing cello in the late '50s, and used it on a few of his own dates. After leaving Peterson, Brown settled in Los Angeles, worked in the studios, continued recording jazz, and worked as a manager of several artists (including the Modern Jazz Quartet and Quincy Jones). He played with the L.A. Four starting in 1974, did a great deal to revive the careers of Ernestine Anderson and Gene Harris, and recorded extensively for Pablo and Concord. The Ray Brown Trio featured pianists Gene Harris, Benny Green, and Geoff Keezer, along with drummers Jeff Hamilton and Greg Hutchison, and recorded for Concord and Telarc. He continued touring up until his death, dying in his sleep while napping before a show in Indianapolis on July 2, 2002. His last batch of sessions, working as a trio with pianist Monty Alexander and guitarist Russell Malone, were released that fall.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
Similar artists
-
The Poll Winners
Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne, Ray Brown
Jazz - Released by Craft Recordings on Jan 1, 1957
The Qobuz Essential Discography24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
SuperBass (Live At Sculler's Jazz Club, Boston, MA / October 17-18, 1996)
Jazz - Released by Telarc on Jan 1, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
SuperBass 2 (Live At The Blue Note, New York City, NY / December 15-17, 2000)
Ray Brown, John Clayton, Christian McBride
Jazz - Released by Telarc on Aug 28, 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Poll Winners
Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne, Ray Brown
Jazz - Released by Craft Recordings on Jan 1, 1957
The Qobuz Essential Discography24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Poll Winners Ride Again!
Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne, Ray Brown
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on Nov 2, 1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Poll Winners: Exploring the Scene
Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne, Ray Brown
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on Jan 1, 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ray Brown/Milt Jackson
Jazz - Released by Verve Reissues on Jan 1, 1965
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Celebration Of Duke
Sarah Vaughan, Zoot Sims, Joe Pass, Milt Jackson, Ray Brown, Mickey Roker
Vocal Jazz - Released by Pablo on Jan 1, 1980
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Tall Band: Live At The Blue Note (Live At The Blue Note, New York City, NY / November 24-26, 1998)
Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Milt Jackson
Jazz - Released by Telarc on Jan 1, 1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dizzy's Big 4 (Original Jazz Classics Remasters)
Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Pass, Ray Brown, Mickey Roker
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on Sep 19, 1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Poll Winners: Straight Ahead
Barney Kessel, Ray Brown, Shelly Manne
Jazz - Released by Concord Records on Jul 12, 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz / Concord
Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, Ray Brown, Jake Hanna
Jazz - Released by Concord Jazz on Jan 1, 1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jackson, Johnson, Brown & Company
Milt Jackson, J.J. Johnson, Ray Brown
Jazz - Released by Fantasy Records on Jan 1, 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Two Bass Hits
Ray Brown, Pierre Boussaguet, Dado Moroni
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Plaza Mayor Company, Ltd. on Aug 13, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
As Good As It Gets
Jazz - Released by Concord Jazz on Dec 22, 1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
What's Up?: The Very Tall Band (Live At The Blue Note, New York City, NY / November 24-26, 1998)
Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Milt Jackson
Jazz - Released by Telarc on Feb 27, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dizzy's Big 4 [Original Jazz Classics Remasters]
Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Pass, Ray Brown, Mickey Roker
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on Sep 19, 1974
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tenderly (Live (2016 Remastered))
Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown
Jazz - Released by Justin Time Records Inc. on Oct 8, 2002
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Memphis Jackson
Jazz - Released by Verve Reissues on Oct 9, 1969
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, JATP Lausanne 1953 / Swiss Radio Days, Jazz Series Vol.15
Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, Barney Kessel, Ray Brown, J.C. Heard
Jazz - Released by TCB - The Montreux Jazz Label™ on Jan 1, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo