Ray Brown
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Raymond Matthews (Ray) Brown (October 13, 1926 – July 2, 2002) was an American jazz bassist.
Brown was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At the age of 8 he began to play piano. In high school he decided to become a bassist because there was a vacancy in the school jazz orchestra. He also thought practicing the bass might be easier than piano.
His first experiences playing in bands were with the Jimmy Hinsley Sextet and the Snookum Russel band. He played in jazz clubs throughout the United States and soon became known in the New York City jazz scene. Arriving in New York at age 20, he met and played with established musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Art Tatum, and Charlie Parker.
From 1946 to 1951 he played with Dizzy Gillespie, Jazz at the Philharmonic, Milt Jackson, and Ella Fitzgerald (who was then his wife). Brown then was a member of the Oscar Peterson trio for fifteen years. After leaving the Trio he became a manager and promoter as well as a performer. Among the artists he managed were the Modern Jazz Quartet and Quincy Jones.
In the late 1960s he moved to Los Angeles where he wrote music for films and TV shows. He was awarded his first Grammy for Gravy Waltz, a tune which would later be used as the theme song for The Steve Allen Show. Other awards would follow.
In the 1980s and '90s he led his own trios and continued to refine his bass playing style. In his later years he recorded and toured extensively with pianist Gene Harris. In 1990 he discovered Diana Krall in a restaurant in Nanaimo, British Columbia.
He continued to perform until his death; he died while taking a nap before a show in Indianapolis.
Discography
- 1946 - New Sounds in Modern Music - (Savoy Records)
- 1956 - Bass Hit! - (Norgran Record)
- 1958 - This is Ray Brown - (Polygram)
- 1960 - Jazz Cello - (Verve Records)
- 1962 - Ray Brown with the All Star Band - (Verve Records)
- 1962 - Featuring Cannonball Adderley - (Verve Records)
- 1962 - Night Train - (Polygram)
- 1965 - Ray Brown with Milt Jackson - (Verve Records)
- 1972 - This One's for Blanton - (Original Jazz)
- 1974 - The Giants - (Original Jazz Classics)
- 1975 - The Big 3 - (Pablo Records)
- 1975 - Brown's Bag - (Concord Jazz)
- 1975 - Overseas Special - (Concord Jazz)
- 1975 - Hot Tracks - (Concord Jazz)
- 1977 - Quadrant - (Original Jazz Classics)
- 1977 - As Good as it Gets - (Concord Jazz)
- 1977 - Montreux '77 - (Original Jazz Classics)
- 1977 - Rockin' In Rhythm - (Concord Jazz)
- 1979 - Something for Lester - ((Japanese)
- 1979 - Live at the Concord Jazz Festival - (Concord Jazz)
- 1979 - Tasty! - (Concord Jazz)
- 1981 - Echoes from West - (Atlas)
- 1982 - Ray Brown, vol 3 - (Japanese)
- 1982 - Milt Jackson - Ray Brown Jam - (Pablo Records)
- 1984 - Soular Energy - (Groove Note/Concord Jazz)
- 1984 - One O'Clock Jump - (Verve Records)
- 1985 - Bye Bye Blackbird - (Paddle Wheel)
- 1985 - Don't Forget the Blues - (Concord Jazz)
- 1985 - The Red Hot Ray Brown Trio - (Concord Jazz)
- 1988 - Two Bass Hits - (Capri)
- 1988 - Bam Bam Bam - (Concord Jazz)
- 1989 - Georgia on My Mind - (LOB)
- 1989 - After Hours: Jazz Standards - (Telarc)
- 1990 - Summer Wind: Live at the Loa - (Concord Jazz)
- 1990 - Moore Makes 4 - (Concord Jazz)
- 1990 - Live at the Blue Note - (Telarc)
- 1990 - Uptown: Songs of Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington & Others - (Telarc)
- 1991 - 3 Dimensional: The Ray Brown Trio - (Concord Jazz)
- 1991 - Saturday Night at the Blue Note - (Telarc)
- 1991 - Old Friends - (Telarc)
- 1993 - Bassface - (Telarc)
- 1993 - Encore at the Blue Note - (Telarc)
- 1994 - Black Orpheus - (Evidence)
- 1994 - Don't Get Sassy - (Telarc)
- 1995 - Some of My Best Friends Are ... The Piano Players - (Telarc)
- 1995 - The More I See of You - (Telarc)
- 1995 - Seven Steps to Heaven - (Telarc)
- 1996 - Some of My Best Friends Are ... The Sax Players - (Telarc)
- 1996 - Introducing Kristin Korb with the Ray Brown Trio - (Telarc)
- 1997 - SuperBass - (Telarc)
- 1997 - Live at Scullers - (Telarc)
- 1998 - Ultimate Oscar Peterson - (Polygram)
- 1998 - Summertime - (Telarc)
- 1998 - Some of My Best Friends Are ... Singers - (Telarc)
- 1998 - Moonlight in Vermont - (Prevue)
- 1998 - Oscar and Benny - (Telarc)
- 1999 - Christmas Songs with The Ray Brown Trio - (Telarc)
- 2000 - Some of My Best Friends Are ... The Trumpet Players - (Telarc)
- 2000 - Blues for Jazzo - (Prevue)
- 2001 - Live at Starbucks - (Telarc)
- 2001 - SuperBass 2 - (Telarc)
- 2002 - In the Pocket - (Concord Jazz)
- 2002 - Some of My Best Friends Are ... Guitarists - (Telarc)
- 2002 - Ray Brown, Monty Alexander, Russell Malone - (Telarc)
- 2003 - Straight Ahead - (Concord Jazz)
- 2003 - Walk On - (Telarc)
- 19?? - Duke Ellington...Swings!:The Music of the Duke - (Telarc)
- 19?? - Jazz Showcase - (Telarc)
- 19?? - Jazz: Live from New York - (Telarc)
- 19?? - Last Call at the Blue Note - (Telarc)
- 19?? - Love Ballads: Late Night Jazz - (Telarc)
- 19?? - Love, Lost & Found - (Telarc)
- 19?? - Oscar, Ray, and Milt: The Very Tall Band - (Telarc)
- 19?? - Santa's Bag: An All-Star Jazz Christmas - (Telarc)
- 19?? - The Legendary Oscar Peterson Trio Live at the Blue Note - (Telarc)
- 19?? - Tribute: Live at the Town Hall - (??)
- 19?? - Jackson, Johnson, Brown & Company - (Original Jazz Classics)
Discography (compilations)
- 1962 - Much in Common/Ray Brown with the All Star - (Verve)
- 1964 - Much in Common - (Polygram)
- 1974 - The Concord Jazz Heritage Series - (Concord Jazz)
- 1994 - Jazz Masters - (Aim)
- 1998 - Triple Play - (Telarc)
- 1999 - Ultimate Ray Brown - (Polygram)
- 2000 - The Duo Sessions - (Concord Jazz)
- 2002 - Triple Scoop - (Concord Jazz)
- 2002 - The Best of the Concord Years - (Concord Jazz)
- 2002 - Telarc Celebrating 25 Years: The Jazz Collection - (Telarc)
- 2004 - Telarc Jazz SACD Sampler 3 - (Telarc)da:Ray Brown