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 performed locally in his indigenous Pittsburgh in his start. Arriving in NY in 1945, on his initial day around Brown fulfilled and used Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Bud Powell. He was employed by Gillespie for his little groupings and his big music group; “One Bass Strike” and “Two Bass Strike” had been early features, and he is able to be observed with Dizzy Gillespie within the 1947 film Jiving in Bebop. But not a soloist on the amount of an Oscar Pettiford, Brown’s quick reflexes and capability to accompany soloists within a swinging style put him close to the best of his field. After using Jazz on the Philharmonic, he wedded Ella Fitzgerald (their relationship just lasted during 1948-1952), and for a while led his very own trio to back again the singer. Dark brown recorded with an early on version of the present day Jazz Quartet (under Milt Jackson’s command), and became a long lasting person in the Oscar Peterson Trio (1951-1966). With Peterson, the bassist journeyed the entire world, guested with additional best jazz performers, was presented on JATP trips, became popular, and recorded continuously. He started playing cello in the past due ’50s, and utilized it on some of his personal dates. After departing Peterson, Brown resolved in LA, worked within the studios, continuing documenting jazz, and worked well like a supervisor of several performers (like the Contemporary Jazz Quartet and Quincy Jones). He used the L.A. Four beginning in 1974, do too much to revive the professions of Ernestine Anderson and Gene Harris, and documented thoroughly for Pablo and Concord. The Ray Dark brown Trio presented pianists Gene Harris, Benny Green, and Geoff Keezer, alongside drummers Jeff Hamilton and Greg Hutchison, and documented for Concord and Telarc. He continuing touring until his loss of life, dying in his rest while napping before a display in Indianapolis on July 2, 2002. His last batch of classes, working like a trio with pianist Monty Alexander and guitarist Russell Malone, had been released that fall.