RAY BROWN
Genres: Bop, Post Bop, Jazz Related Soundtracks, Big Band • United States

American jazz double bassist. Born: 13 October 1926 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Died: 2 July 2002 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA (aged 75). from discogs 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, read more...