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Ray Brown Archives

Unearthed Oscar Peterson Trio Showcase’s Ray Brown’s Genius
New Albums

Unearthed Oscar Peterson Trio Showcase’s Ray Brown’s Genius

Oscar Peterson’s widow Kelly Peterson has been committed to keeping the jazz pianist’s legacy alive ever since his passing in 2007. Now the latest album has been released as “Con Alma: The Oscar Peterson Trio – Live in Lugano, 1964,” with Ray Brown on bass.

Bass of the Week: Ray Brown’s 7/8 Size Double Bass
Bass of the Week

Bass of the Week: Ray Brown’s 7/8 Size Double Bass

The Smithsonian is home to many priceless pieces of history. Its vast collection includes numerous musical instruments and this week, we’re featuring a bass I was lucky enough to visit recently: Ray Brown’s 7/8 Size Double Bass.

Oscar Peterson Trio: You Look Good To Me
Bass Videos

Oscar Peterson Trio: You Look Good To Me

One of the albums to really get me into jazz was the Oscar Peterson Trio’s “We Get Requests”. Ray Brown’s playing on that record is outstanding, especially his feature on “You Look Good To Me”. Here’s a live version of the song, recorded in 1965.

Ray Brown & Friends: Now’s The Time
Bass Videos

Ray Brown & Friends: Now’s The Time

Any Ray Brown video is good to me, but this is one of my favorites. This clip of the late jazz master performing the Charlie Parker blues "Now's The Time" starts as a duet with a young Christian McBride.

Ray Brown: Teen Town
Bass Videos

Ray Brown: Teen Town

As I’ve mentioned several times, I’m a huge Ray Brown fan. He set the standard for jazz bass, and while he could get funky from time to time, he never strayed too far from the straight-ahead. That’s why I was blown away to find this recently unearthed video of him performing “Teen Town.”

Sonny Rollins Trio’s “Way Out West” Reissued in Deluxe Box Set
New Albums

Sonny Rollins Trio’s “Way Out West” Reissued in Deluxe Box Set

Ray Brown was a master jazz bassist that could carry entire songs, with or without chordal instruments. One of his most notable recordings of the latter situation has just been reissued on vinyl for its 60th anniversary. Sonny Rollins’s Way Out West features the trio Brown on bass, Rollins on sax, and Shelly Manne on drums. It was taken from...

Oscar Peterson Trio: Bag’s Groove
Bass Videos

Oscar Peterson Trio: Bag’s Groove

After people find out I’m a bass player, they always ask who my favorite bassist is and the answer is always the same: Ray Brown. The jazz bassist’s sense of melody and harmony always blow me away, but it’s the time and groove that keep me coming back. Here’s a fantastic take on “Bag’s Groove” with the Oscar Peterson Trio....

Unheard Takes of Jazz Legend Charlie Parker and His Collaborators Released in New Set
New Albums

Unheard Takes of Jazz Legend Charlie Parker and His Collaborators Released in New Set

Fifty-eight never listed studio takes from legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker and his groups have been compiled on the set, Unheard Bird: The Unissued Takes. The set features a veritable who’s who of bebop bassists, including Teddy Kotick, Ray Brown, Tommy Potter and Curley Russell. Jazz historian Phil Schaap, currently Curator at Jazz At Lincoln Center, co-produced the compilation...

Book Transcribes 18 Ray Brown Classics
Sheet Music & Instruction

Book Transcribes 18 Ray Brown Classics

Ray Brown’s work as a double bassist was incomparable, and a new book of transcriptions from Hal Leonard pays tribute to him. An 80-page paperback, features 18 transcriptions, photos, performance notes and a forward by contemporary jazz virtuoso Christian McBride. While Brown is best known for his work with Oscar Peterson, he also played with Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah...

Ulf Wakenius Project, Featuring Ray Brown: Ray’s New Funk
Bass Videos

Ulf Wakenius Project, Featuring Ray Brown: Ray’s New Funk

Ray Brown was the king of jazz bass, but he also had a funky side. Besides playing on some James Brown tracks, he penned a few funk and soul-jazz songs that stood out in his repertoire. We’re celebrating the bass titan’s birthday with this video of his tune “Ray’s New Funk.” The performance comes from a 2000 concert at the...

Bass Players To Know: Ray Brown
Bass Players To Know

Bass Players To Know: Ray Brown

It’s about time to spread the love a little for the double bass, and today we’re focusing on the superbly classy and undeniably classic, Ray Brown. So who is Ray Brown? A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Brown grew up playing piano and made the transition to bass while in high school. Like many Pennsylvanian-born bass players, he began playing local...

Milt Jackson & Ray Brown: “Slippery”, Live at Montreux 1977
Bass Videos

Milt Jackson & Ray Brown: “Slippery”, Live at Montreux 1977

Here’s another great video of Ray Brown doing what he does best. This clip is taken from his performance at the 1977 Montreux Jazz Festival with Milt Jackson. With the help of a star-studded band, the duo tackles “Slippery,” which is also found on Brown’s album Something for Lester. The rest of the band includes Clark Terry on trumpet, Eddie...