Ray Brown Archives
Remembering Ray Brown: Arni Egilsson Shares Stories of His Friend and Bass Hero
Arni Egilsson remembers Ray Brown on his centennial, sharing stories of their Hollywood sessions, Basses Loaded album, friendship, and unforgettable pranks.
Ray Brown at 100: His Lasting Impact on Bassists
Celebrate Ray Brown’s centennial with seven bassists’ memories of his unmistakable sound, demanding lessons, generous spirit, and influence on generations.
Sonny Rollins, Remembered Through Three Essential Bass Performances
Sonny Rollins changed the face of jazz. We remember the saxophone colossus through three important recordings and the bassists who helped drive them.
Oscar Peterson’s Lost 1960 Baker’s Keyboard Lounge Recordings Spotlight Ray Brown at His Peak
Newly released recordings from Oscar Peterson’s 1960 Baker’s Keyboard Lounge engagement capture Ray Brown at his swinging, lyrical best with Ed Thigpen.
Ray Brown’s First Full Biography Dives into His Life, Legacy, and Jazz Mastery
Discover Ray Brown’s story in his first full biography—exploring his life, jazz legacy, and influence on bebop and beyond.
Is This the Greatest Walking Bass Line Ever? Breaking Down “Killer Joe” from Quincy Jones’s “Walking In Space”
In this episode, I’m focusing on the music of the late, great Quincy Jones and his iconic album "Walking In Space" (1969). Ray Brown's bass work on Benny Golson’s jazz standard “Killer Joe” just might be the best walking bass line you’ve ever heard.
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
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
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
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
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
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...