Jazz Bassist Ray Brown, 75, Dies
Blue Monk
By KATE BERRY
Associated Press Writer
AP/ANDREE NOELLE POT [22K]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOS ANGELES (AP) ‹ Ray Brown, a legendary jazz bassist who played with
giants Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and his one-time wife Ella Fitzgerald
in a career that spanned a half century, has died. He was 75.
Brown died in his sleep Tuesday in Indianapolis where he was concluding the
U.S. leg of a tour, said John Clayton, a friend and fellow bassist.
Brown, whose fluid sound defined the bebop era, started his career in the
1940s and performed during jazz's Golden Age with Gillespie, Parker and Bud
Powell.
He was a founder of bebop and appeared with Gillespie in the 1946 film
``Jivin' in Be-Bop.'' Brown later became musical director and husband of
singer Ella Fitzgerald, whom he later divorced.
``Ray played with such strength and power and he had such great musical
knowledge, he knew every right note to play and he had the most fantastic
technique,'' said drummer Frank Capp, a close friend.
Ray Matthews Brown was born in Pittsburgh in 1926 and moved to New York in
1945 where he was immediately involved in the emerging bebop revolution.
While playing in Gillespie's Big Band in 1946 and 1947, he became
Fitzgerald's music director, as well as her husband in the late 1940's, and
worked with her even after their divorce.
Brown played with an early edition of what became the Modern Jazz Quartet,
recording with the Milt Jackson Quartet in 1951. He subsequently was a
founding member of the Oscar Peterson's Trio, which ranked among jazz's most
popular groups of the 50s and 60s. He also was voted top bassist
consistently in critics' polls during the decade.
Brown proved the ideal partner for Peterson's swirling, intricate solos. The
Peterson-Brown-Herb Ellis lineup stayed intact until 1957 and Brown remained
with Peterson until 1966.
In 1960, Brown created a stir when he had a hybrid instrument built for him
that combined features of the cello and bass. The experiment attracted
plenty of interest and eventually Ron Carter had a piccolo designed along
similar lines.
After leaving the Oscar Peterson Trio in the mid-1960s, Brown moved to
California. He co-founded the group L.A. Four and appeared on the ``Merv
Griffin Show.''
Among his recordings is the solo effort ``Something for Lester.''
``He is the primary contributor to bebop from a bassist's standpoint,''
Clayton said. ``We had Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk
and there to contribute from the bass chair is Ray Brown. He was extremely
important in jazz education, leading a lot of young bass players to learn
the instrument.''
Brown lived in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles with his wife, Cecilia.
Brown was finishing an engagement at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis at the
time of his death.
Brown had played golf earlier Tuesday and went to take an afternoon nap,
Clayton said. When he did not show up to perform, a bandmate went to his
hotel where his body was found in his room.
Along with his wife, he is survived by a son, Ray Brown Jr., of Hawaii.
Chip L
a bright spot. Ray's newest CD is "Some of my best friends are guitarists".
Thanks Ray.
Chip L
Pat Smith
Here's another srticle
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07/03/2002 - Updated 02:58 AM ET
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Jazz bassist Ray Brown dead at 75
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Ray Brown, a jazz bassist who played with giants such
as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and his one-time wife Ella Fitzgerald
has died. He was 75.
Brown died in his sleep Tuesday in Indianapolis where he was concluding
the U.S. leg of a tour, said John Clayton, a friend and fellow bassist.
Brown started his career in the 1940s and performed during jazz's Golden
Age with Gillespie, Parker and Bud Powell. In 1952, he became a founding
member of the Oscar Peterson Trio.
He was a founder of "Be-Bop" and appeared with Gillespie in the 1946
film "Jivin' in Be-Bop." Brown later became musical director for
Fitzgerald and continued their musical relationship after their divorce.
"He is the primary contributor to Be-Bop from a bassist's standpoint,"
Clayton said. "We had Dizzie Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Thelonius
Monk and there to contribute from the bass chair is Ray Brown. He was
extremely important in jazz education, leading a lot of young bass
players to learn the instrument."
After leaving the Oscar Peterson Trio in the mid-1960s, Brown moved to
California. He co-founded the group L.A. Four and appeared on the "Merv
Griffin Show."
Among his recordings is the solo effort "Something for Lester."
Brown lived in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles with his wife, Cecilia.
Joe Finn
credits would fill a book. His groove was impeccable. I'm glad to see that
he was able to play right up until his unexpected demise. He was a true
giant an musical originator who will be missed. .....joe
--
Visit me on the web. www.JoeFinn.net
"Blue Monk" <monk...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:B9483BA0.B2F4%monk...@hotmail.com...
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Tom Walls
says...
> Jazz Bassist Ray Brown, 75, Dies
>
Died on the road... damn! Another great player I'll never play
with(typically selfish observation).
--
Tom Walls
the guy at the Temple of Zeus
http://www.arts.cornell.edu/zeus/
Nazodesu
history of jazz.
Max Leggett
I started life as a double bassist, and Ray was one of my earliest
heroes. His time, melodicism, swing, drive - just wonderful stuff.
Wonderful. Very sorry to see him go, but he went easy - played a round
of golf, and was having a nap before a gig. There are worse deaths.
Stay cool Brother Ray! You still da man.
On Wed, 03 Jul 2002 05:26:56 -0400, Blue Monk <monk...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
Holger Weber
Pat Smith <pj...@pacbell.net> schrieb in im Newsbeitrag:
3D2300ED...@pacbell.net...
> What a loss! A really nice man, and nobody could swing like he could.
Very sad news indeed. Saw him last year and he looked in great shape. What a
tremendous loss.
Rest in peace, Ray.
Holger
OldJazzBass
2.html?date=20020703&docid=D7KHCUJ81
A great recent photo of the great Ray Brown
:-(
OldJazzBass
Kevin Van Sant
>Jazz Bassist Ray Brown, 75, Dies
Sad news, I don't know why some of these deaths hit harder than
others. I remember being especially down when I heard about Stan
Getz. Hearing about Ray really hurts. I'm glad I had the chance to
see him last summer. There was a guy with so much strength and joy
in his music. Take it easy Ray.
_________________________________________
Kevin Van Sant
jazz guitar
http://www.onestopjazz.com/kvansant
to buy my CDs, listen to sound clips, and get more info.
Alternate site for recent soundclips
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/kevinvansant_music.htm
a wandering frank
"Kevin Van Sant" <kvan...@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:ul76iu4b9m5es3ti1...@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 03 Jul 2002 05:26:56 -0400, Blue Monk <monk...@hotmail.com>
> wrote in message <B9483BA0.B2F4%monk...@hotmail.com> :
>
> >Jazz Bassist Ray Brown, 75, Dies
> Sad news, I don't know why some of these deaths hit harder than
> others. I remember being especially down when I heard about Stan
> Getz. Hearing about Ray really hurts.
Oh man, does it ever. He was one of the primary reasons I pulled the
trigger on getting an electric bass a few months ago. I just can't get
enough of his playing. My guess is, he's still swinging his butt off,
wherever he is.
Swing low, sweet chariot...
Frank