Jazz Articles about Ray Brown

Ray Brown: Walk On

by Franz A. Matzner
October 6, 2003

Ray Brown’s music needs no introduction. Just as the liner notes to Walk On state, no one played bass like Ray Brown. Even if you don’t know it, you’re probably already aware of his work, for Brown stands as one of the most recorded jazz musicians of our times. His career spanned five decades. He weathered every major stylistic change in jazz’s tumultuous and rapid development, remaining a constant figure as leader, sideman, composer, and bass master. ...

Ray Brown Trio: Walk On

by Ollie Bivens
August 25, 2003

Recorded in January 2000, Walk On was the latest release by bassist Ray Brown before his passing in July 2002. Maynard Ferguson once remarked that he was attracted to jazz because jazz musicians always seemed to enjoy what they were playing. The sense of joy is present throughout Walk On.

“America the Beautiful” begins with Brown playing that most-famous melody on bass. Suddenly, Geoffrey Keezer and Karriem Riggins join in with kinetic piano and drum improvisations, leaving the melody behind ...

Ray Brown: Walk On

by C. Michael Bailey
July 25, 2003

The previous "last" Ray Brown recording was the well-received Ray Brown, Monty Alexander, Russell Malone . Now that finality appears a bit premature, as the last trio date for the late great bassist was actually Walk On. Like the former release, this is a two-disc set, the second of which is made up of previously unreleased takes from Brown's most recent Telarc releases. Walk On was recorded during the same period as Some of My Best Friends Are...The Trumpet Players ...

Ray Brown (and friends): Some Of My Best Friends Are...Singers

by AAJ Staff
January 17, 2003

It has been said that you can get by with a little help from your friends. Now, we will all have to get by without one of our best.

Ray Brown was one of the most admired and most beloved bass men of his age. On this new compilation, some of his most talented friends pay tribute by joining the late great on a dozen of his favorite songs.

From Nancy King's whispery “But Beautiful" to Dee Dee ...

Ray Brown, Monty Alexander, Russell Malone: Ray Brown, Monty Alexander, Russell Malone

by Dave Nathan
October 5, 2002

At the risk of being cloying and maudlin, one knows that all good things must come to an end. But you don't have to like it. This his final coda, a two CD-set for Telarc, is the last known recording of one of the most prolific, rewarding (especially for his legions of listeners) and successful in jazz history. Reading Ray Brown's discography is about the same as reading the history of recorded jazz. To try and select one or even ...

Ray Brown: Ray Brown, Monty Alexander, Russell Malone

by C. Michael Bailey
October 2, 2002

The last word from the great Ray Brown...

George Brett, former infielder for the Kansas City Royals once said that he wanted to end his career with a ground out to first base. He reasoned that this ground out best represented what most often happened when the bat hit the ball. If this reasoning can be extrapolated to the late Ray Brown and his recordings, then what Mr. Brown spent most of his time doing was making sublime music. I ...

The Ray Brown Trio: Some of My Best Friends are...Guitarists

by C. Michael Bailey
June 22, 2002

Go Down, Moses...

Some of My Best Friends are...Guitarists is the fifth in Ray Brown's series by the same name. Just for drill the others are: ... Piano Players (Telarc Jazz 83373, 1995) ... Sax Players (Telarc Jazz 83388, 1995) ... Singers (Telarc Jazz 83441, 1998) ... Trumpet Players (Telarc Jazz 83495, 2000)

All of these recordings have been critically well received and boast well for the 75-year-old Pittsburgh native who has been actively performing ...