BROWN, RAY

born Oct. 13, 1926, Pittsburgh, Pa., U.S. Ray Brown byname of Raymond Matthews Brown American string bassist and one of the greatest of all jazz virtuosos. Brown first made his mark at 19 when he went to New York City to join Dizzy Gillespie's band at a time when the modern jazz revolution, spearheaded by saxophonist Charlie Parker, was just getting under way. He reached wider audiences by working with singer Ella Fitzgerald in 1948, with pianist Oscar Peterson in 1951, and with Norman Granz's popular Jazz at the Philharmonic concert touring troupe from 1952. Later, with Peterson's trio, he was a member of what many thought was the finest small group in jazz history. After leaving Peterson's trio in 1966, he settled in California, where he became a freelance and studio musician, occasionally recording and going on tour. His playing was characterized by magnificent tonal resonance, extremely subtle grasp of harmony, and astonishing technique.