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Double Bass How tall was Ray Brown?

#8
Pcocobass said:
I envy you Paul....

I never got the chance to meet RB. Never even saw him play live... :(

I was heart-broken when he passed.
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As i've said before (many, many times) on TBDB, I am one lucky cat. I'm 63 and I've been lucky enough to have played with just about everybody. Some were in 'house band' situations where you only get the chance to play together for a week or so, but still, enough time to get to know these people on a first name basis. For example, this one was taken at one of those Dick Gibson Jazz parties in Denver. There were about 5 to 8 players on each instrument.
I've had a wonderful jazz life.
 
#9
Pcocobass said:
I envy you Paul....

I never got the chance to meet RB. Never even saw him play live... :(

I was heart-broken when he passed.
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I did get to see Ray play with Benny Green and Russell Malone at a small club in St. Paul a year before passed.

He playing was incredible and seemed so effortless.

BTW, I am guessing he was about 6' 1" to 2". He seemed so much taller than the other two.
 
#13
ctcruiser said:
My deep apologies. I had not seen your earlier post with your photo.
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As Ed says "It ain't no thang."

ctcruiser said:
That is what I get for skimming on my board along the edge of the surf.
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We all do it.
ctcruiser said:
He did seem so bigger than 6 foot.
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I think this is true of our heroes. I had the chance to hear Bud Powell and Lester Young before they passed. I had 'em both pegged as giants.
The first time I played in front of Ray was a Milestone for me. I felt it would happen eventually, just wasn't sure when.
After having 'BROKEN MY CHERRY' in terms of frightening musical situations by playing in Bill Evans left ear for several weeks, I felt 'Ready' for Ray. The chance to hang with Ray for a minute before playing helped alot.
 
#14
Paul Warburton said:
As Ed says "It ain't no thang."


We all do it.

I think this is true of our heroes. I had the chance to hear Bud Powell and Lester Young before they passed. I had 'em both pegged as giants.
The first time I played in front of Ray was a Milestone for me. I felt it would happen eventually, just wasn't sure when.
After having 'BROKEN MY CHERRY' in terms of frightening musical situations by playing in Bill Evans left ear for several weeks, I felt 'Ready' for Ray. The chance to hang with Ray for a minute before playing helped alot.
Click to expand...

That same night at the club, I ran into some bass players that went to a open masters class he had given at the Univ. of Minn that afternoon. They said that Ray was a gracious host and very supportive of the students who went up to the stage.
 
#15
ctcruiser said:
I did get to see Ray play with Benny Green and Russell Malone at a small club in St. Paul a year before passed.

He playing was incredible and seemed so effortless.

BTW, I am guessing he was about 6' 1" to 2". He seemed so much taller than the other two.
Click to expand...


I got to see him twice at Jazz Ally, I still can't quite describe what an impact the first time had on me, I had been playing DB for about six - seven months at the time and seeing Ray made my mind click in that special way that makes you say “I get it!”The second just made it go deeper.
 
#20
No way he was just 6'1. I used to tend bar in a jazz club where he performed regularly and he was much taller than that. AI says 6'5" and that sounds right. Don't guess based on his size relative to the bass he was playing -- it was a 7/8 and most people play 3/4.
 

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