Raymond Matthews Brown (October 13, 1926 – July 2, 2002) was an American jazz double bassist, known for his extensive work with Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald.

[1] A major early influence on Brown's bass playing was Jimmy Blanton, the bassist in the Duke Ellington band.

[1] He arrived in New York at the age of 20, met up with Hank Jones, with whom he had previously worked, and was introduced to Dizzy Gillespie, who was looking for a bass player.

Gillespie hired Brown on the spot, and he soon played with such established musicians as Art Tatum and Charlie Parker.

Brown, along with the vibraphonist Milt Jackson, drummer Kenny Clarke, and pianist John Lewis formed the rhythm section of the Gillespie band.

Brown became acquainted with singer Ella Fitzgerald when she joined the Gillespie band as a special attraction for a tour of the southern United States in 1947.

After Ellis left the group, Peterson decided to continue the trio with Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen.

[2] Brown guested as a bass player on "Razor Boy", the second track on Steely Dan's second album, Countdown to Ecstasy, released in 1973.

[8] From 1974 to 1982, Brown performed and recorded a series of albums with guitarist Laurindo Almeida, saxophonist and flutist Bud Shank, and drummer Shelly Manne (replaced by Jeff Hamilton after 1977) under the name The L.A.

[17] In 2001, Brown was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class[18] and in 2003, he was inducted into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame.