James Elbert Raney (August 20, 1927 – May 10, 1995) was an American jazz guitarist born in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. He is best known for his work with the Red Norvo trio from 1951 to 1952 and again from 1953 to 1954, where he replaced Tal Farlow. During the same time, he also played with Stan Getz. In 1954 and 1955, he won the DownBeat Critics' Poll for guitar. Raney performed in many styles of jazz, including cool jazz, bebop, post bop, hard bop, and mainstream jazz.

In 1946, Raney began his first paid job as a guitarist with the Max Miller Quartet at Elmer's in Chicago. He later worked with the Artie Shaw Orchestra and performed with Woody Herman for nine months in 1948. He also played and recorded with Buddy DeFranco, Al Haig, and Bob Brookmeyer. In 1967, challenges such as alcoholism led him to leave New York City and return to his hometown of Louisville. He returned to public attention in the 1970s and worked with his son Doug, who was also a guitarist. His other son, Jon, is a jazz pianist and runs a website dedicated to Jimmy and Doug Raney.

Raney lived with Ménière's disease for 30 years, a condition that worsens over time and caused near deafness in both ears. Despite this, he continued to play music. He died of heart failure in Louisville on May 10, 1995. His obituary in The New York Times described him as "one of the most gifted and influential postwar jazz guitarists in the world."

Discography

• Jimmy Raney featuring Bob Brookmeyer (ABC-Paramount, 1956)
• Jimmy Raney in Three Attitudes (ABC-Paramount, 1957)
• The Fourmost Guitars with Chuck Wayne, Joe Puma, Dick Garcia (ABC-Paramount, 1957)
• 2 Guitars with Kenny Burrell (Prestige, 1957)
• A (Prestige, 1958)
• Jimmy Raney Visits Paris (Dawn, 1958)
• Swingin' in Sweden with George Wallington (EmArcy, 1958)
• Two Jims and Zoot (Mainstream, 1964)
• Strings & Swings (Muse, 1972)
• Guitaristic (Swing, 1974)
• Momentum (MPS, 1975)
• Strings Attached with Al Haig (Choice, 1975)
• The Influence (Xanadu, 1975)
• Live in Tokyo (Xanadu, 1976)
• Special Brew with Al Haig (Spotlite, 1976)
• Solo (Xanadu, 1978)
• Stolen Moments with Doug Raney (SteepleChase, 1979)
• Duets (SteepleChase, 1980)
• Jim & I with Attila Zoller (L+R, 1980)
• Here's That Raney Day (Ahead, 1980)
• Raney '81 (Criss Cross, 1981)
• The Date with Martial Solal (Stil Discotheque, 1981)
• Jim & I Live with Attila Zoller (L+R, 1981)
• Nardis with Doug Raney (Steeplechase, 1983)
• Play Duets with Jimmy Raney (JA, 1983)
• The Master (Criss Cross, 1983)
• The Complete Paris Sessions (Vogue, 1984)
• Together! with Sonny Clark (Xanadu, 1986)
• Wisteria (Criss Cross, 1986)
• Jim & I Live at Quasimodo with Attila Zoller (L+R, 1986)
• But Beautiful (Criss Cross, 1992)

• The Dual Role of Bob Brookmeyer (Prestige, 1955)
• The Street Swingers (World Pacific, 1958)
• Trombone Jazz Samba (Verve, 1962)
• Samba Para Dos (Verve, 1963)

• On Campus: Ivy League Jazz Concert (Bethlehem, 1960)
• The Teddy Charles Tentet (Atlantic, 1956)
• Word from Bird (Atlantic, 1957)
• Russia Goes Jazz Swinging (United Artists, 1964)

• Stan Getz Plays (Norgran, 1955) – includes tracks from two earlier recordings: Stan Getz Plays (Clef MGC 137) and The Artistry of Stan Getz (Clef MGC 143).
• Prezervation (Prestige, 1967)
• The Complete Roost Recordings (Roost/Blue Note/Capitol, 1997) [3-CD set]

• Red Norvo Trio (Fantasy, 1955)
• The Red Norvo Trios (Fantasy, 1957)
• Chamber Jazz (MCA Coral, 1975)

• Harry Belafonte, Belafonte Sings the Blues (RCA Victor, 1958)
• Ted Brown, In Good Company (Criss Cross, 1985)
• Vinnie Burke, The Vinnie Burke All-Stars (ABC-Paramount, 1956)
• Ralph Burns, Spring Sequence (Period, 1955)
• Ralph Burns, Bijou (Bethlehem, 1956)
• John Carisi, The New Jazz Sound of Show Boat (Columbia, 1960)
• Al Cohn, Mr. Music (RCA Victor, 1955)
• Dolo Coker, Bob Mover, Barry Harris, Kenny Barron, Jimmy Raney, Anniversary (Xanadu, 1985)
• Cozy Cole & Jimmy McPartland, After Hours (Grand Award, 1956)
• Duke Ellington, Concert at Carnegie Hall (DJM, 1976)
• Terry Gibbs, Hootenanny My Way (Overseas, 1963)
• Urbie Green, Blues and Other Shades of Green (ABC-Paramount, 1955)
• Edmond Hall, Rumpus On Rampart Street (Mount Vernon, 1959)
• Barry Harris, Tokyo: 1976 (Xanadu, 1980)
• Eddie Harris, Bossa Nova (Vee Jay, 1963)
• Mahalia Jackson, Great Gettin' Up Morning (Columbia, 1959)
• Dick Katz, Piano & Pen (Atlantic, 1959)
• Irene Kral, SteveIreneo! (United Artists, 1959)
• Barbara Lea, Lea in Love (Prestige, 1956)
• Mary Ann McCall, Detour to the Moon (Jubilee, 1958)
• Gary McFarland, Point of Departure (Impulse!, 1964)
• Hal McKusick, Hal McKusick Plays, Betty St. Claire Sings (Jubilee, 1955)
• Hal McKusick, The Jazz Workshop (RCA Victor, 1957)
• Charles McPherson, Live in Tokyo (Xanadu, 1976)
• Helen Merrill, The Artistry of Helen Merrill (Mainstream, 1965)
• Oliver Nelson, Full Nelson (Verve, 1963)
• Dave Pike, Limbo Carnival (New Jazz, 1962)
• Dave Pike, Dave Pike Plays the Jazz Version of Oliver! (Moodsville, 1963)
• Dannie Richmond, "In" Jazz for the Culture Set (Impulse!, 1965)
• Aaron Sachs, Clarinet and Co. (Rama, 1957)
• Lalo Schifrin, Lalo = Brilliance (Roulette, 1962)
• Shirley Scott, Latin Shadows (Impulse!, 196