Jay Anderson (born October 24, 1955, Upland, California) is an American jazz double-bassist and studio musician. Anderson took a bachelor's degree from California State University, Long Beach in 1978, then worked with Woody Herman (1978-1979), Carmen McRae (1979-1981), and a quartet led by Ira Sullivan and Red Rodney (1981-1986). Anderson remained with Rodney through 1992, also working with Michael Brecker during this time, and played with Toots Thielemans and Joe Sample for much of the 1990s. As a sideman, he played with Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, Eliane Elias, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Bennie Wallace, Brian Lynch, Bob Belden, Warren Bernhardt, Joey Calderazzo, Dave Stryker, Mike Stern, Chaka Khan, Terumasa Hino, Michel Legrand, Tiger Okoshi, Lynne Arriale, Bob Mintzer, George Cables, Paul Bley, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Dr. John, Rich Perry, Vic Juris, and Lee Konitz. He was later a professor at Manhattan School of Music.