Donald Brown
Svoy, Donald Brown, Kenny Garrett & Vernell Brown
Svoy, Donald Brown, Kenny Garrett & Vernell Brown, Jr. at Sear Sound Recording, NYC
Background information
Birth nameDonald Ray Brown
Born (1954-03-28) March 28, 1954 (age 69)
Hernando, Mississippi, U.S.
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Music producer, musician
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1972–2020
LabelsMuse, Sunnyside, Evidence, Space Time
WebsiteOfficial website

Donald Ray Brown (born March 28, 1954) is an American jazz pianist and producer.[1]

Brown was born in Hernando, Mississippi and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, where he learned to play trumpet and drums in his youth. From 1972 to 1975, he was a student at Memphis State University, by which time he had made piano his primary instrument. He was with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers from 1981 to 1982, then took teaching positions at Berklee College of Music from 1983 to 1985 and the University of Tennessee from 1988.[2] Brown has recorded for Evidence, Muse, and Sunnyside.[3]

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Year recorded Title Label Personnel/Notes
1987 Early Bird Sunnyside Sextet, with Bill Mobley (trumpet, flugelhorn), Donald Harrison (flute), Steve Nelson (vibraphone), Bob Hurst (bass), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)
1988 The Sweetest Sounds Evidence Quartet, with Steve Nelson (vibraphone), Charnett Moffett (bass), Alan Dawson (drums)
1989 Sources of Inspiration Muse Quintet, with Eddie Henderson (trumpet, flugelhorn), Gary Bartz (soprano sax, alto sax), Buster Williams (bass), Carl Allen (drums)
1990 People Music Muse With Tom Harrell (trumpet, flugelhorn), Vincent Herring (flute, soprano sax, alto sax), Steve Nelson (vibraphone), Robert Hurst (bass), Samurai Celestial (drums, vocals), Daniel G. Sadownick (percussion); Lenora Helm (vocals) added on one track
1991? Cause and Effect Muse With Joe Henderson (tenor sax), James Spaulding (flute), Steve Nelson (vibraphone, marimba), Ron Carter (bass), Carl Allen, Kenny Washington (drums), Rudy Bird, Donald Eaton (percussion), Marlon Saunders and Lenora Helm (vocals)
1992 Send One Your Love Muse With Steve Wilson (flute, soprano sax, alto sax), Tom Williams (flugelhorn), Charnett Moffett (bass), Eric Walker and Louis Hayes (drums; separately), Rudy Bird (percussion)
1992 A Season of Ballads Space Time Trio, with Ray Drummond (bass), Alan Dawson (drums); album shared with Harold Mabern and Charles Thomas trios
1993 Cartunes Muse With Don Braden (flute, tenor sax), Steve Wilson (soprano sax, alto sax), Bill Mobley (trumpet, flugelhorn), Steve Nelson (vibraphone), Carl Allen (drums, tambourine), Rudy Bird (percussion), Harold Mabern (vocals)
1995 Piano Short Stories Space Time Solo piano
1997 The Classic Introvert Space Time Solo piano; released 2004
1998? Wurd on the Street Space Time
1999 Enchanté! Space Time With Stephane Belmondo (trumpet, flugelhorn), Bill Easley (alto sax, flute, clarinet), Steve Nelson (vibraphone), Essiet Essiet (bass), Billy Higgins (drums), Daniel Sadownick (percussion)
1999 At This Point in My Life Space Time Septet, with Bill Mobley (trumpet, flugelhorn), Jean Toussaint (soprano sax, tenor sax), Jérôme Barde (guitar), Essiet Essiet (bass), Billy Kilson (drums), Angá Diaz (percussion)
2000 French Kiss Space Time Quintet, with Jérôme Barde (guitar), Essiet Essiet (bass), Billy Kilson (drums), Angá Diaz (percussion)
2000 Autumn in New York Space Time Trio, with Essiet Essiet (bass), Billy Kilson (drums)
2003? Continuum Space Time
2008? Fast Forward to the Past Space Time With Bill Mobley (trumpet, flugelhorn), Steve Nelson (vibes), Danny Walsh (flute, alto sax, tenor sax), Jean Toussaint (soprano sax, tenor sax), Lionel Loueke and Mark Boling (guitar), Robert Hurst and Essiet Essiet (bass), Eric Harland and Kenny Brown (drums)
2013? Born to Be Blue Space Time With Kenny Garrett (alto sax, soprano sax), Wallace Roney (trumpet), Ravi Coltrane (tenor sax, soprano sax), Emily Mathis (flute), Vance Thompson (flugelhorn), Mark Boling (guitar), Robert Hurst (bass), Marcus Gilmore and Kenneth Brown (drums; separately), Rudy Bird (percussion)

As sideman

With Art Blakey

With Donald Byrd

With Ricky Ford

With Wallace Roney

As producer

With Kenny Garrett

With Scott Tixier

References

  1. ^ "Donald Brown | Credits".
  2. ^ "Brown at The University of Tennessee". music.utk.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  3. ^ Yanow, Scott https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p6186 Donald Brown] at Allmusic
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