Dean Brown (guitarist)
Encyclopedia
Dean Brown is an American
jazz fusion
guitarist
and session musician
.
in 1977. During that time in Boston he performed with his own groups as well as Tiger's Baku, replacing Mike Stern in that group before moving to New York around 1980.
Since 1982 Brown has recorded and/or toured worldwide with artists Marcus Miller
, David Sanborn
, Eric Clapton
, Billy Cobham
, The Brecker Brothers, Roberta Flack
, Bob James
, Joe Zawinul
, George Duke
, Victor Bailey, Bill Evans
, Steve Smith
's Vital Information as well as with his own projects.
Brown's guitar work can be heard on over 100 albums including four Grammy Award winners. Records such as The Brecker Brothers' "Return of the Brecker Brothers" and "Out of the Loop", Marcus Miller's "The Sun Don't Lie", Billy Cobham's "Warning", and Joe Zawinul's "Faces and Places" are just a few out of the long list. His live performances include DVDs with Marcus Miller, Billy Cobham, Gil Evans, David Sanborn and Friends, Louie Belson, Bob James, and Steve Smith
's Vital Information.
Brown has produced three solo CDs. His first titled "Here"(2001) on ESC records, is his all-star debut CD featuring jazz greats Michael Brecker, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Billy Cobham, George Duke, Randy Brecker, Christian McBride, Don Alias, Bill Evans, Bernard Wright and many others. His second record "Groove Warrior" (2004) on ESC records, features another all-star lineup with Lalah Hathaway, Marcus Miller, Bernard Wright, JuJu House, Poogie Bell, Schuyler Deale, Booker King, and Patches Stewart, just to name a few. And his third "DBIII" (2009) on the BHM label features an all-star power trio with musical greats Dennis Chambers and Will Lee. Dean has also released an instructional/live DVD "Modern Techniques for the Electric Guitarist"(2008) with publishing giant Hal Leonard for Musicians Institute where he teaches advanced guitar and ensemble.
Always thinking of the future, Dean Brown and Runfly Studios have developed an iPhone/iPad app called "Pickup Tunes."
"The idea was to base a game on the ear training techniques that I use in teaching. We developed it to look and feel more like a game than an academic exercise." Says Dean.
Brown continues to tour and sell out venues all over the world with his own all-star groups and recently returned to Japan for the third year with his trio DB III which has featured Billy Cobham, Dennis Chambers and Will Lee.
He endorses Roland
, Parker
and Fender
guitars, as well as DV Mark, Peavey
and Fender
amplifiers and Xotic effects.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
.
Career
Dean Brown graduated from Berklee College of MusicBerklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
in 1977. During that time in Boston he performed with his own groups as well as Tiger's Baku, replacing Mike Stern in that group before moving to New York around 1980.
Since 1982 Brown has recorded and/or toured worldwide with artists Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller is an American jazz composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Miller is best known as a bassist, working with trumpeter Miles Davis, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist David Sanborn, as well as maintaining a prolific solo career...
, David Sanborn
David Sanborn
David Sanborn is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school...
, Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, Billy Cobham
Billy Cobham
William C. Cobham is a Panamanian American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, who has called Switzerland home since the late 1970s....
, The Brecker Brothers, Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
, Bob James
Bob James (musician)
Robert McElhiney James is a jazz keyboardist, arranger and producer.-Biography:During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in establishing the smooth jazz genre. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date...
, Joe Zawinul
Joe Zawinul
Josef Erich Zawinul was an Austrian-American jazz keyboardist and composer.First coming to prominence with saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, Zawinul went on to play with trumpeter Miles Davis, and to become one of the creators of jazz fusion, an innovative musical genre that combined jazz with...
, George Duke
George Duke
George Duke is a multi-faceted American musician, known as a keyboard pioneer, composer, singer and producer in both jazz and popular mainstream musical genres. He has worked with numerous acclaimed artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and professor of music...
, Victor Bailey, Bill Evans
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
, Steve Smith
Steve Smith (musician)
Steve Elliott Smith is an American drummer who has worked with hundreds of artists in his career, but is mostly known for being the drummer of the rock band Journey during their peak years of success. Modern Drummer magazine readers voted him the #1 All-Around Drummer five years in a row...
's Vital Information as well as with his own projects.
Brown's guitar work can be heard on over 100 albums including four Grammy Award winners. Records such as The Brecker Brothers' "Return of the Brecker Brothers" and "Out of the Loop", Marcus Miller's "The Sun Don't Lie", Billy Cobham's "Warning", and Joe Zawinul's "Faces and Places" are just a few out of the long list. His live performances include DVDs with Marcus Miller, Billy Cobham, Gil Evans, David Sanborn and Friends, Louie Belson, Bob James, and Steve Smith
Steve Smith (musician)
Steve Elliott Smith is an American drummer who has worked with hundreds of artists in his career, but is mostly known for being the drummer of the rock band Journey during their peak years of success. Modern Drummer magazine readers voted him the #1 All-Around Drummer five years in a row...
's Vital Information.
Brown has produced three solo CDs. His first titled "Here"(2001) on ESC records, is his all-star debut CD featuring jazz greats Michael Brecker, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Billy Cobham, George Duke, Randy Brecker, Christian McBride, Don Alias, Bill Evans, Bernard Wright and many others. His second record "Groove Warrior" (2004) on ESC records, features another all-star lineup with Lalah Hathaway, Marcus Miller, Bernard Wright, JuJu House, Poogie Bell, Schuyler Deale, Booker King, and Patches Stewart, just to name a few. And his third "DBIII" (2009) on the BHM label features an all-star power trio with musical greats Dennis Chambers and Will Lee. Dean has also released an instructional/live DVD "Modern Techniques for the Electric Guitarist"(2008) with publishing giant Hal Leonard for Musicians Institute where he teaches advanced guitar and ensemble.
Always thinking of the future, Dean Brown and Runfly Studios have developed an iPhone/iPad app called "Pickup Tunes."
"The idea was to base a game on the ear training techniques that I use in teaching. We developed it to look and feel more like a game than an academic exercise." Says Dean.
Brown continues to tour and sell out venues all over the world with his own all-star groups and recently returned to Japan for the third year with his trio DB III which has featured Billy Cobham, Dennis Chambers and Will Lee.
He endorses Roland
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
, Parker
Parker Guitars
Parker Guitars is an American manufacturer of electric guitars and basses, started by luthier Ken Parker in the early 90s. Parker is most famous for making the Parker Fly....
and Fender
Fender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
guitars, as well as DV Mark, Peavey
Peavey Electronics
Peavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi in the United States.- History :...
and Fender
Fender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
amplifiers and Xotic effects.
Discography
- 2009- Dean Brown- "DBIII"
- 2009- Michael Schmidt- "Destination"
- 2009- Cheikh Ndoye-"A Child's Tale"
- 2009- Mauri Sanchis-"Groove Words" (Produced by Mauri Sanchis and Dean Brown)
- 2008- Dean Brown- "Modern Techniques for the Electric Guitarist"- DVD
- 2008- Billy Cobham- "Fruit From The Loom"
- 2008- Razl- "Rotonova"
- 2007- Billy Cobham/Louie Bellson-"Cobham Meets Bellson"-DVD
- 2007- Keith Anderson & Full of Soul-"Let's Roll"
- 2007- Various Artists- "Funky Planet Earth"
- 2007-Steve Adelson-"Adventures In Stickology"
- 2006-Poogie Bell-"Get On The Kit"
- 2006 -Dennis ChambersDennis ChambersDennis Chambers is an American drummer who has recorded and performed with John Scofield, George Duke, Brecker Brothers, Santana, Parliament/Funkadelic, John McLaughlin, Niacin, Mike Stern, Greg Howe, and many others. Despite a lack of formal training, Chambers has become well known among...
-"Planet Earth" (Camel Hump written by Dean Brown) - 2006-Marcus MillerMarcus MillerMarcus Miller is an American jazz composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Miller is best known as a bassist, working with trumpeter Miles Davis, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist David Sanborn, as well as maintaining a prolific solo career...
-"Master Of All Trades"-DVD - 2006- Mauri Sanchez-"Good Vibes"
- 2006-Alex FoxAlex FoxAlex Fox is a flamenco guitarist.Fox was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he was inspired by a broad range of artists ranging from The Beatles to The Gipsy Kings. Fox later received a scholarship to train with the director of the Teatro Colón Symphony Orchestra, an opportunity...
-"Influences" - 2006-Various Artists-"Funk Academy"
- 2006-Jason Miles -"What's Going On-The Music Of Marvin Gaye"
- 2006-Bradley Leighton with Jason Miles-"Bradley Leighton with Jason Miles"
- 2005-Marcus Miller-"Silver Rain"
- 2005- Various Artists-"As One-Tsunami Relief"-(Gemini written by Dean Brown)
- 2005-Jason Miles-"Miles to Miles-In The Spirit of Miles Davis"
- 2004-Dean Brown-"Groove Warrior"
- 2004-Various Artists-"Undercover [Hip Bop]"
- 2004-Maximum Grooves-"Coast to Coast" (You Da Mann, Attitude, Karma Kanic co-written by Dean Brown)
- 2003-Cassandra Reed-"Cassandra Reed"
- 2003-Eric MarienthalEric MarienthalEric Marienthal is a Los Angeles-based contemporary saxophonist best known for his work in the jazz, jazz fusion, smooth jazz, and pop genres....
-"Sweet Talk" - 2003-Freddie Cole-"In The Name Of Love"
- 2003-Marcus Miller-"Ozell Tapes"
- 2003-Roberta FlackRoberta FlackRoberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
-"Holiday" - 2003-Louie BellsonLouie BellsonLuigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni , better known by the stage name Louie Bellson , was an Italian-American jazz drummer...
-"Louie Bellson and His Big Band" DVD - 2003-Bernard Maseli-"The Globetrotters: Fairytales of the Trees"
- 2003-Various Artists-"Living Theater, Vol. 3"
- 2002-Gato BarbieriGato BarbieriLeandro Barbieri , better known as Gato Barbieri , is an Argentinean jazz tenor saxophonist and composer who rose to fame during the free jazz movement in the 1960s and from his latin jazz recordings in the 1970s.-Biography:Born to a family of musicians, Barbieri began playing music...
-"Shadow Of The Cat" - 2002-Dennis ChambersDennis ChambersDennis Chambers is an American drummer who has recorded and performed with John Scofield, George Duke, Brecker Brothers, Santana, Parliament/Funkadelic, John McLaughlin, Niacin, Mike Stern, Greg Howe, and many others. Despite a lack of formal training, Chambers has become well known among...
-"Outbreak" (Plan-B co-written by Dean Brown) - 2002-Joe ZawinulJoe ZawinulJosef Erich Zawinul was an Austrian-American jazz keyboardist and composer.First coming to prominence with saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, Zawinul went on to play with trumpeter Miles Davis, and to become one of the creators of jazz fusion, an innovative musical genre that combined jazz with...
-"Faces and Places" - 2002-Gil EvansGil EvansGil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader, active in the United States...
-"Gil Evans and His Orchestra"- DVD - 2002-Walkaway- "Double Walk"
- 2002-Les McCannLes McCannLes McCann is an American soul jazz piano player and vocalist whose biggest successes came as a crossover artist into R&B and soul.-Biography:...
-"Pump It Up" (Buckshot & LeFonque, Funk It co-written by Dean Brown) - 2002-Kirk WhalumKirk WhalumKirk Whalum is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz...
-"Best of Kirk Whalum" - 2001-Dean Brown-"Here"
- 2001-Victor Bailey-"That's Right"
- 2001-Jason Miles/Various Artists-"To Grover With Love"
- 2001-Bob JamesBob James (musician)Robert McElhiney James is a jazz keyboardist, arranger and producer.-Biography:During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in establishing the smooth jazz genre. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date...
-"Restoration: The Best of Bob James" - 2001-Various Artists-"Telarc Sampler"
- 2001-John Favicchia-"Dharma" (The Gauntlet written by Dean Brown)
- 2001-Randy BreckerRandy BreckerRandal "Randy" Brecker is an American trumpeter and flugelhornist. He is a highly sought after performer in the genres of jazz, rock, and R&B, and has performed or recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Billy Cobham, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Sandip Burman, Charles Mingus, Blood, Sweat & Tears,...
-"Hangin' In The City" - 2001-David Mann-"Touch"
- 2001-David SanbornDavid SanbornDavid Sanborn is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school...
-"David Sanborn and Friends" - DVD - 2001-Bill EvansBill EvansWilliam John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
-"Soul Insider" - 2000-Bikithi Kumalo-"In Front Of My Eyes"
- 2000-Jason Miles/Various Artists- "Celebrating The Music Of Weather Report"
- 2000-Joe Piket-"Nine Times Framed"
- 2000-Jason Miles/Various Artists-"A Love Affair - The Music of Ivan Lins" (Grammy-Best Male Pop Vocal Performance-Sting for “She Walks This Earth” (Soberana Rosa)
- 1999-Ricky Peterson-"Souvenir" (Ignorance is Bliss co-written by Dean Brown)
- 1999-Bill Evans-"Touch"
- 1999-Nelson RangellNelson RangellNelson Rangell is an American velvet-smooth jazz musician and composer originally from Castle Rock, Colorado. Although Rangell is known for his work with the tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone, his primary instrument is the piccolo flute, which he began playing at the age of 15...
-"Always" - 1999-David Sanborn-"Inside" (Grammy-Best Contemporary Jazz Performance)
- 1999-Billy CobhamBilly CobhamWilliam C. Cobham is a Panamanian American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, who has called Switzerland home since the late 1970s....
-"By Design" - 1999-Master Vel-"The Price Of Freedom"
- 1999-Marcus MillerMarcus MillerMarcus Miller is an American jazz composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Miller is best known as a bassist, working with trumpeter Miles Davis, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist David Sanborn, as well as maintaining a prolific solo career...
-"Live And More" - 1999-Brecker BrothersBrecker BrothersThe Brecker Brothers was the musical duo of Michael and Randy Brecker , who recorded commercially successful jazz fusion albums together in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. They had a notable hit single with "East River" in 1979...
-"Priceless Jazz" - 1998-Walkaway-"Night Life" (Headless Horseman, Beatin' Silver, written by Dean Brown)
- 1998-Various Artists-"Hot Jazz Biscuits"
- 1997-Roberta FlackRoberta FlackRoberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
-"The Christmas Album" - 1997-Weldon IrvineWeldon IrvineWeldon Jonathan Irvine, Jr. , also known Master Wel, was an American composer, playwright, poet, pianist and organist.-Biography:...
-"Spoken Melodies" - 1997-Various Artists-"NBA at 50: A Musical Celebration"
- 1997-Till BronnerTill BrönnerTill Brönner is a German jazz musician, trumpet player, singer, composer, arranger and producer. He has a unique jazz approach influenced by bebop and fusion jazz, but also modern pop music, movie soundtracks , country music and even German pop songs...
-"Midnight" - 1997-Eddie HarrisEddie HarrisEddie Harris was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ...
-"The Last Concert" - 1997-John Favicchia-"World Time"
- 1997-Various Artists-"Hot Jazz Biscuits
- 1996-David Sanborn-"Songs From The Night Before"
- 1996-Lenny WhiteLenny WhiteLeonard White III, better known as Lenny White is an American jazz fusion drummer, who is best known for playing in Chick Corea's Return to Forever.-Biography:...
-"Renderers of Spirit" - 1996-Tom Coster-"From the Street"
- 1996-Bernard Purdie's-"Soul to Jazz"
- 1996-Various Artists-"JVC XRCD Sampler"
- 1996-Jason Miles-"Mr. X"
- 1995-Various Artists-"People"
- 1995-Lenny White-"Present Tense"
- 1995-Various Artists- "Blue Suede Sneakers"
- 1994-The Brecker Brothers- "Out Of The Loop" (Grammy -Best Instrumental Composition "African Skies" and Grammy -Best Contemporary Jazz Performance-"Out Of The Loop")
- 1994-David Sanborn-"Hearsay"
- 1994-Bob James- "Restless"
- 1994-Marcus Miller-"Tales"
- 1994-Jason Miles-"World Tour"
- 1993-Marcus Miller-"The Sun Don't Lie"
- 1993-Kirk WhalumKirk WhalumKirk Whalum is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz...
-"Cache" - 1993-Gary Rosen-"Tot Rock"
- 1993-Color Me BaddColor Me BaddColor Me Badd was an R&B vocal group that was formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. The original members of the group were Bryan Abrams ; Mark Calderon ; Sam Watters and Kevin Thornton...
-"Time And Chance" - 1993-The Mann Brothers-"Mann to Mann"
- 1992-The Brecker Brothers-"Return of the Brecker Brothers"
- 1992-Takeshi T.K. Ito-"Visions"
- 1992-Steps AheadSteps AheadSteps Ahead is a jazz fusion group and the brainchild of vibraphonist Mike Mainieri. According to the liner notes of the group's 1983 debut album , entitled Steps Ahead, "Steps began as a part-time venture in 1979 at Seventh Avenue South, a New York City nightclub." The group began releasing...
-"Yin-Yang" - 1991-Various Artists-"Beyond the Groove: Contemporary Jazz on The Move"
- 1990-Bob James- "Grand Piano Canyon"
- 1990-Various Artists-"GRP Digital Sampler, Vol. 2"
- 1989-Kirk Whalum-"The Promise"
- 1988-Kirk Whalum-"And You Know That"
- 1988-Rob Prester-"Trillium"
- 1988-Roland Vasquez-"The Tides Of Time"
- 1988-Al Corley- "The Big Picture"
- 1988-Bob James- "Ivory Coast"
- 1987-Steve Smith-"Global Beat" (One Flight Up co-written by Dean Brown)
- 1987-Lee Venters- "388 Marlborough Street" (Noah's Ark written by Dean Brown)
- 1987-Steve Smith- "Part I and II" DVD/Video
- 1986-Billy Cobham- "Power Play"
- 1985-Billy Cobham- "Warning"
- 1984-Steve Smith- "Orion" (The Strut written by Dean Brown)
- 1983-Steve Smith- "Vital Information"
- 1982-Billy Cobham- "Smokin - Live at Montreux" (Some Other Kind written by Dean Brown)
- 1982-Tiger OkoshiTiger OkoshiToru "Tiger" Okoshi is an American jazz fusion trumpeter. He was born in the Year of the Tiger on March 21 1950, just outside of Osaka , Japan. As a child he was, in fact, devoted to painting as he loves today...
- "Mudd Cake" - 1982-Billy Cobham "Observations+" (M.S.R. written by Dean Brown)