Edwin Orion Brownell
Encyclopedia
Edwin Orion Brownell was born in Ottawa
, Ontario
, Canada
. He is a neo-classical
composer and concert pianist whose original music has been described as highly melodic; a strong blues influence upon a solid classical foundation.
professionally.
From 1984–1991, Brownell was a member of the popular Ontario rock groups Longbottom, Inside Out and Straight No Chaser. After moving to Montreal
in 1990 he founded Edwin and the Bedouins, and with this band toured throughout eastern Canada and North Africa
, recording the albums Somebody’s Watching You (1996) and Bering and Beyond (2006). Throughout this time he also played as a sideman in many of Montreal’s top local acts including Black and Blue, Angel and the Bad Boys, Crawdaddy and Souled Out.
As a bandleader, Brownell also worked nightclubs and arenas in central Canada with many top Montreal musicians including singers Angel Forrest and Bobby Lee Silcott, drummer Jerry Mercer
(Mashmakhan
, Triangle, April Wine
), and guitarist John McGale (Offenbach
). He has also had the honour of opening shows for Bruce Cockburn
and Burton Cummings
(The Guess Who
).
Brownell earned his Honours in History in 1997, specializing on the Sino-American relations
hip from 1928–1949. He earned his Master’s Degree in History at Concordia University
in 2000, with a thesis based on oral-histories of members of the R&B scene in Montreal from 1967 to 1999.
In 2003, Edwin Orion Brownell returned to his classical
roots, studying performance, composition and orchestration. His first two solo-piano recordings Maimonides Pops and Music of the Dance (2005) contain a highly-acclaimed mix of originals and classical standards and these successes were followed up with his release of his all-original double album: Journey of the Spirit (2007) and another all-original CD album with an accompanying DVD documentary: Smile (2009).
during the summer of 2010.
, Greenpeace
, Concordia University (the Keith Lowther Fellowship), the Quebec Diabetes Foundation, the Montreal Children's Hospital
, and the Head and Hands Clinic.
With Angel and the Bad Boys:
With Bobby Lee Silcott:
With Wayne Dwyer:
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He is a neo-classical
Neoclassicism (music)
Neoclassicism in music was a twentieth-century trend, particularly current in the period between the two World Wars, in which composers sought to return to aesthetic precepts associated with the broadly defined concept of "classicism", namely order, balance, clarity, economy, and emotional restraint...
composer and concert pianist whose original music has been described as highly melodic; a strong blues influence upon a solid classical foundation.
History
Brownell began studying piano at the age of four and two years later started working through the Royal Conservatory curriculum (Canada) until his late teens, when he began playing rock and rollRock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
professionally.
From 1984–1991, Brownell was a member of the popular Ontario rock groups Longbottom, Inside Out and Straight No Chaser. After moving to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 1990 he founded Edwin and the Bedouins, and with this band toured throughout eastern Canada and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, recording the albums Somebody’s Watching You (1996) and Bering and Beyond (2006). Throughout this time he also played as a sideman in many of Montreal’s top local acts including Black and Blue, Angel and the Bad Boys, Crawdaddy and Souled Out.
As a bandleader, Brownell also worked nightclubs and arenas in central Canada with many top Montreal musicians including singers Angel Forrest and Bobby Lee Silcott, drummer Jerry Mercer
Jerry Mercer
Jerry Mercer is a Canadian rock drummer, best known for his work with the groups Mashmakhan and April Wine.-Personal life:...
(Mashmakhan
Mashmakhan
Mashmakhan was a Canadian rock fusion band that was most active in the early 1970s, and is best known for their hit single "As the Years Go By."-History:...
, Triangle, April Wine
April Wine
April Wine is a Canadian rock band formed in 1969. According to the band, they chose the name 'April Wine' simply because members thought the two words sounded good together...
), and guitarist John McGale (Offenbach
Offenbach (band)
Offenbach is a Quebec blues rock band, initially active from 1969 to 1985. Following a successful reunion tour in 1996, the band released a new album in 2005.-History:...
). He has also had the honour of opening shows for Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
and Burton Cummings
Burton Cummings
Burton L. Cummings, OC, OM is a Canadian musician and songwriter.He was the lead singer and frequent keyboardist for the Canadian rock band The Guess Who...
(The Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
).
Brownell earned his Honours in History in 1997, specializing on the Sino-American relations
Sino-American relations
For the article on U.S.-Taiwan relations, see Republic of China – United States relations.Sino-American or People's Republic of China–United States relations refers to international relations between the United States of America and the government of People's Republic of China...
hip from 1928–1949. He earned his Master’s Degree in History at Concordia University
Concordia University
Concordia University is a comprehensive Canadian public university located in Montreal, Quebec, one of the two universities in the city where English is the primary language of instruction...
in 2000, with a thesis based on oral-histories of members of the R&B scene in Montreal from 1967 to 1999.
In 2003, Edwin Orion Brownell returned to his classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
roots, studying performance, composition and orchestration. His first two solo-piano recordings Maimonides Pops and Music of the Dance (2005) contain a highly-acclaimed mix of originals and classical standards and these successes were followed up with his release of his all-original double album: Journey of the Spirit (2007) and another all-original CD album with an accompanying DVD documentary: Smile (2009).
Present
Presently, Brownell is orchestrating his ‘Ein Gedi Suite’ as a piano concerto and is planning to premiere this work with a full orchestra in late 2010. In addition, Brownell will be embarking on a mini-tour of IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
during the summer of 2010.
Community
Always active in the community, Brownell has given the gift of his enduring music to numerous charitable fundraisers, and has played in many benefits for Montreal Women’s Shelter, Earth First!Earth First!
Earth First! is a radical environmental advocacy group that emerged in the Southwestern United States in 1979. It was co-founded on April 4th, 1980 by Dave Foreman, Mike Roselle, Howie Wolke, and less directly, Bart Koehler and Ron Kezar....
, Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
, Concordia University (the Keith Lowther Fellowship), the Quebec Diabetes Foundation, the Montreal Children's Hospital
Montreal Children's Hospital
The Montreal Children's Hospital is a tertiary care pediatric teaching Hospital affiliated with the McGill University Health Centre. It is also the only pediatric facility serving the McGill Réseau Universitaire Intégré Santé...
, and the Head and Hands Clinic.
Edwin Orion Brownell classical recordings
- Maimonides Pops (2005)
- Music of the Dance (2005)
- Journey of the Spirit (2007)
- Smile (2009)
Other recordings
With Edwin and the Bedouins:- Somebody’s Watching You (1996)
- Bering and Beyond (2006)
With Angel and the Bad Boys:
- Second Hand Blues (1995)
- Angel Sings Janis (1997)
With Bobby Lee Silcott:
- Voodoo (1998)
With Wayne Dwyer:
- Dwyer (2000)