Trane Studio
presents
STRANGE ATTRACTORS

featuring
Brownman Ali - trumpet
Ryan Oliver - tenor sax
Dave Restivo - piano
Mark Cashion - bass
Ernesto Cervini - drums
----

Bill Watson of CKLN Radio's "Jazz Bungee" on 88.1 FM writes
"I had the opportunity to see Strange Attractors at the Trane Studio in March and this is one impressive new band in the city!  The level of musicianship from all 5 members is outstanding and each brings their own unique compositional skills to the table.  Utilizing the classic small jazz group instrumentation of trumpet, sax, piano, bass and drums, they bring a sound that reminds you of early Bluenote or CTI recordings but all wrapped around very contemporary original compositions. Great tunes, fantastic improvisers and burning sounds… this is a band to watch out for." 

DUDE, WHERE'S BROWNMAN'S CAR?
-- A Benefit to Replace a Stolen Ride --

In Dec Brownman's car was tragically stolen in Buffalo.
Losses total close to $10,000.  The Buffalo music community
has come together to throw a benefit for Brownman
to try and offset the cost of a replacement car.
----
See Facebook event  |  See article at TheGoodNeighbourhood.com

From Press Release:
On Friday December 10th, after his Electryc Trio stole the crowd’s collective breath at their monthly residence at the Allen Street Hardware Cafe, award-winning Toronto-based trumpet maverick Brownman discovered that someone had stolen his car on nearby Hudson Ave. In response, to help offset the cost of a new vehicle, the Buffalo music community which Brownman has helped cultivate so diligently these past few years has come together to throw a fun(d)raiser on his behalf.

Set for Saturday, January 22nd, at Nietzsche’s – so close to the scene of the crime and in the heart of the Allentown district that to him feels like home – the benefit will show Brownman the Buffalove he’s earned, as nearly every musician he’s shared a stage with here will be on hand to perform with him in what will surely be a wild night. In addition to the $8 cover charge, the proceeds from a silent auction and raffle will all serve to defray the cost of replacing his car. 

“The experience was tough to swallow – driving Brown around the West Side that night and the next day and eventually back to Toronto was traumatic even for me,” said frequent onstage cohort DJ Cutler. “But he’s such a fun and uplifting cat, before long we were cracking jokes and moving forward. I came back to Buffalo determined to organize a benefit to show him how strong the bonds he’s built here are, and that our music scene can overcome that crime scene.”

Brownman has played with a diverse collection of Buffalo musicians who all want to join the effort, allowing the event to be broken into four distinct sets with at the helm that will prove his ability to show where jazz is rooted, where it’s been, and where it can go; and the strength of the Buffalo scene to have so many players who can back and challenge him in every effort. Kicking off the show will be an ensemble cast in a bop-era set; followed by a funky workout with bassist Rodney Appleby and drummer Aaron Staebell in the Buffalo version of the Brownman Electryc Trio; then an innovative new local group grown out of the Pseudo Intellectuals and performing as the Chilharmonic Orchestra; and working into the wee hours with a marathon hip-hop-infused set paced by groove duo Type Relevant, DJ Cutler, and emcee Mad Dukes.

“To walk out of such a great gig and to realize my car has been stolen – with everything in it, leaving me with only the clothes on my back to get home – was shattering,” said Brownman. “But then to see how the city – Cutler in particular – has been so willing to try and help recoup the cost of a new car, try and close that wound and demonstrate Buffalo’s more than just about thievery … well… it’s moving beyond words.”

- to -

Wed.
Feb 09
2011

Fri-Feb-11: BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO
National Jazz Award winners for Electric Jazz Group of the Year tear up Toronto's Buffalo's hippest music venue in swanky Allentown, Buffalo.
@ Hardware, Buffalo (10:30pm)

Sat-Feb-12: BROWNMAN + DJ CUTLER 
DJ + HORN madness at the Bend featuring Guru's Jazzmatazz trumpet player Brownman, and acclaimed turntablist DJ Cutler.
@ The Bend,  Buffalo (10:30pm)

Sun-Feb-13: Pre-VALENTINE'S DAY LOVE QUARTET
For this pre-Valentine's Day concert, award-winning jazz trumpet player Brownman Ali and his aptly named Love Quartet will play selections from the great American songbook that feature the word "love" in it's title.  Expect to hear Cole Porter's "Love for Sale" & "I Love You", Jimmy Davis' "Lover Man", Isham Jones' "There is no greater love" and Jimmy Van Heusen's "Like someone in love" amongst a long list of classics.
@ Trane Studio, Toronto (8:00pm)

Fri-Feb-18: BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO
National Jazz Award winners for Electric Jazz Group of the Year tear up Toronto's Pero Lounge.  They appear at the Pero every last friday in the month (except when they're touring).
@ Pero Lounge, Toronto (9:00pm)

Sun-Feb-27: STOLEN CAR FUNDRAISER
Brown's car was stolen in Dec.  This is a fund-raiser to help generate funds to offset the cost of the replacement car.  Close to $10,000 was lost in this tragic act of theivery.
@ Trane Studio, Toronto (8:00pm)

March / April  2011
Canadian National Tour dates for the
BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO
Fri-Mar-11: Toronto,ON @ Trane Studio w/ guests from Magnum K.I.
Sat-Mar-12: Toronto, ON @ Trane Studio
Sun-Mar-13: Orillia, ON @ Lakehead University
Mon-Mar-14: Bracebridge, ON @ Groove Factory
Tue-Mar-15: Huntsville, ON @ Trinity Hall (tbc)
Wed-Mar-16: Sault Ste Marie,ON @ Loplops Art Gallery
Thr-Mar-17: travel day (Sault to TBay - 10 hours drive)
Fri-Mar-18: Thunder Bay, ON @ Gargoyles - Night 1/2
Sat-Mar-19: Thunder Bay, ON @ Gargoyles - Night 2/2
Sun-Mar-20: travel day (TBay to Winnipeg - 10 hours drive)
Mon-Mar-21: Selkirk, MB @ Selkirk Regional high - workshops & concert
Tue-Mar-22: Winnipeg, MB @ Lo Pub w/ Magnum K.I. - double-bill
Wed-Mar-23: Yorkton, SK @ TBA
Thr-Mar-24: Regina, SK @ The Exchange
Fri-Mar-25: Swift Current, SK @ Blenders, Swift Current Art Gallery
Sat-Mar-26: Saskatoon, SK @ Private House Concert
Sun-Mar-27: Edmonton, AB @ Yardbird Suite
Mon-Mar-28: day off
Tue-Mar-29: Red Deer, AB @ The Vat (tbc)
Wed-Mar-30: Calgary, AB @ Beatniq - Night 1/2
Thr-Mar-31: Calgary, AB @ Beatniq - Night 2/2
Fri-Apr-01: Kamloops, BC @ TBA, show 
Sat-Apr-02: Kamloops, BC @ Kamloops Convention Ctr (via CFBX)
Sun-Apr-03: Kelowna, BC  @ Minstreal (tbc)
Mon-Apr-04: Vernon, BC @ various highschools - workshops
Tue-Apr-05: Vernon, BC @ Vernon Jazz Society feature concert
Wed-Apr-06: Chilliwack, BC @ Grey Area Gallery
Thr-Apr-07: Vancouver, BC @ TBA
Fri-Apr-08: Nanaimo, BC @ Diner’s Rendevouz - Night 1/2
Sat-Apr-09: Nanaimo, BC @ Diner’s Rendevouz - Night 2/2
Sun-Apr-10: Victoria, BC @ Herman's Jazz
Mon-Apr-11: Victoria, BC @ various highschools - workshops
Tue-Apr-12: Victoria, BC @ Reynold's Highschool - workshops & concert

R.I.P. GURU
On Apr 19th, 2010 Keith "Guru" Elam died after a long battle with cancer.  Since 2006, Brownman has been touring as the featured soloist with Guru's Jazzmatazz, and appeared on Jazzmatazz Vol. 4

Visit the Guru & Brownman memorial page:
Guru.Brownman.com

Guru & Brownman
- a brief history -

2006 ended for Brownman with the explosive "Jazz By Genre" presentation of legendary rapper of Jazzmatazz and Gangstarr fame - GURU, held in Toronto's revered Mod Club.  This could have been just another 'backing band for out-of-town act' session for the often called Trinidadian trumpeter, but the chemistry between Brown and Guru was evident even back then on their first meeting.  During that show Guru would push him out of his regular horn position to the front of the stage to solo while the hip-hop legend held a mic in front of his horn's bell.  This single performance would lead to a phone call from Guru's team a month later asking Brown if he was available to make an appearance on the upcoming 2007 release of 'Jazzmatazz Vol. 4', replacing the luminious Donald Byrd as the featured trumpet soloist.  Brown, accepting immediately, would write a special horn arrangement of "Universal Struggle" and solo throughout the tune.  In early Feb '07 he was again contacted by Guru's people, impressed by Brown's work on the track, to ask him to tour America for the release of JAZZMATAZZ VOL. 4.

Since then Brownman has been touring the world as the featured soloist with GURU's JAZZMATAZZ as they brought their unique breed of jazz-hip-hop through The United States, Europe, Japan & South America. 

See extensive YouTube archive of tour footage.

Update:
In Jan 2010, Both Brownman & DJ DooWop left Jazzmatazz together, their exit precipitated by the often reported meglomaniacal ways of Solar - Guru's producer.  Guru had, over time, had slowly given up control of all affairs to Solar who, in turn, continued to abuse and manipulate the entire team, from Guru himself through the organization's entire infra-structure.

On Apr 19th, 2010 Keith "Guru" Elam died after a long battle with cancer.

For more on the fiasco behind Solar's dominance over Guru visit :  FuckSolar.com - a fan driven website dedicated to documenting Solar's downfall.

See Brownman's unabridged 3000 word interview with the Boston Phoenix, reprinted with permission by FuckSolar.com, where he details all he saw while with Jazzmatazz.