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Wed.
Feb 09
2011

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 car.brownman.com for a list of who will be performing

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 Sun, Feb 27 at Toronto's Trane Studio – the Toronto musical community will rally behind one of their own.  Man musicians he’s shared a stage with over the years  will be on hand to perform with him in what will surely be a wild night. The proceeds from the night will all serve to defray the cost of replacing his car. 

Brownman has played with a diverse collection of Toronto musicians over the years, many of whom have offered their talents to the night.  See car.brownman.com for a complete list of who will be performing.

“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 – 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.”
----
See article about the theft at TheGoodNeighbourhood.com

March / April  2011
Canadian National Tour dates for the
BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO
Fri-Mar-11: Toronto,ON @ Trane Studio w/ guests Magnum K.I.
Sat-Mar-12: Toronto, ON @ Trane Studio w/ guests  Magnum K.I.
Sun-Mar-13: Bracebridge, ON @ Club One - Night 1/2
Mon-Mar-14: Bracebridge, ON @ Club One - Night 2/2
Tue-Mar-15: Huntsville, ON @ Chaffey Hall
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 @ Army & Navy Veterans Club
Thr-Mar-24: Saskatoon, SK @ The Parktown
Fri-Mar-25: Regina, SK @ The Artesian
Sat-Mar-26: Regina, SK @ House Party (open to public!)
Sun-Mar-27: Edmonton, AB @ Yardbird Suite
Mon-Mar-28: day off
Tue-Mar-29: Calgary, AB @ highschool workshops (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  @ Minstrel
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 @ Trocadero
Fri-Apr-08: Nanaimo, BC @ Diner’s Rendezvous - Night 1/2
Sat-Apr-09: Nanaimo, BC @ Diner’s Rendezvous - Night 2/2
Sun-Apr-10: Victoria, BC @ Hermann's Jazz Club
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.