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                            June 2015 gigs-at-a-glance
Wed-Jun-03, 08pm: OGGUERE @ Lula Lounge  $15 / $10 
Sat-Jun-06, 08pm: BROWNMAN AKOUSTIC TRIO @ Private Party (not open to public)
Sat-Jun-13, 08pm: Dave Schulz (GooGoo Dolls) & C.O. JONES @ DBGBs., Buffalo  $10
Mon-Jun-15, 09pm: JOHN CHEESMAN JAZZ ORCH @ The Rex, Toronto $9
:: TD TORONTO JAZZ FEST BEGINS :: 
Thr-Jun-18, 08pm: TRIBUTE TO COLE PORTER feat. ORI DAGAN @ Mây Cafe  $10 
Fri-Jun-19, 09pm: CRUZAO LATIN-JAZZ TRIO @ Poetry Jazz Cafe  $10
Sat-Jun-20, 09pm: BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO "Panthalassa" @ Mây Cafe  $15 / $10 
Sun-Jun-21, 09pm: BROWNMAN AKOUSTIC TRIO @ Gate 403  $PWYC
Mon-Jun-22, 04pm: BROWNMAN + 2 feat. Dave Restivo (piano) & Nick Maclean (synth) @ Musideum $20 / $10
Mon-Jun-22, 08pm: sitting in w/ JORDANA TALSKY @ Mây Cafe  $10 
Tue-Jun-23, 06pm: SOCIALIST NIGHT SCHOOL @ Nathan Philips Square (main stage)  $FREE
Tue-Jun-23, 08pm: SNAGGLE feat. Brownman  @ Mây Cafe  $10 
Wed-Jun-24, 07pm: ARECIBO @ Monarchs Pub (in the Eaton Chelsea Hotel)  $FREE 
Thr-Jun-25, 08pm: JASON WILSON REGGAE-JAZZ QUARTET @ Mây Cafe  $10 
Fri-Jun-26, 09pm: LADY SON & ARECIBO @ Mây Cafe  $15 / $10 
Sat-Jun-27, 09pm: TRIBUTE TO FREDDIE HUBBARD @ Mây Cafe  $15 / $10 
:: TD TORONTO JAZZ FEST ENDS ::
.

.
June 2015 Bookings/Gig Schedule - detailed
Date / Time
Band
Idiom
Venue / $
Address
Wed.
June 03
2015
----
8:00pm
Lula Lounge presents
OGGUERE

featuring :
Ogguere - vocals
Brownman Ali - trumpet / musical director
Torrie Seager - guitar  |  Paco Luviano - bass
Joaquin Nunez - drums  |  Reimundo Sosa - congas / bata
 World Music
----
From Press Release:
Ogguere releases his third full-length album showcasing Toronto’s top Cuban and Canadian musicians, taking his unique hybrid of contemporary & folkloric Cuban music, North American and world music to the next level. “Ogguere is a master of rhythm and of the harmonics that are wrought from the expert dissection of the jazz metaphor and the clave of Cuban son.” ~ Raul da Gama. 
Lula Lounge
Info:
416-588-0307
(MAP)
$20

at the door
$15
advanced
Show +

3-course Dinner
package
$49
Reservations @ 416.588.0307
1585 Dundas St. W.
Toronto
Sat.
June 06
2015
----
7:00pm
Private party with
BROWNMAN AKOUSTIC TRIO

featuring
Brownman Ali - trumpet
Julian Anderson-Bowes - upright bass
Jeff Halischuk - drums
Mainstream
Jazz
----
Miles, Duke, 
Coltrane, Bird, etc...
----
"Standards played non-standardishly"
Private Party
(Not open
to public)
Private Party
(Not open
to public)
Toronto
Fri.
June 12
2015
----
10:30pm
to
1:00am
 Liberty Hound presents
DAVE SCHULZ & BROWNMAN ALI
(keyboard + trumpet duo)
 Soul / R'n'B
----
From Press Release:
L.A. keyboardist & vocalist Dave Schulz (Goo Goo Dolls) joins forces with Toronto/Brooklyn trumpet player (Guru's Jazzmatazz) for an evening of 2-man funkifications.
 Liberty
Hound
Info:
716-845-9173
(MAP)
$FREE!!!
1 Naval
Park Cove
Buffalo
Sat.
June 13
2015
----
9:00pm
DBGBs presents
DAVE SCHULZ &
C.O. JONES

featuring
Dave Schulz - vox, keys, M.D.  |  Gretchen Schulz - vox, guitar
Brownman Ali - trumpet  |  Zuri Appleby - bass
Kenny Hawkins - guitar  |  Rob Lynch - drums
Soul / R'n'B
----
From Press Release:
Dave Schulz (born Buffalo, New York) is an American keyboardist, songwriter, producer and recording artist well known for his world tours in the late 90s with his fellow Buffalonians The Goo Goo Dolls.  C.O. JONES is his soul/r'n'b project featuring some of Buffalo's legendary musical all-stars, and newest addition Brownman Ali.
DBGBs
Info:
716-240-9359
(MAP)
$10

at the door
253 Allen St.
Buffalo
Mon.
June 15
2019
----
9:00pm
Toronto's The Rex Jazz Bar presents
JOHN CHEESMAN
JAZZ ORCHESTRA

featuring:
John Cheesman (drums & compositions)
Jason Logue, Sandy Barter, Brownman Ali, Bruce Cassidy
(trumpets)
Andy Ballyntyne, Colleen Allen, Don Englert
(saxes)
Paul Tarrusov, Will Carn, Bob Hamper
(trombones)
Ted Quinlin (guitar)   |   Adrean Farrugia (piano)  |  Russ Boswell (bass)
--
See them live on YouTube!
 Modern
Progressive
Big Band
----
From Press Release:
One of the most unique and eclectic big bands in the country, sporting an all-original repertoire from composer/drummer John Cheesman and featuring some of the city's most acclaimed jazz artists populating this one-of-a-kind big band.
The Rex
Info:
416-598-2475
(MAP)
$9

at the door
194 Queen St. West
(W. of University)
Toronto
   <<<       TD Downtown Toronto Jazz Festival dates - begin       >>>
Thr.
June 18
2015
----
8:00pm
Toronto's May Cafe presents
NIGHT & DAY
A TRIBUTE TO COLE PORTER
feat.
ORI DAGAN & BROWNMAN ALI

featuring
Ori Dagan - vocals
Brownman Ali - trumpet / musical director
Patrick Hewan - piano
Hayden Farrar - bass 
John Cheesman - drums
Modern Jazz
Tribute show
----
From Press Release:
"NOW Magazine's 2013 Male Vocalist of the Year ORI DAGAN joins forces with National Jazz Award winning trumpet icon BROWNMAN ALI to pay tribute to one of the most important composers in jazz history - COLE PORTER.

This all-star ensemble will explore beloved Porter classics, re-inventing and re-working them in modern interpretive jazz fashion with Dagan's versatile voice at the helm, supported by Ali's strength as a Musical Director & soloist. Expect to hear tunes like "All of You", "Love For Sale", "What Is This Thing Called Love", "I've Got You Under My Skin", and the perennial "Night & Day". Some will swing, some will groove, some will sound like Brazil - but they will all celebrate Cole Porter's compositional genius."

May Cafe
Info:
647-607-2032
(MAP)
$10
at the door
876 Dundas St. W.
(Dundas & Manning
between Ossington
& Bathurst)
Toronto

Fri.
June 19
2015
----
9:00pm
Toronto's Poetry Jazz Cafe presents
CRUZAO
LATIN-JAZZ TRIO

featuring
Brownman Ali – trumpet  (Trinidad)
Roberto Riveron – bass (Cuba)
Joaquin Nunez – drums (Cuba)
Latin-jazz
Trio
----
From Press Release:
"3 members of Trinidadian-born NYC-schooled, iconic Toronto-based trumpet player Brownman's latin-jazz supergroup CRUZAO. They are the winners of the Montreal Jazz Fest's coveted "Grand Prix du Jazz" award, the CBC Galaxie Rising Star award, a 4-time nominee at the National Jazz Awards, and a 3-time Independent Music Award nominee -- this group, in it's full 5-man configuration, has been called "Canada's premiere latin-jazz ensemble" by the Toronto Star. CRUZAO LATIN-JAZZ TRIO is a compact, stripped down version of that award- winning ensemble at 3-man large and sports a modified reportoire written specifically for this smaller permutation the trio"
Poetry
Jazz Cafe
Info:
416-599-5299
(MAP)
$10

at the door
224 Augusta Ave
(this place has no sign - look for the giant painting of Miles Davis' hands on the entrance!)
Toronto

Sat.
June 20
2015
----
9:00pm
Toronto's May Cafe presents
BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO
plays the music of Miles Davis'
"PANTHALASSA"
Brownman Electryc TrioBrownman Electryc Trio
with the B.E.T. CANADA permutation:
Brownman - electric trumpet
Brad Cheeseman - 6-string electric bass
Geoff Bruce - drums
----
with acclaimed visual artist 
STEPHANIE SCHIRM
painting live!
For this special 2015 Jazz Fest presentation acclaimed visual artist STEPHANIE SCHIRM will setup her easel and paint live and in the moment as the band performs, letting the sounds of the ensemble inspire her real-time creations.  You don't want to miss this collision of visual art and electric jazz!

JazzOnline writes: 
"Brownman Ali's powerful award-winning trio captures the essence of the later years in Miles Davis' life, his electric period, without imitation. Brownman's ELECTRYC TRIO is uniquely his own, yet echoes with the sounds of ‘Bitches Brew’ and ‘In a Silent Way’ right down to Miles’ use of electronics while still managing to stay grounded in the sounds of today, clearly paying apt tribute to Brownman's NYC mentor Randy Brecker. Impressive."

Modern Electric
Groove Jazz
----
This concert will first feature the National Jazz Award winning BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO delving deeply into a set investigating Miles Davis' electric period from 1969-1974 as documented by the release "Panthalassa" before turning to tunes from the newest CD "Gravitation", which reached number 4 on the iTunes USA jazz charts upon it's release and was called "the new standard in electric-jazz" by Grammy winning trumpet player Randy Brecker while on National Public Radio (NPR) in New York City.
----
Canadian National Jazz Award winners for "Electric Jazz Group of the Year"

Toronto Music Award winners for "Jazz Group of the Year"

NOW MAGAZINE writes: "It's incredible the energy output these three men can generate... with only a trio on stage my ears would swear they were hearing a whole electrified orchestra"

May Cafe
Info:
647-607-2032
(MAP)
$15

at the door
$10
advanced
email andrew@brownman.com to get on the Adv. List
876 Dundas St. W.
(Dundas & Manning
between Ossington
& Bathurst)
Toronto

Sun.
June 21
2015
----
9:00pm
Toronto's Gate 403 presents
BROWNMAN AKOUSTIC TRIO

featuring
Brownman Ali - trumpet 
Julian Anderson-Bowes - upright bass
Frank Botos - drums
Mainstream
Jazz
----
From Press Release:
"Recently returning to Toronto after a juggling touring schedules between the Brownman Electryc Trio and various US projects, the Toronto based Trinidadian-born multi-award winning jazz trumpeter brings his acoustic trio to Gate 403 during the jazz fest for  a Sunday afternoon of 50's & 60's jazz ala Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Duke Ellington and the American jazz songbook."
Gate 403
Info:
416-588-2930 
(MAP)
$PWYC
403 Roncessvalles Ave.
Toronto

Gig 1 of 2
----
Mon.
June 22
2015
----
4:00pm
to
5:30pm
Donald Quan's Musideum Special Jazz Fest presentation
BROWNMAN + 2
featuring
DAVE RESTIVO (piano) 
& NICK MACLEAN (synth)

featuring :
Brownman Ali - trumpet
Dave Restivo - piano  /  Nick Maclean - synth
----
A message from Donald Quan, Musideum owner/operator:
Hi everyone,
I just wanted to encourage everyone attending the jazz festival to come check out this amazing pairing of trumpet & 2 piano talents at the Musideum.  Acclaimed jazz trumpet player Brownman Ali and I are good friends, long enjoying sharing music, movies and meals together.  He LOVED the Musideum when he first saw the space, but felt his assortment of bands (he leads 7 of his own!) would be too much for the venue. So I suggested perhaps he could use Musideum to feature lesser known aspects of his playing. He's well known for his virtuosic and energized playing style, but rarely is he showcased for the warmness of his tone & the subtleties and nuances he's capable of. He was delighted by the idea, and suggested only doing duets. We dubbed the series BROWNMAN+1, and once a month this National Jazz Award winner appears at Musideum accompanied by a mystery musician. It could be a piano player. It could be a bass player. It might even be a turntablist from NY (that's coming later in the summer!). But what the BROWNMAN+1 series offers each month, is a unique look at this artist in unique couplings"
Jazz
----
From Press Release:
"Multi-award-winning jazz trumpet player Brownman Ali, best known for his creatively bombastic & energized playing style, strips down to a bare bones configuration in the Musideum "+1" series. 
--
During the Jazz Festival Brownman will be appearing in a "+2" format with acclaimed jazz pianist DAVE RESTIVO , 5x National Jazz Award winner for "piano player of the year" and NICK MACLEAN on synth, leader of Snaggle and in demand 20-something.   All 3  artists represent 3 different generations of Toronto's top-shelf  players, and all have long histories as musical colleagues in a variety of ensembles."
Musideum
Info:
416-599-7323
(MAP)

$20 adults
$10 artitsts,
students, seniors
401 Richmond W.
Toronto

Gig 2 of 2
----
Mon.
June 22
2015
----
8:00pm
Toronto's May Cafe presents
JORDANA TALSKY
Duo concert
Vocal Jazz

featuring:
Jordana Talsky - voice
Eric St. Laurent - guitar
SPECIAL GUEST : Brownman Ali - trumpet 
Vocal-jazz
----
From Press Release:
"Vocalist/songwriter Jordana Talsky has been turning heads on the Toronto jazz terrain for the last three years, her sound -- described as “jazzy takes on pop songs and poppier takes on jazz songs" -- combines many music forms, rather than strictly adhering to a single genre.  She was a finalist in the 2014 John Lennon Songwriting Competition (RnB category) ; a semi-finalist in the 2014 Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition; and Runner Up for the Julian Award of Excellence for Emerging Canadian Artists (CJSF Radio, Simon Fraser University). "
May Cafe
Info:
647-607-2032
(MAP)
$10

at the door
876 Dundas St. W.
(Dundas & Manning
between Ossington
& Bathurst)
Toronto

Gig 1 of 2
----
Tues.
June 23
2015
----
6:00pm
Nathan Phillips Square presents
Chelsea McBride's
SOCIALIST NIGHT SCHOOL

featuring:
Chelsea McBride - conductor/composer/tenor sax
Colleen Allen, Abigail Neale, Patrick Panus,Ben McCarroll-Butler, Anthony Rinaldi
(saxophones)
James Rhodes, Justin See, Tom Upjohn, Brownman Ali
(trumpets)
Paul Tarrusov, Aidan Sibley, Devin Chubb, Nicholas Sieber
(trombones)
Chris Bruder (piano), Dan Rougeau (guitar) 
Steven Falk (bass), Mark Ballyk (drums)
Modern
Big Band
----
From Press Release:
"Chelsea McBride’s Socialist Night School is a Toronto-based 18-piece big band that pushes the jazz tradition forward. Directed by multi-instrumentalist/composer Chelsea McBride, the band performs entirely original compositions and arrangements (both by Chelsea and members of the band) that are heavily influenced by socialism (of course), ECM-style jazz, pop music, and the mystery and majesty of nature."
Nathan
Phillips Square
(main stage)
(MAP)
$FREE!!!

(opening for
Christian McBride
Big Band)
Nathan 
Phillips Square
(main stage)
Toronto

Gig 2 of 2
---
Tues.
June 23
2015
----
8:00pm
Toronto's May Cafe presents
SNAGGLE
with special guest BROWNMAN

featuring:
Nick Maclean - synth
Alex Purcell - guitar
Emily Denison - trumpet
Graeme Wallace - tenor sax
Doug Moore - bass
Tom Grosset - drums
SPECIAL GUEST : Brownman Ali - trumpet 
Jazz-Funk
----
From Press Release:
"This energized ensemble is quickly establishing themselves as Canada's answer to Snarky Puppy and sports a dynamic repertoire of exciting, modern, entirely original electric-jazz-funk compositions.  The 6-piece powerhouse is made up entirely of 20-something graduates from the Humber College School of Contemporary Music, all of whom have studied with many of Canada’s greatest jazz masters and represents the next generation of Canadian talent.  This special jazz festival presentation will feature award-winning trumpet player Brownman on electric trumpet whom group leader Nick Maclean cites as one of SNAGGLE's major influences."
May Cafe
Info:
647-607-2032
(MAP)
$10

at the door
876 Dundas St. W.
(Dundas & Manning
between Ossington
& Bathurst)
Toronto

Wed.
June 24
2015
----
8:00pm
Toronto's May Cafe presents
ARECIBO
(latin-jazz)
Brownman Ali - trumpet
featuring
Brownman Ali - trumpet  (Trinidad)
Scott Metcalfe - piano (Canada)
Paco Luviano - bass (Cuba)
Joaquin Nunez - drums (Cuba)
Latin-jazz
----
From Press Release:
"A brand new latin-jazz outfit delving deeply into both Cuban and Brazilian modern jazz traditions in the New York latin-jazz spirit of Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band featuring some of the city’s most acclaimed jazz and latin music specialists.  The group is named after the Arecibo radio telescope housed in Puerto Rico – the largest radio telescope in the world, responsible for the deepest exploration of space mankind has achieved to date."
Monarchs
Pub
Info:
416-595-1975
(MAP)
$FREE !!!
33 Gerrard St. W.
(in the Eaton
Chelsea Hotel)
Toronto

Thrs.
June 25
2015
----
8:00pm
Toronto's May Cafe presents
JASON WILSON 
REGGAE-JAZZ QUARTET

featuring :
Jason Wilson - vocals / keyboards
Brownman Ali - trumpet
Brendan Davis - bass
Iain Green - drums
Reggae-Jazz
----
From Press Release:
"A musical journey from Bob Marley to Miles Davis, dropping you somewhere in the middle. Acclaimed reggae artist JASON WILSON -- considered one of the most important figures in Canadian reggae history, twice nominated for Junos for "reggae recording of the year" and the winner of a Canadian Reggae music award -- brings his unique REGGAE-JAZZ QUARTET to this year's festival. This new project, described as a "Miles meets Marley reggae mashup" features Jason's mesmerizing voice joining forces with some of Toronto's most respected jazz musicians. Ali & Wilson have been collaborating for close to 15 years now, Brownman appearing on all of Wilson's award-winning records to date; and Wilson often appearing as a guest vocalist with the Browman Akoustic Trio."
May Cafe
Info:
647-607-2032
(MAP)
$10

at the door
876 Dundas St. W.
(Dundas & Manning
between Ossington
& Bathurst)
Toronto

Fri.
June 26
2015
----
9:00pm
Toronto's May Cafe presents
LADY SON
& ARECIBO
[ Cuban-jazz-funk ]

featuring
LADY SON - voice / rapper / congas (Cuba)
Brownman - trumpet (Trinidad)
Scott Metcalfe - bass (Mexico
Paco Luviano - bass (Mexico)
Joaquin Nunez - drums (Cuba)
Cuban-jazz-funk
----
From Press Release:
"Salsa songstress LADY SON is widely known for delivering high-energy Salsa shows, but what many don’t know is her deep penchant for funk and Latin-jazz grooves. On Fri-Jun-26, backed by Brownman’s award-winning Latin-jazz quartet ARECIBO, Lady Son will explore the depths of Cuban-jazz-funk in ways you’ve never seen her before - singing, rapping, improvising - you’ll see sides of this artist you never knew existed! This show represents the beginning of an exciting new collaboration between Lady Son & Brownman Ali and is sure to be both funkified and groovalicious! "
May Cafe
Info:
647-607-2032
(MAP)
$15

at the door
$10
advance
$5
students
email andrew@brownman.com to get on the Adv. List
876 Dundas St. W.
(Dundas & Manning
between Ossington
& Bathurst)
Toronto

Sat.
June 27
2015
----
9:00pm
Toronto's May Cafe presents
A TRIBUTE TO FREDDIE HUBBARD
feat.
BROWNMAN AKOUSTIC QUARTET

featuring
Brownman Ali - trumpet / musical director
Dave Restivo - piano & rhodes
Julian Anderson-Bowes - acoustic & electric basses
Geoff Bruce - drums
Modern Jazz
Tribute show
----
From Press Release:
"The death of jazz legend Freddie Hubbard rocked the world of jazz.  Brownman, one of the thousands of trumpeters world-wide to be profoundly affected by the sound of Freddie Hubbard's horn over the years, pays tribute to the Hubbard legacy on Thr Jun 19 at Toronto's May Cafe.  Recently returning to Toronto after touring with the legendary Paul Simon, the Trinidadian-born multi-award winning jazz trumpeter - will once again take on the sombering task of paying musical tribute to one of his personal heros and one of the greatest jazz trumpet players in the history of the artform."
May Cafe
Info:
647-607-2032
(MAP)
$15

at the door
$10
advance
$5
students
email andrew@brownman.com to get on the Adv. List
876 Dundas St. W.
(Dundas & Manning
between Ossington
& Bathurst)
Toronto

<<<       TD Downtown Toronto Jazz Festival dates - end       >>>
...
<<< LAST MONTH.. NEXT MONTH >>>
.

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Q: What's coming up for recordings?
A: Several Browntasauras Records recording projects are in various stages of completion.  The newest, most exciting news is that Browntasauras is now signing other bands that feature Brownman, for which he is NOT a leader.  Browntasauras Records was originally created to give Brown's own multitude of groups a single, unified home for his musical output, BUT we've now expanded the label's visions to include ensembles who feature him on their recordings.  All these ensembles are world-class outfits and we're honored to have them on the label!
- Andrew Nicholson, label manager

Here's what's coming up on Browntasauras Records for non-Brown led groups :
-- Snaggle (led pianist Nick Maclean, Brown will be producing their new disc & guesting on it)
-- Modus Factor (led by drummer Chris Lesso, Brown has been his featured trumpet player for years)
-- John Cheesman Jazz Orchestra (led by drummer/composer John Cheesman, Brown been one of the group's soloists for years now)
-- Robert Ball (led by neo-soul singer Robert Ball from New York, Brown has been the Musical Director for Rob's new project)

Here's what coming up from groups I lead :
-- Brownman Electryc Trio GRAVITATION disc released!  Find it on iTunes & CDBaby
-- Cruzao 2nd disc (tracking 1/3 done)
-- Cruzao Grupo Monstruoso debut disc (live recording made, need funding to mix)
-- Arecibo debut disc (live tracking done, now in mixing)
-- Akoustic Trio debut disc (tracking 1/2 done)
-- Omega Men debut disc (tracking to begin in Oct)
-- Marron Matizado debut disc (pre-production begins Nov)
-- Gruvasylum 2nd disc (tracking to begin in Dec)
-- Brownman Electryc Trio 3rd disc (tracking to begin work in 2016)


..
<<< LAST MONTH.. NEXT MONTH >>>
.
.

UPCOMING

Brown is focused heavily
on recording sessions:
He was, or is laying tracks in
studios with the following artists:
Modus Factor (electro-ambient)
John Cheesman Jazz Orchestra (big band)
Robert Ball (neo-soul)
Snaggle (jazz-funk)
Omega Men (hip-hop)
Game, Set, Trap (hip-hop)
Nelly Furtado (pop)
Brownman Akoustic Trio (jazz)
Arecibo (latin-jazz)
Jason Wilson (progressive reggae)
CRUZAO (latin-jazz-urbania)
Stephen King (indie-pop, 
and not the guy who wrote Carrie)
Shifty (hip-hop)
Shyann (neo-soul)
Strange Attractors (modern jazz)
Chiva (Colombian latin-jazz)
Josh Goodman (jazz)
Gerardo Brizuela (Latin house / electronica)
Trey Mills (singer/songwriter)
Rex Mann (folk)
Sheldon Barkley (Calypso)
Fernando Maar (jazz-rock)
Tia Brazda (singer/songwriter)
Jued (hip-hop)
John Eccelston (singer/songwriter)
Professor D (hip-hop)
Third Word (hip-hop)
Rikoshay (hip-hop)
.

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 -

Guru and Brownman - Belgium

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.

Brownman soloing hard - Portugal (photo: Alexandre Vaz)

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.

Guru and Brownman - Brazil


BROWN NEWS
(by publicist Andrew Nicholson) :

BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO
NEW CD released!
GRAVITATION is now available
on iTunes & CDBaby

Please grab a copy at
Browntasauras.Brownman.com
--
After 4 years of being nominated, the
BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO win an Independent
Music Award for 2012 Best Jazz Artist of the Year

--
BROWNMAN T-SHIRTS ARE NOW IN!
Official Brownman t-shirts have just arrived and are available at all live shows (or email andrew@brownman.com to order by mail).  Sizes are XL, L, M, S. Limited quantities per size.  $20 each.  Kittens, rappers and girls not included.
[ Thanks to additional poses from singer Irene Torres (from the Sugar Devils), monster rapper Mad Dukez from Gruvasylum and Kiwi-3 ]

--
Resonancity.com names Brownman
2012 Artist To Watch
--
The SUGAR DEVILS win the 2012 
Toronto Blues Society Talent Search
for 2012 Blues Band of the Year
--
Brownman receives a distinguished citation
from the Consulate General for the Republic
of Trinidad & Tobago, which includes appearing in 
the High Commission and Consulate General
50th Independence Anniversary publication 
“Distinguished Nationals of 
Trinidad and Tobago in Canada”
--
Brownman included in noted UK
photographer's new book.
Kingsley Davis, an acclaimed UK music photographer,
has a new book out called FLIP THE SCRIPT 
- A PHOTOGRAPHER'S MUSIC DIARY 
BY KINGSLEY DAVIS, which documents luminous 
urban music acts on stage in the UK over the 
years, shot through Kingsley's lens. Featured 
artists include Pharell Williams, KRS-One, 
Q-tip, Omar, Flying Lotus, John Legend, 
Ms Dyamite, DJ Doowop, Guru... and Brownman!
--
BRAVO! channel documentary on Brownman now on Vimeo
"The Life & Times of Brown" -- In 2007 the BRAVO! channel, in conjunction with Leda Serene Films aired this 1/2 hour documentary on the life of award-winning Trinidadian born jazz trumpet player BROWNMAN ALI -- now available for free viewing in it's entirity on Vimeo.  It is an insightful and in-depth look at one of the most acclaimed jazz artists in the nation, diving deeply into his personal history, growing up in a racial charged environment, his time in New York City with Randy Brecker & clearly illustrating why he is now widely considered a vanguard for the evolution of jazz in Canada. EDITOR'S NOTE: This documentary was filmed in 2006 just *before* he was asked to join the legendary GURU's JAZZMATAZZ, replacing Donald Byrd in that seminal jazz-hip-hop group, and is thus a fascinating look at his pre-Jazzmatazz career.
www.Vimeo.com/16725046
--
On Nov 22nd, 2010 Brownman Ali was inducted into the WHOS WHO IN BLACK CANADA - the famous comprehensive national biographical directory & website of outstanding Black-Canadian achievers - alongside jazz legend Oliver Jones and former Governor General Rt. Hon. Michaëlle Jean.  This rather impressive look at this life, includes an interview, and embedded video from the BRAVO! Channel documentary on his life entitled "the life and times of Brown":
www.WhosWhoInBlackCanada.com/2010/11/22/brownman-ali
--
Artvoice magazine nominates
BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO for
2010 Jazz Act of the Year
--
Brownman nonimated for a 2010
Toronto Independant Music Award w/ the
BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO for
2010 Toronto Jazz Group of the Year
--
Brownman named
2009 Favourite Touring Soloist
(w/ Jazzmatazz) 
by London, UK's Jazz After Dark 
--
Brownman nonimated for a 2008
Toronto Independant Music Award w/ the
BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO for
2008 Toronto Jazz Group of the Year
--
Brownman nonimated for a 2008
National Jazz Award w/ the
BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO for
2008 Electric Jazz Group of the Year
(the group won in this category last year)
--
Brownman named Toronto's
NOW Magazine's
2007 Toronto Jazz Trumpeter of the Year
--
Featured cover story for the Oct/Nov 2007 issue
of CODA magazine, Canada's most acclaimed
jazz publication since 1958. 

Read the whole article
here (2.3meg PDF file)
--
After being nominated in 5 categories at the 2007 Canadian National Jazz Awards, the BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO was honoured to have been awarded the 2007 National Jazz Award for Electric Jazz Group of the Year.  Thanks to all that voted!
Brownman was nominated for :
- Canadian National Jazz Composer of the Year
- Canadian National Jazz Musician of the Year
- Canadian National Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year
- Canadian National Latin-jazz Artist of the Year
- Canadian National Electric Group of the Year
    (w/ Brownman Electryc Trio)

--
Brownman asked to tour with legendary NYC hip-hop rapper Guru(of Gangstarr and Jazzmatazz fame).  After replacing the unavailable Roy Hargrove on Guru's Jazzmatazz Vol. 4 recording session (hits the store in June), Brownman was asked to tour America.  He departs June 9th for Zurich, Switzerland for 3 days of rehearsals before embarking on a blistering tour European tour before the U.S.A. tour dates being July 15.  Check out the tour dates:
http://www.brownman.com/GigSchedule/2007-06-sched.htm
--
Brownman was nominated for a 2006 Canadian National Jazz Award for "Latin-jazz Artist of the Year". The prize was awarded to the luminous and deserving Hilario Duran, but we at Brownman Music Inc. would like to thank all those who voted for this dynamic performer!
--
Shortly after returning from the last South American tour in Jan '06, the BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO began a new jazz residency at Buffalo's ultra hip Allen St. Hardware Cafe... this residency will continue through summer and all of upstate NY is invited to join the party!
http://ElectrycTrio.brownman.com
--
No longer able to deny the undeniable - Brownman Music now has a MySpace.com page. There are 4 tunes and some video from CRUZAO is currently loaded (though they will be on weekly rotation), pics, and a ton more.  Feel free to drop in and make Brown your MySpace friend.
http://www.MySpace.com/BrownmanMusic
--
The AUDIO/VIDEO section at Brownman.com now has new audio up - as well as a 2 minute movie trailer from film maker Vitold Vidic's Documentary "CRUZAO: The Movie" which first aired at the 2005 Toronto film festival and documents the trials and tribulations of Brownman's struggle to get CRUZAO GRUPO MONSTRUOSO - the 15-man version of CRUZAO - prepped for it's inaugural performance at the 2004 Distillery Jazz Festival with the clocking ticking down and problems mounting. http://Brownman.com/pages-AudVid.htm  (Under VIDEO)
--
Brownman recently appointed to the Prague Jazz Open Festival's Board of Artistic Directors where his knowledge and expertise will aid in shaping the vision of the festival's 2006/2007 programming.
http://www.praguejazzopen.cz
--
Brownman toured ARGENTINA for 3 weeks - beginning with the Buenos Aires Jazz Festival and includes feature concert presentations with some of Argentina's finest jazz and tango artists!  May 21 to June 15 2006 - arriving back in Toronto just in time to perform 8 times for the Toronto Jazz Festival.  More Argentine info as it comes in...
--
Collaborations seems to be the name of the game in 2006 and we'd like to mention some of those fantastic groups that have featured Brown in recent months: IRAKERE, CHISPA Y LOS COMPLICES, TUMBAO INC., DUB TRINITY, KUSH, FERTILE GROUND, SOULIVE, KOBOTOWN, KELLY LEE EVANS, MR. SOMETHING SOMETHING, METHODOLOGY, JAH-B, MAPALE, CHIVA, RITA DI GHENT & The SPRAWL PROJECT, AVE RD. & CESCO. All are world-class ensembles and we encourage those reading this to put their names into Google and check out their artistry.


OLDER BROWN NEWS
(by publicist Andrew McIntosh) :
Brownman voted Toronto's 2005 BEST JAZZ ARTIST by NOW Magazine:

http://brownman.com/PressReleases/NowAward-Oct27-2005_v13.PDF

Errol Nazereth's feature article on FIVE WEEKS FOR MILES:
http://Brownman.com/Interviews/Eye-Sept2005/StyleForMiles.html

ALI BROS "mythological" Canada Day performance:
http://Brownman.com/Interviews/2005-08-FilmFest/Mythology.html

Interview with View Magazine (in depth)
http://Brownman.com/Interviews/ViewMag-Mar2005/VIEW-Gruv-Mar24to30-2005.htm


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