Dean Brown (born August 19, 1955) is an American

jazz fusion Jazz fusion (also known as fusion and progressive jazz) is a music genre that developed in the late 1960s when musicians combined jazz harmony and jazz improvisation, improvisation with rock music, funk, and rhythm and blues. Electric guitars, ...

guitarist and

session musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...

Career

Dean Brown graduated from

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...

in 1977. During that time in Boston he performed with his own groups as well as Tiger's Baku, replacing

Mike Stern Mike Stern (born January 10, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist. After playing with Blood, Sweat & Tears, he worked with drummer Billy Cobham, then with trumpeter Miles Davis from 1981 to 1983 and again in 1985. He then began a solo career, ...

in that group before moving to New York around 1980 and joining Billy Cobham's band. Since 1982 Brown has been recording and/or touring worldwide with his own projects as well as with artists

Marcus Miller William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his work as a bassist. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandros ...

David Sanborn David William Sanborn (born July 30, 1945) 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 1 ...

Eric Clapton Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is often regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s list of ...

Billy Cobham William Emanuel Cobham Jr. (born May 16, 1944) is a Panamanian Americans, Panamanian–American jazz drummer who came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He was indu ...

, the

Brecker Brothers The Brecker Brothers were a jazz fusion music duo consisting of siblings Michael Brecker, Michael and Randy Brecker, Randy. Michael played saxophone, flute, and EWI (musical instrument), EWI, and Randy played trumpet and flugelhorn. The brothers ...

Roberta Flack Roberta Cleopatra Flack (born February 10, 1937) is a retired American singer. She topped the Billboard Magazine, ''Billboard'' charts with the No. 1 singles "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Killing Me Softly with His Song", "Feel Like M ...

, Bob James, Joe Zawinul,

George Duke George M. Duke (January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013) was an American keyboardist, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He worked with numerous artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and as a pr ...

, Victor Bailey,

Bill Evans William John Evans (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was an American jazz pianist and composer who worked primarily as the leader of his trio. His use of impressionist harmony, interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, block ch ...

, and

Steve Smith Stephen, Steve, Stevie, or Steven Smith may refer to: Academics * Steve Smith (political scientist) (born 1952), British international relations theorist and senior university manager * Stephen Smith (journalist) (born 1956), American journalist, ...

Vital Information Steve Smith and Vital Information is an American jazz fusion group led by drummer Steve Smith. The first line-up of Vital Information — Steve Smith (drums), Tim Landers (bass), and Dave Wilczewski (sax) — met in 1971 during their high scho ...

. As a solo artist, Brown has produced five solo CDs with his fifth solo CD "Rolajafufu" just being released in Spring 2016. His first titled "Here" (2001) on ESC Records, is his all-star debut CD featuring jazz greats

Michael Brecker Michael Leonard Brecker (March 29, 1949 – January 13, 2007) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He was awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of M ...

, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Billy Cobham, George Duke,

Randy Brecker Randal Edward Brecker (born November 27, 1945) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer. His versatility has made him a popular studio musician who has recorded with acts in jazz, rock, and R&B. Early life Brecker was born on Nov ...

Christian McBride Christian McBride (born May 31, 1972) is an American jazz bassist, composer and arranger. He has appeared on more than 300 recordings as a sideman, and is an eight-time Grammy Award winner. McBride has performed and recorded with a number of j ...

Don Alias Charles "Don" Alias (December 25, 1939 in New York City – March 28, 2006 in New York City) was an American jazz percussionist. Alias was best known for playing congas and other hand drums. He was, however, a capable drum kit performer: for e ...

, Bill Evans, Bernard Wright and many others. His second record "Groove Warrior" (2004) on ESC Records, features another all-star lineup with

Lalah Hathaway Eulaulah Donyll "Lalah" Hathaway (born December 16, 1968) is an American singer. In 1990 Hathaway released her first album titled ''Lalah Hathaway''. After releasing another album, titled '' A Moment'' (1994), it debuted at number 34 on the To ...

, Marcus Miller, Bernard Wright, JuJu House, Poogie Bell, Schuyler Deale, Booker King, and Patches Stewart, just to name a few. His third "DBIII" (2009) on the BHM label features an all-star power trio with musical greats

Dennis Chambers Dennis Milton Chambers (born May 9, 1959) is an American drummer. He was inducted into the ''Modern Drummer'' Hall of Fame in 2001. Early life Chambers was born on May 9, 1959. He began drumming at the age of four years, and was gigging in Bal ...

and

Will Lee William Lee (born William Lubovsky; August 6, 1908 – December 7, 1982) was an American actor who appeared in numerous television and film roles, but was best known for playing Mr. Hooper, the original store proprietor of the eponymous Hooper' ...

. His fourth CD "Unfinished Business"(2012) featuring yet another all-star cast of musicians with Marvin "Smitty" Smith,

Kirk Whalum Kirk is a Scottish and former Northern English word meaning "church". It is often used specifically of the Church of Scotland. Many place names and personal names are also derived from it. Basic meaning and etymology As a common noun, ''kirk'' ...

, Dennis Chambers, Jimmy Earl, Gerry Etkins and

Hadrien Feraud Hadrien Feraud (born August 16, 1984 in Paris) is a French jazz bassist. Biography Hadrien Feraud was born into a very musical family. His parents -- who are also musicians -- immersed him at a very young age in various musical environments: ro ...

among others. Brown's studio guitar work can be heard on over 100 albums, including four

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

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, Louie Bellson, Bob James, and

's Vital Information. Brown's compositions and arrangements are featured on albums by Les McCann, Dennis Chambers, Ricky Peterson, Steve Smith's Vital Information, and Billy Cobham. As an educator and clinician Dean conducts master classes at schools and venues at home and abroad and teaches several classes of his own curriculum at

Musicians Institute Musicians Institute (MI) is a private for-profit music school in Los Angeles, California. MI students can earn Certificates and – with transfer of coursework taken at Los Angeles City College – Associate of Arts Degrees, as well as Bachelor ...

in Hollywood, California since 2006. Dean has also released an instructional/live DVD with publishing giant Hal Leonard for Musicians Institute titled "Modern Techniques for the Electric Guitarist"(2008) and has had several featured instructional articles in

Guitar Player Magazine ''Guitar Player'' is an American popular magazine for guitarists, founded in 1967 in San Jose, California. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print s ...

(US), Guitar World (US), Gittare and Bass (G), Bass Player, Jazz Life (Jp), Big Box (I), Muzikus (Cz), Guitarist (Fr) and 20th Century Guitar magazines (US).

Discography

As leader

* ''Here'' (ESC, 2000) * ''Groove Warrior'' (ESC, 2004) * ''DBIII Live at the Cotton Club Tokyo'' (BHM, 2009) * ''Unfinished Business'' (Moosicus, 2012) * Rolajafufu (Dean Brown Music, 2016)

As sideman

With

* ''Observations &'' (Elektra Musician, 1982) * ''Smokin'' (Elektra Musician, 1983) * ''Warning'' (GRP, 1985) * ''Powerplay'' (GRP, 1986) * ''By Design'' (Fnac Music 1992) * ''Palindrome'' (BHM, 2010) * ''Spectrum 40 Live'' (Creative Multimedia Concepts, 2015) With Bob James * ''Ivory Coast'' (Tappan Zee/Warner Bros., 1988) * ''Grand Piano Canyon'' (Warner Bros., 1990) * ''Restless'' (Warner Bros., 1994) With

* ''The Sun Don't Lie'' (Dreyfus, 1993) * ''Tales'' (Dreyfus, 1995) * ''The Ozell Tapes: The Official Bootleg'' (3 Deuces 2002) * ''Master of All Trades'' (Dreyfus, 2005) * ''Silver Rain'' (Koch, 2005) With

* ''Hearsay'' (Elektra, 1994) * ''Songs from the Night Before'' (Elektra, 1996) * ''Inside'' (Elektra, 1999) With

* ''And You Know That!'' (Columbia, 1988) * ''The Promise'' (CBS, 1989) * ''Cache'' (Columbia, 1993) With others * Victor Bailey, ''That's Right'' (ESC, 2001) *

, ''Return of the Brecker Brothers'' (GRP, 1992) * Brecker Brothers, ''Out of the Loop'' (GRP, 1994) *

, ''The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion'' (Piloo, 2013) *

Till Brönner Till Brönner (born 6 May 1971 in Viersen, West Germany) is a jazz musician, trumpeter, flügelhorn player, singer, composer, producer and photographer. History From 1989–1991, Brönner was a member of the Peter Herbolzheimer Rhythm Combin ...

, ''Midnight'' (Button, 1996) * Till Brönner, ''Chattin With Chet'' (Verve, 2000) *

, ''Outbreak'' (ESC, 2002) * Dennis Chambers, ''Planet Earth'' (BHM, 2005) *

Color Me Badd ''Color'' Me Badd is an American contemporary R&B group that was formed in 1985 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma by lead singer Bryan Abrams (born November 16, 1969), tenor Mark Calderon (born September 27, 1970), second tenor Sam Watters (born July 23 ...

, ''Time and Chance'' (Giant, 1993) *

Tom Coster Tom Coster (born August 21, 1941) is an American keyboardist, composer, and longtime backing musician for Carlos Santana. Early years Detroit-born and San Francisco-raised, Coster played piano and accordion as a youth, continuing his studies ...

, ''from the Street'' (JVC, 1996) *

DJ Logic DJ Logic (born 1972 as Jason Kibler) is an American turntablist active primarily in nu-jazz/ acid jazz and with jam bands. Kibler was born and raised in The Bronx, NY. Because of an early interest in hip hop, Kibler started using the turnta ...

& Jason Miles, ''Global Noize'' (Shanachie, 2008) *

, ''Touch'' (ESC, 1999) * Bill Evans, ''Soul Insider'' (ESC, 2000) *

, ''Let It Be Roberta'' (429 Records, 2012) *

Eddie Harris Eddie Harris (October 20, 1934 – November 5, 1996) 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. His best-k ...

, ''The Last Concert'' (ACT, 1997) *

Al Jarreau Alwin Lopez Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) was an American singer and musician. His 1981 album '' Breakin' Away'' spent two years on the ''Billboard'' 200 and is considered one of the finest examples of the Los Angeles pop and R ...

, Miki Howard, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, ''Everybody Is a Star Live in Tokyo'' (Jazz Hour, 2010) *

Eric Marienthal Eric Marienthal (born December 19, 1957) is a Grammy Award-nominated Los Angeles-based contemporary saxophonist best known for his work in the jazz, jazz fusion, smooth jazz, and pop genres. Early life Eric Marienthal was born on December 19, 1 ...

, ''Sweet Talk'' (Peak, 2003) * Les McCann, ''Pump It Up'' (ESC, 2002) *

Jason Miles Jason Miles (born June 30, 1951) is an American jazz keyboardist, composer, and record producer. Throughout his career, he has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, bassist Marcus Miller, and singer Luther Vandross, as well as maintaining a successfu ...

, ''World Tour'' (Lipstick, 1994) * Jason Miles, ''Miles to Miles'' (Narada, 2005) *

Bernard Purdie Bernard Lee "Pretty" Purdie (born June 11, 1939) is an American drummer, and an influential R&B, soul and funk musician. He is known for his precise musical time keeping and his signature use of triplets against a half-time backbeat: the "Purdie ...

, ''Bernard Purdie's Soul to Jazz'' (ACT, 1996) *

, ''Vital Information'' (Columbia, 1983) * Steve Smith, ''Orion'' (Columbia, 1984) *

Steps Ahead Steps Ahead is an American jazz fusion group. History The group arose out of spontaneous sessions at Seventh Avenue South, a jazz club in New York City owned by saxophonist Michael Brecker and trumpeter brother Randy Brecker. The first three al ...

, ''Yin-Yang'' (NYC, 1992) *

, ''Global Beat'' (Columbia, 1986) *

Lenny White Leonard "Lenny" White III (born December 19, 1949) is an American jazz fusion drummer who was a member of the band Return to Forever led by Chick Corea in the 1970s. White has been called "one of the founding fathers of jazz fusion". He has won ...

, ''Present Tense'' (Hip Bop, 1995) * Lenny White, ''Renderors of Spirit'' (Hip Bop, 1996) * Joe Zawinul, ''Faces & Places'' (Cream/Jms 2002)

Video

* 1987 Steve Smith, ''Part I and II'' * 2001 David Sanborn, ''David Sanborn and Friends'' * 2002

Gil Evans Ian Ernest Gilmore Evans (né Green; May 13, 1912 – March 20, 1988) was a Canadian–American jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest orchestrators in jazz, playing an important role ...

, ''Gil Evans and His Orchestra'' * 2003

Louie Bellson Louie Bellson (born Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni, July 6, 1924 – February 14, 2009), often seen in sources as Louis Bellson, although he himself preferred the spelling Louie, was an American jazz drummer. He was a composer, ...

, ''Louie Bellson and His Big Band'' * 2006 Marcus Miller ''Master of All Trades'' * 2007 Billy Cobham/Louie Bellson, ''Cobham Meets Bellson'' * 2008 Dean Brown, ''Modern Techniques for the Electric Guitarist''

References

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Dean 1955 births Living people American session musicians American jazz guitarists Berklee College of Music alumni American male guitarists 20th-century American guitarists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians Vital Information members