Dean Brown

"There are only two rules in music, it must be beautiful and it must feel good!” 
~ Dean Brown





Dean Brown’s guitar work can be heard on well over 200 recordings, including numerous GRAMMY® nominations and four GRAMMY® Award winners. For over 40 years Brown has toured, performed, and recorded with legendary artists such as Marcus Miller, The Brecker Brothers, Billy Cobham, David Sanborn, Roberta Flack, Bob James, George Duke, Bill Evans, Victor Bailey, Joe Zawinul, and Vital Information, among others. Brown has released five solo CD's and  tours internationally with his own formidable bands.


Brown’s music defies boundaries combining Rock, Jazz, Funk, Latin and Fusion into a joyful, soulful, dynamic and intense groove. He is known in the global jazz/fusion scene for his virtuosic rhythm guitar work and his passionate melodic soloing. Those who have seen and heard him perform are immediately pulled in by the energy he puts into each and every note.




A true veteran of the touring circuit, Brown has performed at prestigious international music festivals around the US, Europe, Asia, Canada, South America, and Africa, including  Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz, Monterey, Nice, Tokyo, Beijing, Montreal, Berks, Senegal, Canary Islands, Java, Malta, Warsaw, and Pori Jazz Festivals. 


Dean Brown presented his latest live project at The Berks 30th Anniversary Jazz Festival (2021). The uplifting 'Summer of Love Evolution' is a genre-bending journey through the music of the late 60's and early 70's. He is currently working on recording a new album of originals, touring, teaching, and bringing “S.O.L.E.” to venues and festivals. 

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Solo Recordings:




* Brown’s debut solo album “HERE” (2001) ESC Records-  features many of the jazz greats he worked with over the years, including Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, George Duke, Billy Cobham, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Christian McBride, Don Alias, Bill Evans, Bernard Wright and many others.

* "GROOVE WARRIOR” (2004) ESC Records-  featuring an all-star lineup with Lalah Hathaway, Marcus Miller, Bernard Wright, JuJu House, Poogie Bell, Schuyler Deale, Booker King, and Patches Stewart.

* "DBIII-LIVE AT THE COTTON CLUB TOKYO” (2009) features an all-star power trio with musical greats Dennis Chambers and Will Lee recorded live at the world famous music venue in Tokyo, Japan.

* "UNFINISHED BUSINESS” (2012) is another all-star cast of musicians with Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Kirk Whalum, Dennis Chambers, Jimmy Earl, Gerry Etkins, Joey DeLeon, and Hadrien Feraud among others. 

* “ROLAJAFUFU" (2016) (i.e., ROck/LAtin/JAzz/FUnk/FUsion) features renowned musicians, Dennis Chambers, George Whitty, Bernard Maseli, Linley Marthe, Hadrien Feraud, Richie Flores, Brandon Fields, Daniel Sadownick, Marvin“Smitty”Smith, and Bobby Sparks.   



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Career notes:


* Brown has compositions and arrangements featured on albums for Les McCann, Dennis Chambers, Ricky Peterson, Vital Information, Chris Minh Dokey, and Billy Cobham, among others. 

* Brown self-produced all of his solo efforts as well as several albums for artists in various genres.

* As an educator and clinician, he has conducted masterclasses at universities, music schools and venues around the world.  He teaches several popular classes of his own curriculum at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. 

* Brown teaches his intensive private lessons course via Zoom or Skype which has proven to be an effective way to connect with students from around the world.

* An expansive Dean Brown Masterclass educational series is available at www.mymusicmasterclass.com 

* Brown has interviews and instructional articles in many international publications, including Guitar Player (US), Guitar World (US), Gittare and Bass (Germany), Jazz Life (Japan), Big Box (Italy), Muzikus (Czech), and Guitarist (France) magazines, among others.

* He released an instructional/live video with publishing giant Hal Leonard titled "Modern Techniques for the Electric Guitarist"(2008).

* He has performed with lead artists on TV shows such as  ‘After New Year's Eve With David Sanborn’, ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno’, ‘Fourth Of July with The Boston Pops Orchestra’, ‘The Arsenio Hall Show’, ‘BET’, ‘Bravo’, and many top television and radio shows overseas as well. 

* His performances also include Live DVD's with Marcus Miller, Billy Cobham, Steve Smith, Louie Belson Big Band, Gil Evans Big Band, David Sanborn and Friends (D’Angelo & Eric Clapton), and Bob James.

* Brown is a proud endorser of Xotic Guitars, DV Mark Amplifiers, TC Elecronic effects, Xotic Effects, BJ Press Effects, Moody Guitar Straps and G7th Capos.



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Additional notes:




Dean Brown started playing professionaly at the age of 13 and began leading his own groups at 15. He went on to attend George Washington University and continued his music education in Boston, graduating from The Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor Of Music in composition and privately studying improvisation with the iconic Charles Banacos. Brown married in 1983 and lives in California with his wife of 38 years where he continues to produce, teach, and make beautiful music.


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Quotes:


“Righteous rhythm work and absolutely burning solos...jazz that really rocks”
        ~Guitar Player Magazine




“I found guitarist Dean Brown to play behind me. He’s a genius.”
      ~Roberta Flack - JazzWax.com




“About twenty years have gone by and Dean's still bringing it onstage - he's that into it and obviously, that committed to every measure of the music...”
      ~AllAboutJazz.com




“Rockish, bluesy, jazzy, funky all rolled up into one...”
      ~ContemporaryJazz.com




“He delivers music with punch, energy, and integrity...”
      ~Guitar Nine Records




"A thrilling album!"
       ~Good Times