Music
Press
"A music educator as well as an experienced singer with a four-plus-octave voice, Brown stuck to standards delivered in imaginative ways. Every aspiring "American Idol" should be required to take Brown's class. Using superb voice control and microphone techniques, she alternated between singing straight ahead and scatting on selections such as "Where Is Love," "I Thought About You" and "The Nearness of You." On "I Thought About You," Brown and bassist Sharpe traded hot licks while Johnson and Gibbs held the rhythm in check. At times on Saturday, Brown was a chanteuse. At other points in the set, she used her voice as one of the instruments. At all times, Brown and the band turned in classy and classic music...." - - San Antonio - San Antonio Express-News(Jim Beal Jr.)
On Firm Roots, ".Brown's lush Sarah Vaughan-esque sound is balanced by an attention to articulation reminiscent of Carmen McRae, and she is surrounded, appropriately, by a sterling ensemble featuring the piano of Tony Suggs (chair of Count Basie Band) and the tenor saxophone of Seamus Bllake. She roves far and wide for her material, to the jazz world for Cedar Walton's The Root of Life (with lyrics by Doug Carn) and Abbey Lincoln's Straight Ahead to pop for Billy Preston's Will It Go Round in Circles and Seals & Crofts' We May Never Pass This Way (Again). It's an imaginative program by one of the most exquisite-sounding new voices in jazz." - Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times
On Image in the Mirror: The Triptych"Brown continues to ploughher own bold furrow with this closely structured concept album...Brown's voice is naturally introspective, and ideal for big dramatic projection, and the material here, self-written or in collaboration with pianist Milton Sealey, is mostly pitched to suit that style and range. All at Once and The Dragonfly and The Pearl are remarkable performances from all concerned. Ms. Brown continues to intrigue and enchant." - Richard Cook and Brian Morton, The Penguin Guide to Jazz
On Firm Roots "...Here Brown mixs gospel, R&B and soul into stunning readings of both classics-Burt Bacharach's What the World Needs Now - and oddities - Seals an Crofts' We May Never Pass This Way Again. Her beautiful and original soul music moves outside of its intended genre and becomes a life all its own." - Trevor MacLaren, The Coast
Discography
The following are released under Jeri Brown:
New Wonderland
Sempre Nina - A Tribute to Nina Simone
Firm Rootes
Image in the Mirror: The Triptych
Zaius
Fresh Start
April in Paris
A Timeless Place
Unfolding: The Peacocks
Mirage
Jeri's songs have been played on television and radio.
Jeri has performed in concerts, festivals, television and radio.
Photos
Bio
Jeri Brown has earned a reputation as one of jazz most outstanding "artistic" vocalists. With many fine musicians who are labeled "artistic," its sometimes overlooked how richly musical, thoroughly accessible and enjoyable their music can be. Jeri Brown is focused, ambitious, daring and intent upon creating music that is both well conceived and honest. Brown is well known for performing and recording with passion and dedication.
Committed to the legacy of vocal jazz, Ms. Browns performances fill the historical spectrum of classic American songbook themes, original jazz compositions, and contemporary world themes with intense vocal improvisations, and include collaborations with diverse, legendary jazz artists.
Jeri Brown has performed or recorded with such musicians as Leon Thomas, John Hicks, Grady Tate, Kirk Lightsey, Betty Carter, Ellis Marsalis, Erik Truffaz, David Murray, D.D. Jackson, Billy Hart, Kenny Werner, Pierre Michelot, John Betsch, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Fred Hersch, Tony Suggs, Michel Donato, Winard Harper, Chico Freeman, Joe Lovano, Cyrus Chestnut, Dr. Billy Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, Avery Sharpe, Rufus Reid, Gerry Gibbs, Seamus Blake and Jimmy Rowles.
Jeri Brown's recent achievements include:
-6 time JUNO Award nominations as jazz vocal recording artist and producer for Justin Time Records.
-Choral director and creator of famed JB Pumped Singers of Montreal and vocal coordinator for the Paul Simon Tribute under the artistic direction of Andre Menard of Montreal Jazz Festival fame.
-Film producer Jeri Brown: The Spirit Comes Through - reality show spectacular featuring hand picked Nova Scotia community youth in performance with Jeri for BRAVO, CBC, and Vision broadcasts.
-Recipient of Quebecs prestigious Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award for artistic and humanitarian accomplishment.
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