Lance Brown

Lance Brown (Archtop Brownie) has spent a lifetime in the arts. An actor who has toured several one-man shows ranging from the historical (Will Rogers Now) to the contemporary as songwriter and performer of "The Somewhat Fractured History of the World Show." He has performed as a singer/songwriter mainly in theatrical settings and has opened for name acts such as Leo Kottke and John Prine.
The members of “THE LANCE BROWN GROUP” have played together off and on for years in various manifestations – as “Brown & Levin” (duo), as “Chicago Expression” (trio), as “THE LANCE BROWN GROUP” (quartet) and as “The Dock Street Stompers” at Navy Pier for over 2 ½ years. Currently we are playing venues ranging from local clubs and libraries to the Skokie Theatre and the University of Chicago.

"The comment I heard most from our audience was "Wow!" I am sure you noticed the enthusiasm of the audience grow throughout your performance, but I am still hearing from people who rave about your performance. All of the members of Archtop Brownie are great musicians in their own right and together, they were fantastic.”
- Raymond E. Leisy, Program Manager, Wayne County Historical Society, Wooster, Ohio

“Thank you for a great evening of original jazzy blues and bluesy jazz. Everyone who attended had good things to say about your group but the one thing that was repeated was how much FUN you were. They loved the entertaining patter between the players and people were laughin’ and tappin’ their toes.”
Gena Zelenka -Adult Programming Librarian - Park Ridge Public Library

"'Archtop Brownie' not only captured and entertained the audience, but your audience interaction and professionalism was simply great! Many patrons have already reuested that I set up a date for "Archtop Brownie" to perform again as soon as possible. Thank you for a fantastic Sunday afternoon."
- June Enloe, Program Coordinator, Homewood Public Library, Homewood, Illinois

“Your performance was definitely a “labor of love”. Our audience was delighted and felt privileged to experience such a superb performance. You are truly a gifted performer who readily shares the passion and understanding of beautiful mastery, found only in the most skilled and practiced musicians.”
- Barbara Marik – Music Programmer – Schaumburg Township District Library, Schaumburg, IL

“What touched the audience most was that your music and lyrics played the emotional and temporal spectrum, from slow aching blues to the jazzed-up supremely silly, with various sentiments and commentary along the way. The caliber of musicianship was superb. Certainly all of you related to the audience in inspired ways. ( Mike playing for the baby was ingenious.) Even your set up and tear down was fun to be part of.
- Candice Lutz – Adult Programming – Round Lake Area Library, Round Lake, IL

THE LANCE BROWN GROUP - THE BAND PLAYERS AND INSTRUMENTS

LANCE BROWN (Guitars and Vocals)
Lance has toured as a singer/songwriter from Maine to Colorado and has created a vast collection of original and seriously satirical songs. His major influences can be found in swing, jazz and blues. His various groups played steadily at Navy Pier for over two and a half years. Now Lance has has combined selected personnel from his blues group “Blues to Go” and his jazz group “Chicago Expression” to form “THE LANCE BROWN GROUP”. This group has played venues like Taste of Champaign, the Festival Players Guild in Michigan City, Indiana, the Skokie Theatre and the University of Chicago as well as various block parties, festivals and park districts throughout the Chicagoland Area.

MIKE LEVIN (Soprano, Tenor, Clarinet and Flute)
Saxophonist Michael Levin has performed and/or recorded with Bernard Purdie, Barrett Deems, David Bromberg, Jerry Goodman, The Temptations, Fireworks Jazz, Henry Johnson, The Four Tops, Niht On Earth, Clark Terry, Oscar Brown, Jr, The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ethos Chamber Orchestra to name a few. His numerous appearences at clubs and festivals throughout the Midwest include performances at Ravinia, Chicago Fest, Medinah Temple, Taste Of Chicago, The Ozarks Jazz Festival, Buddy Guy's, Rockford Jazz Festival and three appearences at the Chicago Jazz Festival.

JONATHAN DE SOUZA (violin and mandolin) hails from Canada and is getting his PHD in music theory at the University of Chicago. He plays in various jazz, folk and classical groups throughout Chicago.

DOUG LOFSTROM (String Bass and Vocals)
Composer and bassist Doug Lofstrom has been composing prolifically since the 1970's. and his diverse scores reflect his ongoing involvement in theater, dance, film and symphonic music. In the 1990's, he was composer-in-residence for the Metropolis Symphony Orchestra and during the 80's, musical director of Chicago's Free Street Theatre His membership in “THE LANCE BROWN GROUP” fulfills his need to play the good time jazzy blues and bluesy jazz that is at his roots.