Jeri Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jeri Brown
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Jeri Brown performing in 2014
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| Background information | |
| Born | March 20, 1952 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Labels | Justin Time |
Jeri Brown (born in 1952 in Missouri) is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and a university professor. She is known for her amazing voice and her work in jazz music.
Contents
Jeri Brown's Early Life and Music Journey
Jeri Brown grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. She first performed in public when she was only six years old! This shows she started her music journey very early.
Studying Music and Performing
Jeri studied classical singing in Iowa. After her studies, she performed in many places across the Midwestern United States and Europe. She later lived in Cleveland, where she worked with the Cleveland Chamber Orchestra and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. She also performed in Ohio with a band led by drummer Bob McKee.
Collaborations with Jazz Legends
Because of her talent, Jeri Brown got to work with many famous jazz artists. Some of these legends include Ellis Marsalis, Billy Taylor, and Dizzy Gillespie. Working with such big names helped her become even more recognized in the jazz world.
Jeri Brown's Career in Jazz
Jeri Brown mostly focused on the jazz scene in Cleveland. She often sang jazz standards, which are very popular and well-known jazz songs. She also wrote lyrics for songs and worked with composers like Henry Butler, Kenny Wheeler, Greg Carter, and Cyrus Chestnut.
Signing with Justin Time Records
In 1991, Jeri Brown signed a contract with a Canadian music company called Justin Time. She has been with this company ever since. Her first album with them was called Mirage. On this album, she was joined by pianist Fred Hersch and bassist Daniel Lessard.
Recording More Albums
In 1992, she recorded another album called Unfolding The Peacocks. For this album, she worked with Kirk Lightsey and Peter Leitch. It included famous jazz songs like "If You Could See Me Now" and "Woody N' You". Later, in 1998, she made the album Zaius. On this album, she collaborated with talented musicians such as David Murray, Don Braden, John Hicks, Curtis Lundy, and Avery Sharpe. She sang classic songs like "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" and "You Must Believe in Spring". At the end of that same year, she produced I've Got Your Number with the same band and Leon Thomas.
Jeri Brown as a Teacher
Besides being a performer, Jeri Brown is also a dedicated teacher. She has taught at several universities and music schools.
Teaching in the United States
She taught at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Cleveland State University, and the University of Akron in Ohio. She also shared her knowledge at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Moving to Canada and Teaching There
In 1989, Jeri Brown moved to Canada. In the 1990s, she taught jazz history, improvisation (making up music on the spot), and vocal technique (how to sing well) at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. She also taught at McGill University in Montreal and was an artist-in-residence at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. Being an artist-in-residence means she was a special guest artist who taught and performed at the university for a period.
Awards and Recognition
Jeri Brown has received special awards for her contributions. She is a recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award. This award recognizes people who have made important achievements.
Jeri Brown's Music Albums
Here is a list of some of the albums Jeri Brown has released:
- Mirage with Fred Hersch (Justin Time, 1991)
- Unfolding the Peacocks (Justin Time, 1993)
- A Timeless Place with Jimmy Rowles (Justin Time, 1995)
- Fresh Start (Justin Time, 1996)
- April in Paris (Justin Time, 1996)
- Zaius (Justin Time, 1998)
- I've Got Your Number (Justin Time, 1999)
- The Image in the Mirror: The Triptych (Justin Time, 2001)
- Firm Roots (Justin Time, 2003)
- Sempre Nina: A Tribute to Nina Simone (Jongleur, 2005)
- Storytelling (Jongleur, 2011)
- Echoes: Live at Catalina Jazz Club (Jongleur, 2013)
- Soul Shower (2014)
See also
In Spanish: Jeri Brown para niños
