Lenny McBrowne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lenny McBrowne
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| Birth name | Leonard Louis McBrowne |
| Born | January 24, 1933 Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Died | October 4, 1980 (aged 47) San Francisco, California |
| Genres | Jazz, hard bop, soul jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, bandleader |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | c. 1953-1976 |
| Labels | Pacific Jazz, Riverside |
| Associated acts | Paul Bley, Tonny Scott, Sonny Stitt, Randy Weston, Sonny Criss, Booker Ervin, Kenny Burrell |
Leonard Louis "Lenny" McBrowne (born January 24, 1933 – died October 4, 1980) was an American jazz drummer. He was known for his energetic and skillful drumming style, especially in a type of jazz called hard bop. Lenny played drums on many recordings from the 1950s to the mid-1970s.
He also led his own band, called Lenny McBrowne and the Four Souls. This group released two albums in 1960. Lenny was a student of the famous drummer Max Roach. People often compared his smooth and unique drumming style to another great drummer, Chico Hamilton.
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Lenny McBrowne's Musical Journey
Leonard Louis McBrowne was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on January 24, 1933. His father, Arnold, was also a drummer, which inspired Lenny from a young age. Lenny started playing drums when he was young.
Between the ages of 12 and 15, he played in street marching bands. He also took lessons to learn how to play the double bass. After finishing high school in 1951, he continued to study drums. His teachers included the legendary jazz drummers Max Roach and Sticks Evans.
Starting His Career
Lenny McBrowne began his professional music career playing with Pete Brown's group. He also performed with other jazz artists like Randy Weston and Cecil Payne in clubs around Brooklyn. Later, he played with Paul Bley's Trio in Montreal, Canada.
In 1956, he played with Tony Scott in New York. He then went on a college tour with Paul Bley, which led him to move to California. On the West Coast, he played with many famous musicians. These included Billie Holiday, Sonny Stitt, and Sonny Rollins.
Forming The Four Souls
In 1959, McBrowne decided to form his own jazz group. He called it The Four Souls. The band included Terry Trotter on piano, Herbie Lewis on bass, and Daniel Jackson on tenor saxophone. Donald Sleet played the trumpet.
Between January and March 1960, the band recorded their first album. It was called Lenny McBrowne and the 4 Souls and was released by Pacific Jazz Records. Soon after, the band moved to New York.
On October 13, 1960, they recorded their second and last album, Eastern Lights. For this album, Jimmy Bond played bass. Famous jazz musician Cannonball Adderley helped produce and supervise the recording. Lenny McBrowne also helped introduce other musicians, like bassist Charlie Haden, to important jazz figures.
Life After The Four Souls
Lenny McBrowne's band received good reviews from top jazz magazines. These included High Fidelity and Billboard. Critics described the group as a "close-knit" and "well-rehearsed" band with smooth solo performances.
After The Four Souls broke up, McBrowne continued to play as a freelance musician. He performed with artists like Sal Salvador, Chris Connor, and Carmen McRae.
In the 1960s, he played with many more jazz legends. These included Sarah Vaughan, Randy Weston, and Booker Ervin. He even toured Japan with the legendary Thelonious Monk. In the late 1960s, he mostly played with Booker Ervin's band.
Later, Lenny McBrowne moved to San Francisco. He regularly performed with Kenny Burrell until 1976. That year, he made his very last recording. Lenny McBrowne passed away on October 4, 1980.
Lenny McBrowne's Albums
Lenny McBrowne recorded several albums throughout his career, both as a bandleader and as a sideman (playing with other musicians).
As a Bandleader
- 1960 : Lenny McBrowne and the 4 Souls (Pacific Jazz)
- 1960 : Eastern Lights (Riverside)
