Bouncing back, Brown www.mauricebrown.net now has released a new album The Cycle of Love and is the subject of a documentary film set to be released later this year. The film, titled Brass Movement: A Modern Jazz Story follows Brown's life as a modern-day jazz musician who overcomes tremendous adversity to become a defining voice of a new hip-hop-jazz movement.
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The legendary trumpeter, Clark Terry calls Brown "the young trumpeter to watch for sure. I see young cats all over the world and Maurice has it."
In 2004, at age 23, he delivered his first album as a bandleader, HIP TO BOP, with the Maurice Brown Quintet. Be-bop enthusiasts and hip-hoppers embraced Maurice's passionate, improvisational rhythms. With the mid-March release of his new album The Cycle of Love, Brown, now in the Brooklyn Jazz Hall of Fame, takes another giant step forward. Six years after his critically acclaimed, chart-topping debut, HIP TO BOP, hit the top of the charts, Brown is back with his stellar band, The Maurice Brown Effect, for his second album. Brown and the Full Effect are beginning 2010 with dates all over the world, including Jakarta, Indonesia; New Delhi, India, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC.
Brown displayed a remarkable affinity for the trumpet at a young age; he played with Ramsey Lewis at the Symphony Center in Chicago while still a student at Hillcrest. Following graduation in 1999, he received a full scholarship to attend Northern Illinois University. After winning first place in the esteemed National Miles Davis Trumpet Competition, Maurice found new flavor in the heart of Louisiana, where he continued his studies at Southern University in Baton Rouge, working with famed clarinetist Alvin Batiste. In 2002, Brown relocated to a pre-Katrina New Orleans where his musical talent tore up the Crescent City. Locally and internationally, he shared the stage with numerous jazz legends, including Clark Terry, Johnny Griffin, Curtis Fuller, Stefon Harris, Ellis Marsalis, and Lonnie Plaxico. Brown was also featured as a sideman on recordings with Curtis Fuller, Fred Anderson, Roy Hargrove, Michelle Carr, and Ernest Dawkins, among others. Maurice captivated audiences at New Orleans' premiere jazz club, Snug Harbor, where he was a weekly headliner.
Unfortunately, Katrina's devastation didn't spare Maurice, who lost his home and many musical artifacts in the hurricane's destruction. What Katrina couldn't take from Brown was his desire to give the world his music. With a growing fan base that included musicians, critics, concert-goers, and listeners, Brown took his talent to Brooklyn, settling into historic Bedford Stuyvesant. He reformed his own quintet and also resurrected the ultra-underground hip-hop/funk combo, Soul'd U Out, which he previously started in New Orleans with local NOLA musicians. Living in New York City also increased the demand for his talent: the trumpeter's versatility allowed him to record with talented artists from Aretha Franklin to Talib Kweli, Wyclef Jean, Cee-Lo, De La Soul, The Roots, and Diddy.
In late summer of 2008, Atlantic Records president, Craig Kallman, tapped Brown to become the musical director for the recording artist and Irish soul songstress, Laura Izibor, on her first international tour. Brown's band, the Maurice Brown Effect, backed up Izibor's resoundingly successful year-long maiden voyage around the world. When he wasn't on tour, Brown composed and recorded THE CYCLE OF LOVE. The result is an album that communicates Brown's long journey from Katrina to Brooklyn. Poignant, passionate but still swinging with improvisational rhythms, THE CYCLE OF LOVE further embraces Brown's be-bop roots and hip-hop hooks.
"Time Tick Tock" is the first single from the new album and can be downloaded for free on Maurice Brown's website mauricebrown.net.
Award-winning Critically Acclaimed Modern Jazz Trumpeter Maurice Brown To release sophomore album titled 'The Cycle of Love" March 16, 2010
"Brown – who grew up in Harvey (IL) - always has shown a knack for penning insinuating melodic hooks. Not surprisingly, then, the tunes from "The Cycle of Love" linger in memory." –Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune
"Brown is one of the most exciting young trumpeters in jazz--be it New Orleans or New York. His improvisations are fresh, his chops dynamic and he's writing what could very well become a new generation of hard-bop- meets-new-grooves standards." -- Jason Koransky, DownBeat Magazine
"Maurice Brown is one of the most talented of his generation. He has the vision to bring a new voice, not only to his instrument, but to jazz in general."—world renowned musician Terence Blanchard
New York, N.Y. – Renowned trumpeter, composer and bandleader Maurice Brown, whose soulful melodies and improvisational rhythms have been electrifying the music scene since his top ten debut album, "Hip to Bop," (2004) is releasing his highly anticipated sophomore album titled "The Cycle Of Love" Tuesday, March 16th through his record label Brown Records. "Time Tick Tock" is the first single off of the album and can be downloaded for free via his website mauricebrown.net.
Brown describes "The Cycle of Love" as "… my interpretation of the different stages we go through in our quest for true happiness." In describing the first single off the album "Time Tick Tock," Brown says, "Time Tick Tock refers to the active mind at work when we take the time to weigh the good and the bad." "The Cycle of Love" is Brown's official entry into the crossover music world as he combines a unique mix of contemporary jazz with a hip-hop heartbeat and soulful groove. The album showcases Brown's talents as a trumpeter, composer, and bandleader, and also puts on display his remarkable, lyrical melodies.
Maurice "Mobetta" Brown has worked with countless jazz greats including Ramsey Lewis, Roy Hargrove, Ellis Marsalis and Curtis Fuller. He has also worked with Aretha Franklin, John Legend, Wyclef Jean, Musiq Soulchild, The Brand New Heavies, The Roots and recently wrapped up a world tour with Laura Izibor. Brown is known for using his signature style which he coined "Hornification" with the aforementioned crossover popular acts. Says Brown, "Hornification is a term I came up with to describe my original horn lines and arrangements. I uniquely pile my horn parts to create a complete horn section. The goal of hornification is to compose expressive horn lines that feel like they were always a part of the song."
Brown's debut album, "Hip to Bop" received an overwhelming response from both bebop enthusiasts and hip-hop fans and pushed "Hip to Bop" onto the top-ten charts across the country. Born in Chicago, Brown began playing trumpet while still a teen. He developed his skills further when he moved to New Orleans (2001), where he held down a weekly slot at the premiere jazz club in town. He moved to New York in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York where he is preparing for U.S. and International tours this year (dates to be announced).
Additionally, a documentary film featuring Maurice is set to be released later this year. The film, titled "Brass Movement: A Modern Jazz Story" follows Brown's life as a modern-day jazz musician who overcomes tremendous adversity to become a defining voice of a new hip-hop-jazz movement. The Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium inducted Brown into the Brooklyn Jazz Hall of Fame in 2008 and he is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Deacon Leroy Applin Young Lion/Lioness Award and the ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards.
