Location: Toronto, Canada
Originally From: Trinidad
Contact: andrew@brownman.com
www.brownman.com
Compositions: Mago Malpensado, Knight Music, Current Con Clave, Sao Jrel


Mago Malpensado

Knight Music

Current Con Clave

Sao Jrel


More about Brownman...
Born 'Nick Ali' on the small Caribbean island of Trinidad, the multiple award winning Brownman is the NYC-schooled protégé to his teacher, Grammy-winning trumpet legend Randy Brecker.

In the spirit of supreme trumpet genre-crossing visionaries such as Brecker and Miles Davis, he tirelessly leads and composes actively for no less than 6 ensembles of his own and is a musical director and/or featured soloist in countless others; testament to his unparalleled diversity of musical vision and skills making him one of Canada's most decorated jazz artists and highly in demand session calls for both
Universal and Sony/BMG recording studios in forms of music ranging from be-bop to hip-hop. As a featured soloist he has appeared with Canada's leading Latin, urban, hiphop, reggae, island and DJ artists in addition to his foundational jazz milieu. With just under 150 recording credits to his name - many of these albums having won or been nominated for Junos (Canada's Grammy) - he is considered to be one of the most unique and provocative improvising trumpet players on the scene today, recently being called "Canada's preeminent jazz trumpeter" by NYC's Village Voice.

As a leader, his multi-award winning latin-jazz-urban ensemble CRUZAO has toured this
country's jazz festival and club circuit extensively, being called by Canada’s Globe and Mail "the most in demand jazz ensemble of 2002". The group would win the Montreal Jazz Fest's coveted "Grand Prix du Jazz Award” leading to his being signed to the prestigious Montreal Justin Time Records label, simultaneous to Brownman winning a CBC-Galaxie "Rising Star" award. The subsequent 2002 release of "Shades Of Brown" would rocket to #1 on Canada’s jazz charts and remain there for 3 months as CRUZAO toured coast-to-coast. He would be awarded a National Jazz Award for "Composer of the Year" for the tunes he composed on that same recording.

Europe welcomed the NICK ALI TRIO in 2002 & 2003 and the BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO in 2004 as the group toured the continent and recorded 2 records released on European labels. 2005 would see extensive Canadian touring in early months of the year and the later with a South American tour beginning in Cuba. At the personal invitation of legendary pianist Chucho Valdes, he would represent Canada at the Havana Jazz Festival; leading CRUZAO HAVANA comprised of an all-Cuban rhythm section featuring members of the essential Afro-Cuban ensemble IRAKERE performing original Brownman compositions as recorded by CRUZAO. This performance marked the beginning of a two month extensive tour of South and Central America concluding with a gig with jazz saxophone legend GARY BARTZ in Belize and a recording session in Cuba with the luminous timba group CHISPA Y LOS COMPLICES.

Brownman is currently recording a second release with CRUZAO; simultaneous to a recording of his energized Miles Davis influenced ELECTRYC TRIO. Brownman has performed or recorded with the likes of Wayne Shorter, Randy Brecker, Charlie Hunter, John Scofield, Soulive, Fertile Ground, Kenny Wheeler, Hugh Fraser, Don Thompson, Kirk Macdonald, Pat Labarbera, Dave Restivo, Dave Young, Stich Wynston, Kelly Jefferson, Quincin Nachoff, Rita Di Ghent, Heather Bambrick, Philosopher Kings, Kyprios, Rikoshay, K-OS, Pocket Dwellers, Divine Brown, Grüvoria, Juke Joint, One Step Beyond, Kush, Jason Wilson, Tabarruk, D'bi Young, Dub Trinity, Kobo Town, Irakere, NG La Banda, Chucho Valdes, Hilario Duran, Energia Latina, Chiva, Bestial, Cimarron, Tumbao Inc., Ricky Franco, Fito Blanko, Eliana Cuevas, Plan C, Macondo, Pacande, Banda Bella, Dominicanada & far too many more to list here.

Achievements & Awards
2006 National Jazz Award nominee for " Latin-jazz artist of the Year "
2005 NOW Magazine's " Toronto Jazz Artist of the Year "
2004 Brownman & CRUZAO - Independent Music Award nominee
2003 MARRON MATIZADO - " Best Toronto Salsa Band " (SalsaSPOT)
2002 Canadian " Jazz Composer of the Year " (National Jazz Award)
2002 National Jazz Award nominee for " Jazz Trumpet Player of the Year "
2001 winner of the Montreal Jazz Fest's " Grand Prix Du Jazz Award "
2001 CRUZAO awarded the CBC Galaxie " Rising Star Award "
3 time nominee for " Jazz Trumpet Player of the Year " (NJA).
CRUZAO - 3 time nominee for " Electric Group of the Year " (NJA)
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