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"There are only two rules in music, it must be beautiful and it must feel good!”
~ Dean Brown

 

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Dean Brown’s music defies boundaries combining Rock, Jazz, Funk, Latin and Fusion into a joyful, soulful, dynamic and intense groove. He is known in the global jazz/fusion scene for his virtuosic rhythm guitar work and his passionate melodic soloing. Those who have seen and heard him play are immediately pulled in by the energy he puts into each and every note.

 

A true force in the global jazz/fusion scene, Dean’s guitar work can be heard on hundreds of recordings, including four GRAMMY® Award-winning albums, a Latin GRAMMY winner, and numerous GRAMMY®-nominated works. For over 40 years, he toured, performed, and recorded with legendary artists such as Marcus Miller, The Brecker Brothers, Billy Cobham, David Sanborn, Roberta Flack, Bob James, George Duke, Bill Evans, Victor Bailey, Joe Zawinul, Kirk Whalum, and Vital Information, among many others. In addition to his prolific session work, Dean produced and released five solo albums and toured internationally with his own formidable bands.

 

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His performances spanned the most prestigious international music festivals across the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, South America, and Africa, including Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz, Nice, Tokyo, Beijing, Montreal, Berks, Senegal, Canary Islands, Java, Malta, Warsaw, and Pori Jazz Festivals. He also appeared with lead artists on major television programs, such as After New Year’s Eve with David Sanborn, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Fourth of July with The Boston Pops Orchestra, The Arsenio Hall Show, BET, Bravo, and numerous international TV and radio shows.

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Dean’s live energy is also captured in DVD performances alongside Marcus Miller, Billy Cobham, Steve Smith, Louie Bellson Big Band, Gil Evans Big Band, David Sanborn and Friends, and Bob James.  Dean Brown appears in the documentary Marcus Miller: Master of all Trades and is featured in the film The Fusion Solution which explores the Rock Fusion genre.  As a composer and arranger, in addition to his own  albums, his compositions are featured on albums for Les McCann, Dennis Chambers, Ricky Peterson, Vital Information, Chris Minh Doky, and Billy Cobham, among others.

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Brown’s acclaimed solo albums feature his original compositions and an all-star lineup of musicians, reflecting the deep connections he built throughout his career:

 

    •    HERE (2001) – Featuring Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, George Duke, Billy Cobham, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Bill Evans, Christian McBride, and more.

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    •    GROOVE WARRIOR (2004) – With Lalah Hathaway, Marcus Miller, Bernard Wright, JuJu House, Poogie Bell, Schuyler Deale, Booker King, and Patches Stewart.

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    •    DBIII – LIVE AT THE COTTON CLUB TOKYO (2009) – A high-energy power trio performance with Dennis Chambers and Will Lee.

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    •    UNFINISHED BUSINESS (2012) – Featuring Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Kirk Whalum, Dennis Chambers, Jimmy Earl, Gerry Etkins, Joey DeLeon, and Hadrien Feraud.

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•    ROLAJAFUFU (2016) – A celebration of Rock, Latin, Jazz, Funk, and Fusion, featuring Dennis Chambers, George Whitty, Bernard Maseli, Linley Marthe, Hadrien Feraud, Gerry Etkins,  Richie Flores, Brandon Fields, Daniel Sadownick, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, and Bobby Sparks.

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​Passionate about education and a dedicated instructor and clinician, Dean conducted many masterclasses worldwide and taught his own popular courses at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. 

His insights and expertise have been featured in numerous international publications, including Guitar Player (US), Guitar World (US), Gittare & Bass (Germany), Jazz Life (Japan), Big Box (Italy), Muzikus (Czech Republic), and Guitarist (France).

Dean Brown's extensive video Masterclass educational series is available through My Music Masterclass.  He also released the instructional/live video Modern Techniques for the Electric Guitarist (2008) with Hal Leonard and a comprehensive video Rhythm Series available at Truefire Studios.​

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Dean proudly endorsed Xotic Guitars, DV Mark Amplifiers, TC Electronic effects, Xotic Effects, BJ Press Effects, Fender Guitars, DR Strings, D'orazio Strings, Paco Cases, Moody Guitar Straps, Anthology Gear Wear, and G7th Capos.

 

​His musical journey began early, playing professionally at age 13 and leading his own popular group by 15.  He pursued formal studies for a year at George Washington University before transferring to Berklee College of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition.  In Boston, he studied improvisation with the legendary Charles Banacos. 

Beyond his music, Dean and his wife Ruth, remained happily married for over 40 beautiful years.

 His legacy continues to inspire musicians and audiences worldwide.

 

 

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“Righteous rhythm work and absolutely burning solos...jazz that really rocks”

        ~Guitar Player Magazine

 

 

“I found guitarist Dean Brown to play behind me. He’s a genius.”

      ~Roberta Flack - JazzWax.com

 

 

“About twenty years have gone by and Dean's still bringing it onstage - he's that into it and obviously, that committed to every measure of the music...”

      ~AllAboutJazz.com

 

 

“Rockish, bluesy, jazzy, funky all rolled up into one...”

      ~ContemporaryJazz.com

 

 

“He delivers music with punch, energy, and integrity...”

      ~Guitar Nine Records

 

 

"A thrilling album!"

       ~Good Times

       DISCOGRAPHY

SOLO discography:

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  • Dean Brown, Here (ESC, 2000)

  • Dean Brown, Groove Warrior (ESC, 2004)

  • Dean Brown, DBIII Live at the Cotton Club Tokyo (BHM, 2009)

  • Dean Brown, Unfinished Business (Moosicus, 2012)

  • Dean Brown, Rolajafufu (Dean Brown Music, 2016)

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Selected discography:

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 Billy Cobham

  • Observations & (Elektra Musician, 1982)

  • Smokin (Elektra Musician, 1983)

  • Warning (GRP, 1985)

  • Powerplay (GRP, 1986)

  • By Design (Fnac Music 1992)

  • Palindrome (BHM, 2010)

  • Spectrum 40 Live (Creative Multimedia Concepts, 2015)

 Bob James

  • Ivory Coast (Tappan Zee/Warner Bros., 1988)

  • Grand Piano Canyon (Warner Bros., 1990)

  • Restless (Warner Bros., 1994)

 Marcus Miller

  • The Sun Don't Lie (Dreyfus, 1993)

  • Tales (Dreyfus, 1995)

  • The Ozell Tapes: The Official Bootleg (3 Deuces 2002)

  • Master of All Trades (Dreyfus, 2005)

  • Silver Rain (Koch, 2005)

 David Sanborn

  • Hearsay (Elektra, 1994)

  • Songs from the Night Before (Elektra, 1996)

  • Inside (Elektra, 1999)

Kirk Whalum

  • And You Know That! (Columbia, 1988)

  • The Promise (CBS, 1989)

  • Cache (Columbia, 1993)

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  • Victor Bailey, That's Right (ESC, 2001)

  • Brecker Brothers, Return of the Brecker Brothers (GRP, 1992)

  • Brecker Brothers, Out of the Loop (GRP, 1994)

  • Randy Brecker, The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion (Piloo, 2013)

  • Till Brönner, Midnight (Button, 1996)

  • Till Brönner, Chattin With Chet (Verve, 2000)

  • Dennis Chambers, Outbreak (ESC, 2002)

  • Dennis Chambers, Planet Earth (BHM, 2005)

  • Color Me Badd, Time and Chance (Giant, 1993)

  • Tom Coster, from the Street (JVC, 1996)

  • DJ Logic & Jason Miles, Global Noize (Shanachie, 2008)

  • Bill Evans, Touch (ESC, 1999)

  • Bill Evans, Soul Insider (ESC, 2000)

  • Roberta Flack, Let It Be Roberta (429 Records, 2012)

  • Eddie Harris, The Last Concert (ACT, 1997)

  • Al Jarreau, Miki Howard, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Everybody Is a Star Live in Tokyo (Jazz Hour, 2010)

  • Eric Marienthal, Sweet Talk (Peak, 2003)

  • Les McCann, Pump It Up (ESC, 2002)

  • Jason Miles, World Tour (Lipstick, 1994)

  • Jason Miles, Miles to Miles (Narada, 2005)

  • Bernard Purdie, Bernard Purdie's Soul to Jazz (ACT, 1996)

  • Steve Smith, Vital Information (Columbia, 1983)

  • Steve Smith, Vital Information (Orion (Columbia, 1984)

  • Steps Ahead, Yin-Yang (NYC, 1992)

  • Vital Information, Global Beat (Columbia, 1986)

  • Lenny White, Present Tense (Hip Bop, 1995)

  • Lenny White, Renderors of Spirit (Hip Bop, 1996)

  • Joe Zawinul, Faces & Places (Cream/Jms 2002)

 

 

Selected Videos:

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  • 1987 Steve Smith, Part I and II

  • 2001 David Sanborn, David Sanborn and Friends

  • 2002 Gil Evans, Gil Evans and His Orchestra

  • 2003 Louie Bellson, Louie Bellson and His Big Band

  • 2006 Marcus Miller Master of All Trades

  • 2007 Billy Cobham/Louie Bellson, Cobham Meets Bellson

  • 2008 Dean Brown, Modern Techniques for the Electric Guitarist

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