Called “a magisterial Chicago tenor saxophonist,” ARI BROWN began his career as a pianist playing blues and R&B, taking up the saxophone in 1965. By 1971 he joined the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) and turned his focus to jazz, becoming a dynamic and important member of the Chicago avant-garde jazz scene. Soon he was playing with jazz giants such as Rufus Reid and Sonny Stitt. Ari’s technique and traditional jazz chops are highly expressive on both soprano and tenor saxes and piano. He has performed all over the world and has worked with musicians ranging from McCoy Tyner and Don Patterson to Sonny Stitt, Lester Bowie, Bobby Watson, Anthony Braxton, Von Freeman, and Elvin Jones. Chicago Reader critic Peter Margasak calls Ari “A terrific saxophonist with a deep understanding of both bop’s complex rhythms and the wild expressionism of free jazz.” The Chicago Tribune’s Howard Reich named Ari’s 2007 CD, Live at the Green Mill, one of the 10 best jazz CDs of the year. Performing with Ari are KIRK BROWN, piano; YOSEF BEN ISRAEL, bass; DR. CUZ, percussion; and AVREEAYL RA, drums.
Video
Watch the Ari Brown Quintet’s 2011 Seward Park performance in Chicago:
*Please note: Video samples do not necessarily represent HPJF lineup.
Website: http://greatblackmusicproject.org/en/registry/ari-brown
