John Brown Named Director of Duke's Jazz Program
Brown plans to collaborate on jazz events with his colleagues at neighboring universities, organize a large-scale jazz festival at Duke and revive the Jazz Ambassadors
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
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DURHAM, N.C. -- John V. Brown, an accomplished jazz and classical musician who has performed with such artists as Wynton and Ellis Marsalis, has been appointed director of the jazz program at Duke University and assistant professor of the practice of music.
Brown, who was visiting director of the Duke University Jazz Ensemble in 2003-04, said he plans to build on the momentum of Duke's jazz program.
"Mary Lou Williams and Paul Jeffrey started great things for jazz at Duke," he said. "Our program receives a lot of support and interest from the community, and I'd like to see that continue."
Brown, who plays the double bass, has performed with Delfeayo Marsalis, Elvin Jones, Diahann Carroll, Nell Carter, Rosemary Clooney, Lou Donaldson, Frank Foster, David "Fathead" Newman, Nicholas Payton, Cedar Walton, Fred Wesley and Mark Whitfield, among others. He received a Grammy nomination for his performance and co-writing on Nnenna Freelon's 1995 release, "Shaking Free."
Brown's experience includes performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Hollywood Bowl and at major jazz festivals around the world. He also performs regularly with the North Carolina Symphony, Carolina Ballet and the Opera Company of North Carolina.
A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Brown holds degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has served on the music faculties at Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University.
"John's inspired leadership of the Jazz Ensemble is breathing new life into a distinguished program," said Scott Lindroth, chair of Duke's music department and Kevin D. Gorter Associate Professor of Composition. "His musicianship, dedication to teaching and enthusiasm for collaboration signal a bright future for jazz in the music department."
Karla Holloway, Duke's dean of the humanities and social sciences, concurred.
"Duke University is extraordinarily fortunate to have the talent, vision and leadership of Professor Brown," she said. "His commitment to the music department and the Program in Jazz is stellar, as is his very accomplished background. We can all look forward to the difference he will make at Duke -- and the ways in which this community will be enriched with his dynamic presence."
One way Brown plans to build the program is by reviving the Jazz Ambassadors. Created in the 1930s, the Ambassadors took jazz beyond the boundaries of campus by performing at venues across the United States. Brown has already started dividing the Duke Jazz Ensemble into smaller combos that have showcased their talent at local hospitals and schools.
"It's important to give students the opportunity to perform frequently," he said. "We have two large formal concerts featuring the entire Jazz Ensemble each semester, but small combo performances give students the chance to stand out and demonstrate their creativity in a different way."
Brown also plans to collaborate on jazz events with his colleagues at neighboring universities and hopes to organize a large-scale jazz festival at Duke that would allow students to interact more closely with some of today's finest jazz musicians.
