Alex Brown (born 1987) is an American pianist and composer known for weaving elements of classical, rhythm and blues, hip-hop, Afro-Caribbean music, and Brazilian jazz.
Brown has collaborated with artists that include Valerie Coleman, Sean Jones, Cho-Liang Lin, Yo-Yo Ma, Armando Manzanero, Christian McBride, the New York Voices, David Sanchez, David Shifrin, Chris Thile, Warren Wolf, and Miguel Zenón. He has been a member of Paquito D'Rivera's group since 2007. He has performed at venues including the Lincoln Center Rose Theater, The Blue Note, The Kennedy Center, and The Hollywood Bowl. He won a Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium as part of his collaboration with composer Jeff Scott and Imani Winds for “Passion For Bach and Coltrane” in 2024.
He is on the faculty at Peabody Institute Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Early life and education
Brown was born in Columbia, Maryland. His brother Zach Brown, is a producer, audio engineer, and bassist.
He attended The New England Conservatory of Music, majoring in Jazz Studies and graduating in 2009. During that time, he studied with Danilo Pérez and Charlie Banacos. He obtained a masters in Studio/Jazz Composition at the University of Miami, Frost School of Music, where he studied with Gary Lindsay, Shelly Berg, and Carlos Rafael Rivera. In 2009, he moved to New York City.
Discography
As contributor
Paquito D’Rivera Quintet / Sabine Meyer, Jazz Clazz (2009), Timba Records, pianist – Grammy nominated
Imani Winds, Terra Incognita (2010), E1 Entertainment, pianist
Alondra de la Parra / Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, Mi Alma Mexicana / My Mexican Soul (2010), Sony Classical, pianist
Omar Thomas Large Ensemble, I Am (2013), Sound Silence Records, pianist
Paquito D’Rivera, Jazz Meets the Classics (2014), Sunnyside Records, pianist and composer – Latin GRAMMY award winner
Omar Thomas Large Ensemble, We Will Know (2014), Sound Silence Records, pianist
Jeff Scott, The Gift of Life-The Urban Classical Music Project, Vol 1. (2015), self-released, pianist
Miho Hazama m_unit, Time River, Sunnyside Records (2015), pianist
Paquito D’Rivera / Armando Manzanero, Paquito & Manzanero (2015), pianist and principal arranger
Victor Provost, Bright Eyes (2017), Sunnyside Records, pianist
Haerim Elizabeth Lee, My Time is Now (2019), Innova, pianist and arranger
Brian Lynch Big Band, The Omni-American Book Club (2019), Hollistic MusicWorks, pianist – GRAMMY award winner
Chad LB Virtual Big Band, Quarantine Standards (2020), Sound Frame, pianist
Awards and nominations
Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium, Passion For Bach and Coltrane, 2024, Jeff Scott with Imani Winds, A. B. Spellman, Harlem Quartet, Alex Brown, Edward Perez, and Neal Smith
Nomination, Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album, Transparency, 2022
Nomination, Grammy Award for Best Classical Crossover Album, Jazz-Clazz, 2010