Clifford Brown - Life, Tributes, Partial list of compositions, Partial discography, Further reading

Jazz musician, born in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. He was rapidly establishing himself as one of the greatest trumpeters in jazz history when he was killed in an automobile accident. He played with Lionel Hampton, Tadd Dameron, and Art Blakey (1953–4), then co-led a quintet with Max Roach that gained immediate recognition as one of the leading groups in modern jazz.

Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown: Memorial Album on Blue Note Records.
Background information
Born	October 30, 1930 Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Died	June 26, 1956
Genre(s)	Jazz
Instrument(s)	Trumpet

Clifford Brown (October 30, 1930 – June 26, 1956) was an influential and highly rated American jazz trumpeter.

Life

Brown was born in Wilmington, Delaware. After briefly attending the University of Delaware and Maryland State College (University of Maryland, Eastern Shore), he moved into playing music professionally, where he quickly became one of the most highly regarded trumpeters in jazz.

Neil Tesser wrote of him:

"Clifford Brown could play with a speed and precision that challenged, and at time eclipsed even the virtuosity of his own idols ... The Clifford Brown & The group's pianist, Richie Powell (younger brother of Bud), contributed original compositions, as did Brown himself. The partnership of Brown's trumpet with Harold Land's tenor saxophone made for a very strong front line.

The clean-living Brown has been cited as perhaps breaking the influence of heroin on the jazz world, a model established by Charlie Parker.

In June, 1956, Brown and Powell were being driven from Philadelphia to Chicago by Powell's wife Nancy, for the band's next appearance.

Tributes

Benny Golson, who had done a stint in Lionel Hampton's band with "Brownie" (as he was known in the jazz world), wrote the threnody I Remember Clifford to honour his memory.

Helen Merrill, who recorded with Clifford Brown in 1954 (Helen Merrill with Clifford Brown, EmArcy), recorded a tribute album in 1995 entitled Brownie: Homage to Clifford Brown.

Arturo Sandoval's entire second album after fleeing from his native Cuba, also titled I Remember Clifford, was likewise a tribute to Brown.

Wilmington, Delaware hosts annually the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival.

Partial list of compositions

Joy Spring (perhaps Brown's best-known piece) Daahoud (also widely recorded by others) Bones for Jones George's Dilemma Gerkin for Perkin Sandu Swingin' Tiny Capers Brownie Speaks LaRue

Partial discography

Clifford Brown: Jazz Immortal (Pacific Jazz) Memorial Album (Blue Note, 1953) Brownie: The Complete EmArcy Recordings of Clifford Brown (Verve) Clifford Brown (Verve; selections from Brownie) Brown and Roach Incorporated (EmArcy, 1954) Study in Brown (EmArcy, 1955) Clifford Brown and Max Roach (EmArcy, 1955) At Basin Street (EmArcy, 1956)

Further reading

Nick Catalano, Clifford Brown: The Life and Art of the Legendary Jazz Trumpeter (Oxford University Press, 2001)