Background
Brian Brown was born in Melbourne, Australia.
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Brian Brown
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He played the soprano and tenor saxophones, flutes, synthesizers (including the WX5 Wind Synthesizer), panpipes and a leather bowhorn designed by Garry Greenwood. He performed as a soloist and with his own ensembles since the mid-1950s throughout Australia and in Scandinavia, United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Brunei and Germany. He played only original music
A self-taught player who emerged in the "50s as a leading figure in Australia and remained prominent through the 1980s.
According to Allmusic "Brown was one of first Australian musicians to develop a reputation for highly personal, individualistic style that was intense, lyrical and not simple imitation of an American great."
In early 1956 Brown returned to Melbourne from Europe and formed a new Hard Bop band with like-minded players – drummer Stewie Speer, trumpeter Keith Hounslow, schoolboy pianist Dave Martin and bassist Barry Buckley. The Brian Brown Quintet were regulars at Horst Liepolt"s influential Jazz Centre 44 in Street Kilda, which operated from 1955 to 1960.
The band were enthusiastic ambassadors for bop, introducing Melburnians to a musical style which was still largely unheard in Australia. Brown made eight albums over an 18-year period heading various groups.
He toured Europe with his Australian Jazz Ensemble in 1978, and also led groups doing experimental and original classical pieces from 1980 to 1986.
He founded the Improvisation Studies course at the Victorian College of the Arts, where he taught from 1978 until his retirement in 1998.
Achievements
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Born
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Died
January 28, 2013 (aged 79) -
Nationality
Australia
Awards
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Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, to recognise Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service.The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, to recognise Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service.