PRELUDE

 

For decades Vernell Brown, Jr. has enjoyed the admiration of insiders, fellow musicians and jazz lovers everywhere. He is known as a down to earth “musician of the people” whose humanity and humility informed his approach to musical expression.

At the age of two, Vernell was already totally fascinated with his drum set and began receiving formal instruction, studying drums with Earl Hyde and percussions with David Levine. He also studied violin at age 9 thru much of high school, finally focusing on his first love, the piano. He studied classical piano with Lilah Nizam and jazz piano with world renowned pianists Terry Trotter, Charlie Shoemake and Billy Childs. The Hamilton Academy Trio, which he formed in high school, performed in numerous venues and competitions. An exciting highlight for the group was winning a national jazz competition, MusicFest, where they were recognized in all three categories: Best Trio, Best Piano Soloist and Best Piano Arrangement. The group performed Vernell’s arrangement of “Giant Steps” with Mike Elizondo on bass, and Abe Laboriel, Jr., on drums. Vernell’s mother Carlita Banks Brown has been a constant presence in developing and guiding Vernell’s musical career and has traveled with him all over the country. Early on, she became his manager, under the name of Verlita Management. Stylistically, Vernell’s influences include gospel, soul, rhythm and blues, straight ahead jazz and bebop, but he leaned most on his own majestic energy, seemingly submerging himself in the sound. Known for his vitality to leap to the forefront, Vernell displayed a personal determination to expand his creativity and fully manifest his strengths. Exhibiting the power to make a difference in people’s lives through his gift of music and creativity, his impact included accumulating a following of younger musicians such as the Italian pianist Alessio Busanca, in whose liner notes Vernell wrote, “As musicians, our hearts are exposed and bare through our interpretation and expression, so it is always an important element to be constantly polishing ourselves as human beings, so we can express integrity.” This glowing quality shines through in Vernell’s work. Vernell’s contributions to developing youth musicians led him to create a workshop for youth at the Las Vegas Academy for the Arts.

 

INTERLUDE

 

Vernell’s 18th year was a big one; he was a finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition in Washington, D.C. -- the same year, his debut project with A&M Records,

A Total Eclipse, Executive Producer Jerry Moss / Founder & President of A&M Records, Producer Stix Hooper, launched with such illustrious veterans as saxophonist Ernie Watts, bassist Marcus Miller, John Pattitucci, Neil Stubenhause, guitarists Paul Jackson, Jr., and Pat Kelley, drummers Stix Hooper and Vinnie Colaiuta and percussionist Lenny Castro. The project was designed to introduce listeners to the youth’s already remarkable signature-style and range. Founding member of The Jazz Crusaders Stix Hooper states, “This debut album of Vernell Brown, Jr., is an artistic contribution to our planet of significant musical depth, vision and direction. Vernell, at the young age of eighteen, has been given from the Supreme Source, the talent, wisdom, and creative skills necessary to communicate to us, music we can incorporate into our lives.” Vernell's self produced and arranged second release Stay Tuned also charted. He toured the U.S. with his band The Nucleus with Stay Tuned co-producer/drummer Land Richards and Land’s brother Daryl, saxophone, Gregory Cook, guitar, and Ernest Tibbs, bass. In 1988, the First Bar International Songwriters Competition was held with 1600 competitors from all over the world... 14 rounds of arduous elimination leading to the overall winner being named: Vernell Brown, Jr. His award included a full scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston where he studied and played alongside such notables as Roy Hargrove, Anthony Wonsey, Abe Laboriel, Jr. and fellow freshman Trevor Watkis who recalls, “When I hear Vernell play I don’t think about a player who plays out of any one particular style or bag. I hear a musician who is fully immersed in the moment, playing creatively from a sense of freedom and sincere informed openness, with a whole lot of heart and soul. He is a very original improviser with a unique sense of rhythm and harmony. He was very attuned and sensitive to what was going on musically with the other musicians on the bandstand.” Recording and performing live with some of the best musicians on the LA music scene, Vernell has collaborated with everyone from Herb Alpert, to Jeffrey Osborne, Ronnie Laws, Marcus Miller and extensively with Gladys Knight (starting in 1994), touring in Europe and the United States. He then recorded Just For You (1994) with Gladys, and enjoyed a two-year performance show at the prestigious Flamingo Hilton Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, listed as the number one show on the Strip for a four-year period. Just for You was Gladys’ fourth solo LP; it went Gold and was nominated for a Grammy in 1995. Vernell teamed with LA Music Awards nominee Windy Karigianes, to co-write the widely acclaimed Butterfly, featuring Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters’ Mike Clark and Paul Jackson. Butterfly became a hit single. He has also appeared on releases by Craig T. Cooper on Caught Up in a Moment (1999), and by Ronnie Laws on A Tribute to the Legendary Eddie Harris (1997) and Dream a Little (2000). Vernell produced and arranged his third release Do You Really Love Me (2010) featuring Herbie Hancock's Headhunters along with the late Ronnie Manaog on drums, Larry Antonino on bass, Ronnie Crumbly soprano sax, Gregory Cook on guitar and drummers Vito Colarpiltro, Mike Agorilla and Tre Balfour on percussion. Simultaneously, Vernell arranged and produced 13 Letters. The scope of his creativity gained wider recognition when he joined the Kenny Garrett Quintet in 2002, where he was a pillar for 20 years. With the quintet, Vernell has traveled the world, averaging 40 venues a month and performing at premier international jazz festivals all over the world, in locations such as Indonesia, South Africa, Switzerland, Israel, Poland, France, Italy, Hungary, Haiti, The Netherlands and at festivals and jazz venues all over the US and Canada. Vernell recorded several albums with Kenny Garrett in the early 2000s and performed on Pushing the World Away (2013), which garnered the quintet another Grammy nomination. Again in 2021, Vernell performed on the Grammy nominated and NAACP Music Awarded Sounds from the Ancestors. Kenny Garrett conveys his feelings thus, “Vernell was a very unique spirit and gifted musician who loved life to its fullest. I’m blessed to have been in his presence.” Just prior to his extensive European Tour that began this year, Vernell made an epic trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico to record from his extensive catalog of original pieces with the Cuban percussionist Ricky Carrido, David Flores, drums, and Artha Meadors, bass. Over the years, many fellow jazz musicians have wondered how Vernell creates his unusual chord progressions and rhythmic patterns. In 2018, Vernell began putting down his explorations on paper, which he’d been doing since high school. The result is his book, The Alpha Pattern Method; A Theory of Composition and Improvisation. As a practicing Nichiren Buddhist with the SGI, Vernell contributed by encouraging the practice of others; one of his companions who accompanied Vernell to some of his U.S. gigs was percussionist Roy L. Turner who, of Vernell, said, “I used to call him a Nuclear Power Plant, fueled by Plutonium; we used to discuss Bodhisattva Wonderful sound.” Roy continued, “He had perfect pitch; he was enlightened in the realm of sound.“ Vernell considers philosopher and poet Daisaku Ikeda as his “mentor in life,” who said, “Art is a ‘weapon’ for realizing peace. It is also an expression of supreme victory in life. Every drop of sweat shed for the sake of art adds to the river of human peace and culture.” It can never be said that Vernell held back in any way, putting his full energy and heart into fulfilling his mission. Preceding Vernell, Jr., in death are his Grandparents, Roy and Ollie Lee Brown, and Carl, Sr., and Doris Banks; his Uncle Earnest Brown, his Aunt Averill Brown, his aunt Beverly Brown, his Uncle, Johnnie Mannings, his Aunt, Sheryl Rhone, his adopted Uncle, Charles McIver, his Cousins, Neal Williams, IV, Michael Washington, and Roslyn Lucas.

 

Vernell Brown, Jr., leaves to cherish his beautiful memory his Father, Vernell Brown, Sr., and his Mother, Carlita Banks Brown; his Godmother, Mary Woods; his Daughter, Christina Dasia Marie Brown; his Son, Jacob Hunt Brown, and his Sister, Maisha Brown; beloved “brothers”, Krishna McIver, Nathan Smith, Ernest Tibbs. Ron Blake, Ivan Stepney, Roy Turner, Sharifu Washington, Benjamin Taylor, Jake Taylor, Nicholas Taylor and Leon Jimenez; his Nieces, Alexandria Brown, Alexis Brown and Miracle Logan and his Nephews, Cortez Logan, Jordan Wilson; his Uncles and Aunts, Aunt Vernell Brown, Alice and Elmer Witcher, James and Patricia Brown, Patricia and Andrew Carter, Roderick Brown, Debra and Levi Gillis, Dennis Brown, Sr., Cheryl Hicks, Carl Banks, Jr., Alane Banks, and Myra Johnson, Nancy Mannings, Phillip and Jan Banks, Dierdre and Matthew Gordon, Natasha Reynolds, Sheri Fitzgerald, Sheila Rhone, Gay Rhone, Joanne Tribble and adopted “Aunts and Uncles”, Deborah Atwater and Alexina McIver; his Cousins, Keith and Silvia Banks, Keven Banks, Suzette Banks, Renee Hicks, Golden Hicks, Melissa Walker, Tamu M. Banks, Rashanda Banks, Myra Banks, Carla Banks, Carl J. Banks, III, Wyniece Armstrong, Tricia Armstrong, John Shaffer, Felina Banks, Skylar Overton, Douglas Matthews, Glen Keith-Terrez Reynolds, Jr.,Terrell Washington, Alise Ealy, Stacy Reynolds, Dean Washington, Andre Washington, Larue (Ziva) Palmer, Gerald (Suzette) Palmer, Judy Bates, Akima Taylor, Lyca Rhone, Kwalani Taylor, Tavia Harrigan, Richard Chandar Boykin, Chalangi McKinney, Kevin Rogers, Gregory Brown, Pamela (Edric) Stegall, Lenard and Erika Witcher, Sherri Reid, Robert Reid, Amber Brown, Jerry Bryant, Alair and Caleb Mitchell, Janea and Josh Beakley, Shawn Brown, Dawn and Fabian Williams, Marcus and Lakita Brown, Terrell Lucas, Latoya and Charles Stepps, Stephen and Oyeen Brown, Eric Brown, Jason and Alina Brown, Chenelle Brown, Nicole and Nathaniel Williams, Noel Brown, Nina Brown, Dennis, Jr. and Tiffany Brown, Danae Bullock, and Jocelin Brown, Al and Denise Adams, Joseph Adams, LaNice and Michael Billingslea, Stephanie Adams and and adopted Cousins Kenya McIver, Kai McIver and Kai Washington. In addition, Vernell, Jr., leaves an extended beloved family of many beloved friends and professional entertainment industry associates.

 

POSTLUDE

 

Though Vernell Brown, Jr. is absent from the body, his effervescent presence is still with us. His legacy of love, and of music, will continue to live on, in each of us.

 

The Discography of Vernell Brown, Jr.

1990 Total Eclipse, A&M Records

1990 New Shoes, A&M Records

1990 Perfect Timing, (7", Single) A&M Records

1992 Stay Tuned A&M Records

1992 Hot Potatoe -Vernell Brown Jr, (CD, Comp, Sampler)

1994 End Of The Road (Live) Gladys Knight, Just For You, MCA Records

   1997  Ronnie Laws  A Tribute to The Legendary Eddie Harris Blue Note Records

                 1999  Craig T. Cooper  Caught Up In A Moment  Expansion

                 2000  Ronnie Laws  Dream a Little  Hdr Holland Dozier Holland Records

2001 Ronnie Laws Live in Concert (CD) Scepterstein Records

2002 Happy People Kenny Garrett, Warner Brothers Records

2003 Standard of Language - Kenny Garrett, Warner Brothers Records

    2010  Do You Really Love Me  Verlita Records

                 2010  13 Letters  Verlita Records

2011 Whatever Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas - Craig T. Cooper, Nasty Man (CD, Album) Craigland Records

2013 Pushing The World Away - Kenny Garrett Quintet, Mack Avenue Records

2013 Brandon Reese Andrea (feat. Vernell Brown, Jr.) Brandon Reese

2015 Tisket a Tasket featuring Vernell Brown, Jr.

Kaylene Peoples, My Man, Boogsey Music, (CD, Album)

Discography reflected is but a portion of Vernell Brown, Jr.’s works.

 2016  Kenny Garrett  Do Your Dance  Mack Avenue Records

                 2021  Kenny Garrett  Sounds From The Ancestors  Mack Avenue Records

 

“A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” Proverbs 18:16