About

NICK BROWN

Nick Brown (b.1995) is a saxophonist, clarinetist, improviser, composer and blogger.

Currently based in London, UK, Nick graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire with a 1st Class Honours Degree in 2017. He currently performs with his own quartet and regularly plays at many venues across the city including Symphony Hall, Town Hall, CBSO Centre and Ana Rocha Bar & Gallery as well as having been heard at Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Trondheim Jazz Festival, Southport Jazz Festival, at Oxford University, Live on BBC2 and BBCR3.

Making up a portfolio career, Nick’s time is shared between working as a freelance musician, educator and arts administrator. Nick currently works as Programme Manager for the National Youth Jazz Collective, as Project Coordinator for the Birmingham Big Art Project and continues to work closely with Cheltenham Festival’s Musicate program. Having previously worked in the learning team at Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) and as Producer and Coordinator on Birmingham’s citywide for-Wards project, Nick feels it’s incredibly important to cultivate environments that have close, personal relationships with their audiences, participants and fellow musicians so he can encourage growth, development and provide support and continue to inspire people through music.

Whilst at the Conservatoire, Nick has had the privilege of studying with many inspirational tutors that include: Mike Williams, Jean Toussaint, Andy Panyai, Percy Pursglove, Hans Koller and Andrew Bain. He has received a wealth of masterclasses from a host of influences which include: Mark Turner, Maria Schneider, Joe Lovano, Kenny Garrett and Ben Wendel. Most recently, Nick has been a part of the Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz Orchestra and Birmingham Conservatoire Ellington Orchestra taking part in their inaugural gig at the Town Hall.

Highlights of Nicks career so far include performing with the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra live on BBC2 from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre as part of Shakespeare Live, celebrating 400 years since the death of the great play-write. Doubling as a clarinetist, Nick was a featured soloist on their performance alongside the Birmingham Royal Ballet of Duke Ellington’s, Black and Tan Fantasy.

In 2014 Nick founded The Jazz Gospel which was set up to provide a positive contribution to the jazz community as well as celebrating the rich history and inspiring future of all things jazz. In late 2015 Nick took the decision to take things to the next level and entered the world of blogging. So far he has received a tremendous amount of support and has been lucky to host a number of interviews and write-ups with some amazing people. The blog can be accessed at www.thejazzgospel.com