Kansas City Jazz Orchestra announces THE VOICE with famous vocalist Deborah Brown

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra Executive Director Lea Petrie today announced the next concert of the 2022-2023 20th Anniversary Season, The Voice, with guest artist Deborah Brown, Thursday, November 10 at 7 p.m. in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts (1601 Broadway, KCMO 64108). The concert will feature guest artist Deborah Brown who will participate in a pre-concert Jazz Chat at 6 p.m.

One of the hallmarks of jazz throughout the ages has been that great artists share their stories, emotions and perspectives through music. Of all the rhythms, harmonies and melodies of jazz, it is the human voice that constantly resounds in our ears and in our hearts. Deborah Brown is one of the treasures of the music world, a pure master of her craft, an accomplished artist and storyteller. His voice invites us all to share in the human experience.

Deborah Brown is one of many American jazz performers who have found their greatest fame and recognition abroad rather than in the United States. She said she was also inspired by Charlie Parker and Betty Carter. His mother was a classical pianist who taught accordion. After a brief stint on the violin, Brown switched to the accordion before taking piano lessons from her grandmother. She attended a local college for a few semesters, but gained her most significant musical training performing live. Brown became a professional singer at the age of 20, touring the United States in various settings, including appearances in Las Vegas in a big band that accompanied the comic. George Carlin.

Brown toured Asia, Japan and Indonesia and she spent from 1985 to 1995 living in Europe. In total, she has sung in more than 50 countries. She is accompanied by pianists Roger Kelaway (including ten duo concerts), Cedar Waltonand Dorothee Doneganand sang with notables such as tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, great harmonicist Toots Thielemansand trumpeters Harry “Candy” Edison and Benny Bailey. Other experiences include playing with the Russians Oleg Lundstrem OrchestraSweden Sandviken Big Band, and Kluver Big Band from Denmark. She also toured Siberia with the Russian saxophonist Nikolai Panovand led the Jazz 4 Jazz quartet which included pianist Horace Parlan. In addition to recording with the pianist John Lundgren, the doky brothersand the Sandviken Big BandBrown has conducted his own 11 CDs for labels such as 33 Jazz, Alfa, Timeless, Koch, Intermusic, Jazz ‘N Pulz, and a duet with the guitarist Joe Beck for Jazz Voice.

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra Artistic Director Clint Ashlock said, “An innate love for storytelling is something we all have in common, and what is a song but a story? in the power of singing, especially when delivered by a masterful vocalist like Deborah Brown. One of the greatest musicians to emerge from Kansas City, Ms. Brown has enlightened listeners around the world with her pristine tone, soulful rendition, and attention to the confluence of lyrics, rhythm, and melody. Deborah Brown is an accomplished professional who combines all aspects of the human experience in telling her stories and is the culmination of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra’s presentation of The Voice.”

Masterclasses open to the public

In addition to the concert, Deborah Brown, a native of Kansas City, will host two masterclasses for students at his alma mater, the Paseo Academy for the Fine and Performing Arts and at The Blue Room. All masterclasses are free and open to the public. For more information, please visit https://www.kcjo.org/.