21-year-old Jaimeo (pronounced Jah-mayo) Brown is emerging as the preeminent new drummer on the San Francisco jazz and new music scene.

After an 4 1/2 year apprenticeship with his musician parents Dartanyan Brown and Marcia Miget and drum teacher Sly Randolph, Jaimeo has earned a position in the working groups of pianist, composer Mark Levine, bandleader recording artist Marc Shelby and even the great Bobby Hutcherson's quartet recently played the Fillmore Street Jazz Festival with Jaimeo holding down the drum chair with a spirit and fire reminiscent of both Billy Higgins and West Coast legend Eddie Marshall. It was Marshall who, not incidentally, recommended young Mr. Brown to Hutcherson for the opportunity to debut with the vibraphonists quartet--before five thousand people!

"Jaimeo is the kind of player who allows me to be play what I hear with no compromises," said Bobby Hutcherson when interviewed following the concert. "His value as an artist lies as much in his personality and respectful nature as it does in his considerable talent as a percussionist."

Jaimeo currently attends William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey under the tutelage of James Williams, noted Jazz pianist and department chair, Horace Arnold and keyboard legend Harold Mabern. Of course, like all young artists, Jaimeo gravitates to the NYC Jazz scene where he has is beginning to have the same impact on the East Coast as he already has achieved in the San Francisco Bay Area jazz scene. Jaimeo's body of recorded work, while still embryonic, is still a good indication of future development. He played an organic mix of styles on the album Imprisoned Splendor for David Watson, a northern California composer and vocalist. Jaimeo's father, bassist Dartanyan Brown, joined his son to record the deeply grooving "Take me back to New Orleans" and the uptempo samba "A New Home." The Imprisoned Splendor album played on Bay area jazz stations including KCSM-FM is also introducing the sound of the Father-Son rhythm section to the Bay Area. With Marc Shelby, Jaimeo entered Russian Hill Recording Studios to record real time jazz performance for a film score to an upcoming motion picture slated for Fall release. He was also a featured member of the Marc Shelby Trio at the 1999 Stanford Jazz Festival. He also has performed and recorded with Watson's producer Mahanaim (Naim) Satya.

Jaimeo began his college-level studies with Mel Graves at Sonoma State university and for two years, Mayo earned a position in the working group of his professor as well as such luminaries as Mel Martin, Herb Pomeroy, and many of Jazz's most eloquent artists. Jaimeo has played Sonor Drums exclusively since the beginning of his career, he was pointed toward Sonor mainly at the suggestion of his father who always loved the rich tone of Sonor equipment.

The primary influences on his drumming have been Max Roach, Elvin Jones, Billy Higgins and Dennis Chambers. He credits Sly Randolph, himself a stalwart in the Bay Area swing wars with helping him 'make up for lost time' as he puts it.

He has emerged as a versatile drummer equally home with up-tempo bebop as with layed back hip-hop grooves. His still-emerging command of Latin and afro-cuban/west African forms has already drawn the notice of family friends Carlos Santana, John Santos and others in the bay area's super heated Latin music scene. Speaking of family, a deep respect for himself other people and his family are foundational to his life. His Grandmother Reverend Mary Alice Brown is a minister in the Unity Church in Teaneck, New Jersey and a constant source of inspiration. Jaimeo's Grandfather Ellsworth Brown is one of the true unsung heroes of East Coast jazz scene. He has performed with some of Jazz's most creative talents including Cab Calloway, Reggie Work,man, Frank Perowsky, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roy Eldridge and many others. Formerly a Staten Island resident, he now resides in the mountains around Newton, New Jersey and offers his considerable expertise to his grandson Jaimeo. By building on the experiences of his musician/spiritualist family members he truly is able to focus on what is timeless and valuable. He often credits his Tai Chi studies and the writings of Bruce Lee introduced to him by his father. Jaimeo's sister, Marisha is a first year student at Columbia Univ./Barnard College and is attending the Manhattan School of Music studying the Jazz vocal tradition. His uncle, Don Brown of Staten Island is a bandleader and flautist of no small talent.

As an artist, a young man, a student of music and life Jaimeo has arrived. In an incredibly short 5-year span, Jaimeo Brown has matured from a fledgling to a professional ready to bring honor to the art form which brings so much honor to his family, his country and our world.

 For Bookings (Concerts and Clinics) Email: dartanyan@dartanyan.com

SoundRangers Management 415 456-0614 (California) (973) 720-4120 (New Jersey)

 Resolution

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