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28-year-old Jaimeo (pronounced Jah-mayo) Brown is emerging as one of the preeminent new drummers on the New York jazz scene. The Charles Mingus Big Band, Steve Turre, Greg Tardy, Mulgrew Miller Ronnie Cuber and Kevin Jones are just a few of the artists now collaborating with this Des Moines-born, Marin county raised percussion phenom. Hear his most recent work with Bujo Kevin Jones' 10th World CD and Greg Tardy's latest SteepleChase recording entitled "The Truth." |
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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 Marcus Shelby and even the great Bobby Hutcherson's quartet recently played a sold-out 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 recommended young Mr. Brown to Hutcherson for the opportunity to debut with Mr. Hutcherson's quartet-- in front of 10,000 people. "Jaimeo is the kind of player who allows me to be play what I hear with no compromises," said Bobby Hutcherson when recently interviewed following a San Francisco 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 completed his degree work in 2001 at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey under the tutelage of Rufus Reid, noted bassist 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 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, his teacher, with helping him "make up for lost time" as he puts it. He has emerged as a versatile musician 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 Carlos Santana, John Santos and others in the bay area's super heated Latin music scene. Jaimeo's body of recorded work, while still embryonic, is still a good indication of future development. He played both uptempo Jazz and down home funky drums 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." for the Watson release. The Imprisoned Splendor album by gaining airplay on Bay area jazz station, KCSM-FM is also introducing the sound of the Father-Son rhythm section to the Bay Area. As an artist, a young man, a student of music and life Jaimeo has arrived. In an incredibly short 6-year span, Jaimeo Brown has matured from a fledgling to a professional ready to bring honor to the artform which brings so much honor to his family, his country and our world.
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