Professor, Director - Duke University
John Brown has taught at Duke University since the Spring of 2001. He started as the Double Bass Instructor in January of 2001, and applied for the position as Director of the Jazz Program upon the retirement of Paul Jeffrey in 2003. After completing a year as Visiting Director from 2003-2004, John began as the permanent Director of the Jazz Program in the Fall of 2004, and now also serves as Vice Provost for the Arts and as Professor of the Practice of Music. Aa music faculty at Duke, he teaches lecture courses, directs the jazz ensemble, oversees the Duke Jazz Festival, the jazz combo course and engages students in a wide variety of performance opportunities. Students also perform under John’s direction in small combos in various configurations for events on and off campus. Select students perform with the Duke Jazz Ambassadors, which is a special group that creates opportunities for students and instructors to perform together. Regular performances for this group include services twice each year at the Duke Chapel, special events for university administration, and community events.
The Duke Jazz Program is proud to bring 4 guests artists to campus each year for residencies and performances. Guests spend 3-4 days at Duke working with students in rehearsals, workshops, master classes and listening sessions, and the week ends with a concert where the students perform with our guests. Within the last few years some of our guests have been Nicholas Payton, Louie Bellson, Jon Hendricks, Joey DeFrancesco, Frank Foster, Johnny Griffin, Russell Malone, Randy Brecker, Lou Donaldson, Delfeayo Marsalis and Eddie Palmieri. Learn more about Jazz at Duke at https://music.duke.edu/ensembles/jazz-program, and please visit the sites for the Duke Music Department and the Arts at Duke.
John Brown - Educator
John Brown and his musicians are committed to jazz education – for all people, at all levels. John is a Professor and Director of the Jazz Program at Duke University and makes education a part of his daily life. Evincing his commitment to education, John constantly seeks opportunities to work with students and to study himself. Last summer, John attended the Lincoln Center Institute in New York City and is now a certified instructor using that model of teaching. John has been selected by the North Carolina Arts Council to assemble performing groups connecting arts and education, so children are exposed and have the opportunity to make music and the performing arts a part of their lives. A part of this mission is met by John’s work as Director of the JAZZFORCE.
Each of John’s musicians has experience working with students of all levels in small and large group settings. They all teach privately, give a wide variety of workshops and will work in different configurations to suit the particular needs of the students with whom they are asked to work. John and his musicians are available for workshops on specific music concepts, master classes on instruments, clinics with small and large ensembles and joint performances with students and colleagues. Additionally, John and his performing and teaching colleagues are available for teacher education workshops. John also lectures on jazz concepts, history, and does workshops on jazz improvisation, listening skills and orchestral performance.