Composer, Conductor, Educator - Anita Brown - News

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Anita is Included in NPR's "Hey Ladies" Survey & Online Database

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700

I recently completed a survey for NPR Music’s “Hey Ladies: Being A Woman Musician Today” online database. My answers "helped to inform a series of radio features airing on NPR throughout the summer." There is a web presentation of this project where folks can view the responses of hundreds of women musicians who took part in this survey.

Visit the blog or links page for links to my answers.

Big Band Arangements for Judi Silvano

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Judi Silvano has asked me to expand the two small ensemble charts I wrote for her over the winter into big band charts. She will be performing them in Israel in early June! We are both looking forward to running them down with Anita Brown Jazz Orchestra in mid to late May in New York. Judi is also considering learning some of my existing vocal charts and we look forward to the possibility of performing together in the future.

Arrangement for Frank Wess Octet

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

I am thrilled to have been asked to write an arrangement for Frank Wess' octet. The arrangement will be for one of his original ballads entitled "Entre Nous" which means "Between Us."

This will be performed by The Frank Wess Octet on their run at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, NYC, January 19-24, 2010, in celebration of his 88th birthday.

Come on down!

Arrangements for singer, Judi Silvano

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Anita is happy to announce that she has been hired to write two arrangements for singer, Judi Silvano, to be performed with Thurman Barker's Jazz Combo at Bard College in December 2009.

Judi and I are very happy to finally have the chance to work together and are looking forward to further collaboration down the road.

Approved for Publishing!

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Today I received the exciting news that three of my arrangements have been approved for publication by UNC Jazz Press (University of Northern Colorado). They are Jobim's Sabia (a tenor feature), the classic ballad, Don't Explain (featuring either mezzo soprano voice or alto sax) and my father's 24-bar blues in 3/4, Dig It, the title track from his recording with Lee Konitz. This arrangement offers solos for trumpet, tenor and alto.

The charts will be published pending approval by the respective copyright owners.

MORE New Music!

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Somehow, on Sunday, June 28th, an unprecedented four-day creative spurt/writing frenzy began. During some of NY's most beautiful weather, I was at the piano, writing like a maniac for four days straight!

While there are some things I REALLY NEED TO FINISH, this was not related to ANY of them! HA!

It's my belief that one cannot argue with this stuff. When it calls, you have to just listen...and when it SCREAMS at me, well...I can't even take a break to pee sometimes!

NO COMPLAINTS!

I'm reluctant to disclose further details about the work at this time, but suffice it to say that I haven't been this excited about writing since I started orchestrating "The Lighthouse" right before we went into the studio in March 2003.

The germ of the work was inspired by three specific photographs shot with an artful eye and attention to detail and line.

I WILL say that at this time it appears it may become something formidable in length and structure, but I haven't quite had that conversation with it yet.

Yee ha!
:-)

New Music!

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Some of you have been asking if I have been writing and the answer is YES!

There are a number of things on the slate...in the works.

A brand new tune has just presented itself in a genre yet to be determined. Could be jazz orchestra, could be...something different...who knows? It hasn't told me yet. But it has lyrics this time...(yes...once in a while they come out with lyrics) and it's full of unexpected harmonic twists & turns that continue to make me chuckle on playback. It seems to be a reflection of an encounter which, in fact, presented a number of surprising twists and turns. Funny how it all comes out to paper if you allow it to. I'm looking forward to conferring with Lee Finkelstein on this one, and perhaps others to come!

There is also a chart in the works which is based on an old standard tune (a rather obscure one) which incorporates a line my father wrote, and hopefully will develop according to original sketches to include an additional such line.

Beyond that there is an original which beckons to be completed along with some formidable sketches for other new works.

COMMISSION ME!!! I HAVE TONS OF SKETCHES!!!!!!!

:-)

Anita Posts Photos on Facebook!

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800

I have finally posted the candid shots from my recording sessions at Clinton Studios on facebook. Stop by to check out the cats!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=628412279&ref=name#/profile.php?id=628412279&v=photos&viewas=628412279

Anita Brown Jazz Orchestra joins J.E.N. (Jazz Education Network)

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Anita Brown Jazz Orchestra recently became a Charter Partner of JEN, a.k.a., Jazz Education Network. This organization might be considered the phoenix rising out of the ashes of the bankrupt IAJE.

Look for the ABJO logo on the Charter Partners section of the JEN Partners page!

I hope you will consider joining this organization. The website has a social networking feature and I am certain it will offer jazz artists, educators and students a wonderful reincarnation of what had become a staple of the jazz circuit.

Mary Jo Papich is the President, who was the President-Elect of IAJE as it became defunkt. She is looking for your ideas and has already done a great job of putting a formidable team together.

Please check them out at www.jazzednet.org.