Album Notes

Mel Brown made his mark as an original member of Motown's fabled stable of instrumentalists. After recording with everyone from The Beatles to Smokey Robinson to The Temptations; and touring with such acts as Martha and The Vandella's, Stevie Wonder, and The Supremes; Mel toured extensively with Diana Ross in the 80's.

In 1989 The Mel Brown Sextet won the world-wide Hennessay Jazz Search. That lead to numerous national awards and a spot at the 1989 Playboy Jazz Festival. In 1999 The Mel Brown Quintet released "Live at Jimmy Mak's". This recording has received exceptional reviews and major radio-play from New York to Los Angeles and been in the top-10 Northwest record sales for over a year.

Mel Brown continues to be one of the most skilled and hard-working people in the industry. He has made Thursday nights at Jimmy Mak's in Portland, Oregon the most exciting and consistent happening in the Northwest. Mel's heart is with jazz education and he continues to help develop The Mel Brown Workshop at Willammette University. He has also opened up the Mel Brown studios inside the Allegra Drum Company in Portland.

"Mel Brown Quintet: "Live at Jimmy Mak's"........One of our favorite records of 1999!" MUSIC MILLENNIUM


This disc is chock-full of home cooked feel good music The selection of tunes serves up a potpourri of funk, jazz, and soul treats that will make you want to shout YEAH!....... THE JAZZ SOCIETY OF OREGON


Mel Brown seems as young as ever driving this steam-powered soul-jazz combo........Improvisation and groove find common ground in the group's roadhouse ready repertoire with it?s top-flight players........" THE OREGOINIAN