Sandy Brown (musician)
Encyclopedia
Sandy Brown was a noted Scottish jazz
clarinetist band leader and acoustic engineer who performed mostly New Orleans style and mainstream. He had a particular interest in African music, which was reflected in his compositions.
in Edinburgh
. After National Service
he studied Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art
. Whilst there, he also started a band with his old schoolfriend Al Fairweather
in 1949.
In 1953 the band went south and played amongst other places at the newly built Royal Festival Hall
in London, Brown returned to finish his studies in Edinburgh but Fairweather decided to stay in London.
Upon completing his studies, Brown obtained the position of acoustic engineer to the BBC
and moved to London and reformed his own band. He also played with other musicians including American pianist Sammy Price
. In 1974, he travelled to New York and recorded with other members of Count Basie
's band.
In his last months he took an exhausting trip to Africa on architectural business.Soon after he died at home of a heart attack brought about by malignant Hypertension
aged just 46, whilst watching England lose to Scotland,a glass of whisky in his hand.
During Brown's career he played with many artists including: Henry "Red" Allen, Diz Disley
, Humphrey Lyttelton
, Earle Warren Eddie Durham
and Pee Wee Russell
.
His autobiography "The McJazz Manuscripts" was published by Faber & Faber. He formed two professional practices, Sandy Brown Associates, architects and acoustic engineers, and Sandy Brown MSU, building services engineers
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
clarinetist band leader and acoustic engineer who performed mostly New Orleans style and mainstream. He had a particular interest in African music, which was reflected in his compositions.
Biography
Brown was born in India of Scottish parents where his father was a railway engineer. A self taught clarinettist, Brown was educated at the Royal High SchoolRoyal High School (Edinburgh)
The Royal High School of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, and has, throughout its history, been high achieving, consistently attaining well above average exam results...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. After National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
he studied Architecture at Edinburgh College of Art
Edinburgh College of Art
Edinburgh College of Art is an art school in Edinburgh, Scotland, providing tertiary education in art and design disciplines for over two thousand students....
. Whilst there, he also started a band with his old schoolfriend Al Fairweather
Al Fairweather
Alastair Fairweather was a British jazz musician, born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Educated at the city's Royal High School and Edinburgh College of Art, Fairweather served his National Service in Egypt....
in 1949.
In 1953 the band went south and played amongst other places at the newly built Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
in London, Brown returned to finish his studies in Edinburgh but Fairweather decided to stay in London.
Upon completing his studies, Brown obtained the position of acoustic engineer to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and moved to London and reformed his own band. He also played with other musicians including American pianist Sammy Price
Sammy Price
Sammy Price was an American jazz, boogie-woogie and jump blues pianist and bandleader. He was born Samuel Blythe Price, in Honey Grove, Texas, United States. Price was most noteworthy for his work on Decca Records with his own band, known as the Texas Bluesicians, that included fellow musicians...
. In 1974, he travelled to New York and recorded with other members of Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
's band.
In his last months he took an exhausting trip to Africa on architectural business.Soon after he died at home of a heart attack brought about by malignant Hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
aged just 46, whilst watching England lose to Scotland,a glass of whisky in his hand.
During Brown's career he played with many artists including: Henry "Red" Allen, Diz Disley
Diz Disley
Diz Disley was an Anglo-Canadian jazz guitarist and graphic designer. He is best known for his jazz guitar playing, strongly influenced by Django Reinhardt, and for his collaborations with the violinist Stéphane Grappelli....
, Humphrey Lyttelton
Humphrey Lyttelton
Humphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton , also known as Humph, was an English jazz musician and broadcaster, and chairman of the BBC radio comedy programme I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue...
, Earle Warren Eddie Durham
Eddie Durham
Eddie Durham was an American jazz guitarist, trombonist, composer and musical arranger of the swing music medium born in San Marcos, Texas, probably best known for his work with musicians like Cab Calloway, Willie Bryant, Andy Kirk, Glenn Miller, Jimmie Lunceford and Count Basie, among others...
and Pee Wee Russell
Pee Wee Russell
Charles Ellsworth Russell, much better known by his nickname Pee Wee Russell, was a jazz musician. Early in his career he played clarinet and saxophones, but eventually focused solely on clarinet....
.
His autobiography "The McJazz Manuscripts" was published by Faber & Faber. He formed two professional practices, Sandy Brown Associates, architects and acoustic engineers, and Sandy Brown MSU, building services engineers