Blue Brown's prime time on 'The Bandstand' goes back to the Euro/American Jazz scene that was happening in 1968 at Berlin, Germany -after arriving in Europe as an Infantry Soldier & being invited to audition as a Trumpeter with the 298th US Army Band. (The band had come to Berlin after having been transferred there from England in 1946, when a very young Chet Baker was assigned as a member!) While with that band, ('68-'71) Blue became a regular participant in Jam Sessions at West Berlin's famous Jazzgalerie, where he'd met Jazz Trumpet Star Carmell Jones, who'd settled-in as a featured soloist with Berlin's SFB Bigband. Carmell was 'in demand' at the clubs, as well -& always 'packed the house' wherever he played! In October of '68, Carmell was reunited with Booker Ervin on a gig at W.Berlin's version of 'The Blue Note' jazz club, for what turned-out to be the last time; (the legendary tenor man died less than 18 months later.) But as anyone can well imagine, that reunion deepened the musical bond they'd formed while recording Ervin's: 'The Blues Book' album only 3 years before! Having heard them together live was an inspiration Blue has never forgotten. Carmell also shared top billing with altoists Leo Wright (his colleague at SFB) and with Pony Poindexter, who, like many, played all around Europe and was in Berlin regularly! With a word from Carmell, Pony & Vibes/Pianist Manfred Burtzlaff hosted Blue's earliest experience on the professional jazz scene -sharing their extended gig at the 'Old Eden' club! This ended-up leading to lots of other sessions* at top Berlin Jazz Venues (*including: 'The Latin Quarter' 'The Top Hat' 'The Badawanne' & 'The Quazimodo' -today being Berlin's longest established nightclub, featuring Jazz & other creative forms of music!) It was back at The Jazzgalerie, that Pianist/Composer Fred Schwartz asked Blue to play on a Progressive Rock Demo he was recording. This early studio session inspired Brown & Schwartz to co-found Europe's 1'st 10-piece touring Jazz/Rock Horn Band, which initially formed around a core group of Brown's 298th US Army Bandmates & was augmented by Philly & NYC Jazzmen brought in by Schwartz! Brown & Schwartz co-led the group through several incarnations in Germany, until Brown opted to remain on Berlin's Jazz scene, while the group moved-on to record at Morgan Studios in London as: 'THE GASOLINE BAND' The resulting original, self-titled, debut LP was also the Cube label's Debut Release! Since then, Blue's musical journey has included gigs in- Boston, LA & the Caribbeans, at- Concert Halls, Festivals, Clubs, Recording Studios- playing Jazz, Latin, Rock, Freestyle & Experimental- either Performing, Recording, or Jamming with many (since those days in the late 1960's) including: Claire Arenius, whom Blue introduced & recommended to the Melba Liston Band (-via a Donald Harrison Jam Session connection at Wally's Jazz Club in Boston) Gil Askey, Brian Auger, Steve Bauer, Vince Benedetti, Doctor Bop & The Headliners with The White Raven, Dai Bowen, Billy Brooks, Marion Brown, Tommy Campbell, Teri Lyne Carrington, Steve Clarke, Joe Cohn, Johnny Coles, Laco Deczi, The Drifters, Kevin & Robin Eubanks, Al Grey, Hersh Hamel, Gunther Hampel, Donald Harrison, Paul Jackson, Shake Keane, Dave Kikoski, Ken LaRoche, Erik Lawrence, Frank London, Branford Marsalis, Bob Mover, Hendrik Meurgkens, Oliver Nelson, The Platters, Johannes Rediske, Harry Rettenbacher, Jeff Richman Wallace Roney, Ricky Shane, Sal Spicola, Clifford Solomon, Bert Thompson, Lucky Thompson, Volo Volo, James Williams, Attila Zoller & many others on the World Music Scene, from Be-Bop, to Hip-Hop! Blue Brown had "dropped-out" of the scene for awhile (as a 'single dad') to raise a Musician son & Artist daughter. During that period, Blue Brown enjoyed making musical connections for Jazz Musicians while helping to document the careers of his main mentors, Carmell Jones & Leo Wright! (RE: 'The Official Website of Andre Condouant' at: http://andrecondouant.an.ohost.de -click on: 'people' & there you will find webpages for Carmell & Leo, as well as Pony -and Jazz Hammond B3 Organist Lou Bennett!) In 1980, Carmell returned 'Stateside' & Blue was able to re-connect the trumpeter with Dr. William Hardy, through altoist Bob Mover (both Hardy & Mover were Faculty at the University in Gainsville, Florida) & that 're-connection' led to a live 'homecoming' LP on Revelation, entitled: 'CARMELL RETURNS!' Blue Brown also contributed to the 2005 CD release of: 'SOUL TALK ~ LEO WRIGHT' (Water 146) by writing: 'Some Memories of Leo Wright' and providing a rare poster & photos for the booklet & tray-card! Blue Brown is now making his way back into the Jazz Scene & hopes to see many of you, sooner or later- on 'The Bandstand!'
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