.

The amalgamation of authentic latin rhythm, 
jazz harmony and modern urban groove
-- Latin Jazz-Urbania --

---

"Shades Of Brown" on BROWNTASAURAS Records! Buy online directly from Browntasauras Records (distributed exclusively by CD Baby)  - OR - from iTunes

Typical Brownman & CRUZAO Tour Schedule for "Shades Of Brown"

---

CRUZAO - Nominated 3 times at the Toronto Independent Music Awards
--
Brownman Ali - winner of the 2002 National Jazz Award for
"Jazz Composer Of The Year" (for the tunes written for "Shades Of Brown")
--
CRUZAO - Winner of the coveted
2001 Montreal Jazz Festival's "Grand Prix du Jazz" Award
--
CRUZAO - Winner of the 2001 CBC Galaxie "Rising Star" Award
--
CRUZAO - Nominated 2001 & 2002 for National
Jazz Awards for "Electric Jazz Group Of The Year"
--
Brownman Ali - 2001 NJA nominee for
"Jazz Trumpet Player Of The Year"

---

Led by the Trinidadian born, New York trained trumpet player Brownman Ali -- who himself has just under 300 CD recording credits as a side man to his name -- this hard hitting latin-jazz unit funkifies it's audiences with Brownman's original latin-funk compositions and high-energy virtuositic jazz soloists.  The amalgamation of authentic latin rhythm, jazz harmony and modern urban groove, this group began it's career as a musical experiment for Brownman in the tonal qualities of latin music composed in a chordless setting (no piano, no guitar).  Since the late '50s jazz musicians have richly explored this unique musical texture creating a 5 decade chordless jazz tradition, however this texture had never been explored in Latin America, due to the dominance and omni-presence of the piano "montuno" or equivalent guitar structures.

The result of this musical experiment - Brownman & 
- the first chordless latin-jazz-urban unit in history - 

. is modeled in that jazz tradition of 'the chordless quintet',
and takes the same approach in a latin-jazz context. 

Featuring the Ali Brothers - Brownman and Marcus Ali - and dedicated to the amalgamation of latin rhythm, jazz harmony and urban groove, . explores the inner workings of these artforms through Brownman's original compositions, intense *improvisation-interaction and raw energy.

(*Has also been refered to more formally as "That crazy brother shit") 
 

That's this group's press release above.  But what does it mean?  Brownman and Marcus have become two of the first calls in the city of Toronto when latin bands are in need of horn players... but both are still improvisers with their hearts firmly affixed to the jazz world.  This band is their way of amalgamating the intense South American rhythms they have been exposed to while working in the latin musical community (particularly Cuban ones) with their inherent jazz harmonic knowledge as improvisers.  The funk comes from the compositions and the arrangements and the way the rhythm section plays them.  Brownman is the primary composer for the unit and his sense of funk from his affiliations with Randy Brecker (of the Brecker Brothers) and his extensive time in funk horn sections and recording sessions comes to bear.  That combined with the sheer ferocity with which Chendy, Luisito and Paco attack the grooves makes for some of the funkiest latin-jazz around. hopes you enjoy their interpretations of Brownman's vision.