Actively involved as an educator for over thirty years, Jeff Brown has participated in Artist Residencies through the National Endowment for the Arts, Indiana Arts Commission, Illinois Arts Council and National Endowment for the Humanities.

He has taught extensively for all age levels (K - 12 through post graduate). He is a past clinician/teacher for both the Pearl Drum Company and Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops. Brown has been on the faculty of New Trier High School, Triton College, South Suburban College and is presently the Jazz Studies Coordinator and Percussion Instructor at Valparaiso University. In Northwest Indiana, he has been a Guest Artist and/or Clinician at many schools in Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties.

At Valparaiso University, he is also a founding member of the Faculty Jazz Trio. The trio is one of the longest affiliated collegiate chamber jazz ensembles in the world. Along with Bruce Evans, bass and Billy Foster, piano; they have performed with James Moody, Art Farmer, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Randy Brecker, Frank Foster, Johnny Frigo, Houston Person & Etta Jones, Bunky Green, Tom Harrell, Bobby Shew, Jon Faddis, Ernie Watts, Red Rodney, Henry Johnson, Clark Terry, Chris Vodala, Lew Tabackin, Richie Cole, George Coleman, Eddie Henderson, Bruce Bolen, Howard Roberts, Christine Jensen, Ingrid Jensen ,Claire Daly, Jerry Bergonzi, and Bobby Watson.

Jeff Brown studied at DePaul University, Calumet College, American Conservatory of Music, Valparaiso University, and did postgraduate work at the Eastman School of Music. He was a percussion student of the legendary Roy C. Knapp for three years.

Other instructors in percussion and jazz have included: Bob Tilles, Harvey Lang, Rayburn Wright, Keith Copeland, James Dutton, Mike Green, Jack Mouse, Allen Otte, Jamey Aebersold, David Baker, Ed Soph, Adam Nussbaum and Ramon Ricker.

A partial list of Guest Artist appearances would include: Marshall University, University of Indianapolis, Purdue University, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Southwestern Michigan Symphony Orchestra.

As a professional musician he has played drum set and/or percussion for Bob Hope, Engelbert Humperdink, Carol Lawrence, Robert Goulet, Shields and Yarnell, and Aretha Franklin as well as other Las Vegas style shows. He continues to play both drumset and percussion for some of Chicagoland's leading musicians and contractors.

Brown is a founding producer of the Valparaiso University Jazz Festival which will celebrate its 22nd season in April, 2007. The VU Jazz Fest has become one of the largest non-competitive jazz festivals in the United States. The unique blend of Middle School and High School performances with Collegiate and Professional performances sets it apart from other festivals world wide.

Since 1992 his award winning "Brown's Music Bus" has been presenting contemporary American Music concerts throughout the states of Indiana, Illinois and Michigan to thousands of school age children, K - 12.

In January of 1997 the VU Faculty Jazz Trio received the prestigious Martin Luther King Jr. Award from Valparaiso University. This award is given yearly to individuals and or groups that further the understanding of cultural diversity on campus. In January 2000, Mr. Brown along with Bruce Evans and Billy Foster, comprising The VU Faculty Jazz Trio released their first recording For the Moment. The recording received excellent reviews and was cited in the January, 2001 Jazz Times Magazine, 2000 Year in Review edition as an "outstanding recording".

Office: VUCA 2516
Tel: (219) 464-5479
E-mail: Jeffrey.Brown@valpo.edu
Website:www.jeffreycbrown.com

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