Jazz / Funk / Latin / Salsa / Experimental
Born in Trinidad, schooled in New York City under legendary trumpeter Randy Brecker’s watchful eye and now called "Canada’s preeminent jazz trumpeter" by New York City’s Village Voice magazine, the ever dynamic Brownman tirelessly leading no less than 7 highly respected ensembles of his own. He is best known for his work as the leader of Canada's premiere latin-jazz ensemble CRUZAO and his electrified Miles Davis' influenced BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO (2007 National Jazz Award winner for "Electric Group of the Year"). Despite the demands of leading 7 groups he is still one of the most called upon trumpet players in the studio scene, his recording credits sitting at just over 250 records to date.
He is currently the featured soloist with the legendary New York City jazz-hip-hop artist GURU (of Gangstarr fame) for his JAZZMATAZZ ensemble, appears on the cover of the Oct 2007 issue of CODA, Canada’s most acclaimed jazz magazine and was recently named "Toronto's Trumpet Player of the Year" by NOW Magazine. Since returning to Canada from NYC, he has been on the cutting edge of modern music in the nation for the last decade, winning multiple awards nationally and achieving international recognition while touring the globe.
• 2007 NOW Magazine's "Toronto Jazz Trumpet Player of the Year"
• 2007 National Jazz Award for "Electric Jazz Group of the Year"
• 2007 A staggering 5 nominations at the National Jazz Awards
• 2006 National Jazz Award "Latin-jazz artist of the Year"
nominee
• 2005 NOW Magazine's "Toronto Jazz Artist of the Year"
NEWS
• Just named NOW Magazine's "2007 Toronto Jazz Trumpeter
of the Year"
• Honoured to be the cover story for the Sept/Oct issue of CODA,
Canada's most acclaimed jazz magazine
• Currently on tour contract with GURU, legendary NYC hip-hop
icon of Gangstarr & Jazzmatazz fame
PRESS & TESTIMONIALS
"Canada's preeminent jazz trumpet player"
NYC's Village
Voice
"... the most versatile
hornman in Canada"
Chicago
Tribune
"... virtuostic, energized and in the spirit of
Miles Davis"
Toronto's NOW Magazine
"One of the next great
voices in the new generation of jazz improvisers"
Randy Brecker
Multi-grammy winning legendary trumpeter
"Brownman... Remarkable
writing and burning energy"
John Scofield
Jazz guitar giant
"... a truly gifted
improviser with an original creative voice..."
Gary Bartz
Saxophonist with Miles Davis
"... uniquely creative
and fearless - like a young Miles Davis"
Guru
Legendary hip-hop icon from Gangstarr/Jazzmatazz
fame
"CRUZAO... deliciously
quirky & invigorating... seethes with energy,
particularly showing off the skills of trumpeter
Brownman Ali and his brother Marcus on alto sax."
Toronto
Star
"Brownman &
CRUZAO... the finest latin-jazz group Canada's ever
produced"
LatinJazzNet.com
"Brownman & CRUZAO
breaks down the boundaries between latin, jazz and
urban music in the most innovative way I've seen
yet. We may be looking at the evolution of
latin-jazz here."
Memo Acevedo
NY University professor of Latin-jazz
"Nick Brownman Ali... a
warm, personable soloist displaying an engaging mix
or quirks and lyricism."
Toronto's
Globe and Mail
"Brownman... Nick
Ali... Marrón... this young trumpet player has as
many names as he has skills"
Canada Picante
Xpress Latin Magazine
"Energy is never in
short supply in Brownman Ali's world. This
Toronto/Trinidadian trumpeter loves skipping from
style to style almost as much as he digs mixing it
up with the jazz elite"
CBC Radio
Canada
