Alex Brown

Alex Brown (born 1987) is an American pianist and composer known for weaving elements of classical, rhythm and blues, hip-hop, Afro-Caribbean music, and Brazilian jazz.

Brown has collaborated with artists that include Valerie Coleman, Sean Jones, Cho-Liang Lin, Yo-Yo Ma, Armando Manzanero, Christian McBride, the New York Voices, David Sanchez, David Shifrin, Chris Thile, Warren Wolf, and Miguel Zenón. He has been a member of Paquito D'Rivera's group since 2007. He has performed at venues including the Lincoln Center Rose Theater, The Blue Note, The Kennedy Center, and The Hollywood Bowl. He won a Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium as part of his collaboration with composer Jeff Scott and Imani Winds for “Passion For Bach and Coltrane” in 2024.

He is on the faculty at Peabody Institute Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland.

Early life and education Brown was born in Columbia, Maryland. His brother Zach Brown, is a producer, audio engineer, and bassist.

He attended The New England Conservatory of Music, majoring in Jazz Studies and graduating in 2009. During that time, he studied with Danilo Pérez and Charlie Banacos. He obtained a masters in Studio/Jazz Composition at the University of Miami, Frost School of Music, where he studied with Gary Lindsay, Shelly Berg, and Carlos Rafael Rivera. In 2009, he moved to New York City.

Discography As lead artist

As contributor Paquito D’Rivera Quintet / Sabine Meyer, Jazz Clazz (2009), Timba Records, pianist – Grammy nominated Imani Winds, Terra Incognita (2010), E1 Entertainment, pianist Alondra de la Parra / Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, Mi Alma Mexicana / My Mexican Soul (2010), Sony Classical, pianist Omar Thomas Large Ensemble, I Am (2013), Sound Silence Records, pianist Paquito D’Rivera, Jazz Meets the Classics (2014), Sunnyside Records, pianist and composer – Latin GRAMMY award winner Omar Thomas Large Ensemble, We Will Know (2014), Sound Silence Records, pianist Jeff Scott, The Gift of Life-The Urban Classical Music Project, Vol 1. (2015), self-released, pianist Miho Hazama m_unit, Time River, Sunnyside Records (2015), pianist Paquito D’Rivera / Armando Manzanero, Paquito & Manzanero (2015), pianist and principal arranger Victor Provost, Bright Eyes (2017), Sunnyside Records, pianist Haerim Elizabeth Lee, My Time is Now (2019), Innova, pianist and arranger Brian Lynch Big Band, The Omni-American Book Club (2019), Hollistic MusicWorks, pianist – GRAMMY award winner Chad LB Virtual Big Band, Quarantine Standards (2020), Sound Frame, pianist Dafnis Prieto, Transparency (2020), Dafnison Music, pianist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Open World (2021), La Reserve Records, arranger Michael Torke, Psalms and Canticles (2021), self-released, pianist Brian Lynch, Songbook, Vol 2.: Dance the Way you Want To (2022), Hollistic MusicWorks, pianist Imani Winds / Harlem Quartet / A.B. Spellman / Alex Brown / Edward Perez / Neal Smith, Passion for Bach and Coltrane (2023), self-released, pianist – GRAMMY award winner Warren Wolf, History of the Vibraphone (2024), Cellar Live, pianist Andre Nickatina, Reimagined by Symphony (2024), I-Khan, pianist and arranger Omar Thomas Large Ensemble, Griot Songs (2025), self-released, pianist Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Bobby Broom - More Amor: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery (2025), arranger

Awards and nominations Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium, Passion For Bach and Coltrane, 2024, Jeff Scott with Imani Winds, A. B. Spellman, Harlem Quartet, Alex Brown, Edward Perez, and Neal Smith Nomination, Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album, Transparency, 2022 Nomination, Grammy Award for Best Classical Crossover Album, Jazz-Clazz, 2010