| Trombonist brings sounds of Bourbon Street to Katzen BY ADRIENNE FRANK The Katzen Arts Center was transformed into the French Quarter on Fat Tuesday as trombonist Marlon Brown presented an evening of original jazz compositions. Brown, a political science major in the School of Public Affairs, kicked off his honors senior capstone recital with a lively arrangement of “Bourbon Street Parade,” a tribute, he said, to New Orleans. 
Photo by Jeff Watts
From left, drummer Neal Smith, trombonist Marlon Brown, and saxophonist Paul Ruffner perform on Fat Tuesday. Backed by a quartet of students—Paul Ruffner on tenor saxophone, E. Justin Simone on piano, Carlos Chadha on bass, and Neal Smith on drums—Brown performed six original compositions, including “O-Train” and “Five O’Clock Shadow.” The program also included an arrangement of “Early One Morning,” a tribute to Rob Frayne, a jazz musician Brown performed with while studying abroad in Ottawa. Brown, who plays with the AU symphony orchestra and performs with a gospel choir in his hometown of Detroit, said jazz holds a special place in his heart. “In jazz, the performer connects with his instrument and the experience becomes a spiritual one. The instrument becomes an extension of the musician and allows the musician to create and express,” he said. “Jazz inspires spontaneous creativity.” Brown, who’s influenced by jazz greats Tommy Dorsey, J.J. Johnson, and Steve Turre, happened upon the trombone by accident. “In fifth grade we were all given the option of playing in the school band, and I wanted to play the trumpet,” he said. “The band director thought I would be a better fit on the trombone and said he needed some big guys to lead the low brass section. “I was rather discouraged when I was the only student who could not get a note out of their instrument on the first day of band class,” Brown continued. “But after that I became rather successful on the trombone.” |
