Christopher Brown is an acclaimed musician, composer, bandleader, and educator who seeks to be a voice within the advocacy of Jazz and American culture. And through the expansive range of groups that he has assembled and/or performed with, which range from duos to large ensembles across a spectrum of genres, his musical and personal experiences have led him towards an interest in synthesizing the principles of Jazz with the broader concerns of life. So given that music influences culture, and culture influences businesses—which in turn shape the global market economy we all participate in—is why he likes to say “we’re all in the people business. No people, no business.”
The Early Years
Born and raised in Portland, OR Christopher’s life in music was cultivated early between his father Mel Brown and the healthy culture of Jazz that surrounded him between the late 1980’s and early 1990’s—which would lead to many local, state, and national awards. Of his three most noteworthy accomplishments from this period, they would be having led a trio that would win Down Beat Magazine’s top high school small-group for 1995, joining Wynton Marsalis on stage at the Alladin Theater in Portland, and being cast as an extra in the 1993 movie “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” starring Richard Dreyfuss
Military
After his completion from high school, Christopher’s enlistment into the U.S. Marine Corps as a drummer for four years gave him the opportunity to strengthen his networking skills, beginning with his association with Ellis and Jason Marsalis while stationed in New Orleans. And after being transferred to Parris Island, S.C. he began working periodically with bassist Delbert Felix, formerly of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, on the strength of Ellis’ recommendation. And from that association he caught the attention of jazz bassist Ben Tucker, with whom he worked on and off with for three years. And finally, right before his discharge from active duty, he was afforded the opportunity to perform with Jazz legends Buddy Defranco and Terry Gibbs at the Jazz Corner in Hilton Head, SC.
Following his discharge in 1999, he’d take a two-year break in service before re-enlisting in the 63rd NJ Army National Guard band, where he’d eventually conclude his 20 years of military service with the 234th Army National Guard Band in Clackamas, OR.
Education
Upon Christopher’s release from active duty in 1999, he moved up north from South Carolina to eventually settle in New Brunswick, NJ for the following 13 years. And it would be during this phase of his life where the true foundation of his understanding of music would begin to cement via his relationships among the Jazz faculty at Rutgers University and the streets of NYC. Following his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Jazz Studies/Performance in 2004 and 2006 respectively, he’d go on to teach the intro to Jazz historiography and Jazz theory course at his alma mater for four years before returning to Portland in 2012.
Since 2001, he has had the pleasure of teaching as an artist in-residence within Wells Fargo’s “NJPAC Jazz For Teens” program (NJ), Mt. Hood Jazz Camp (OR), Mel Brown Jazz Camp (OR), Litchfield Jazz Camp (CT), Rutgers Summer Jazz Institute (NJ), Montclair Jazz Camp (NJ), Great Basin Jazz Camp (ID), and the International Summer Music Camp (Brno, Czech Republic). And lastly, he co-created a course that used to be offered through Portland State University’s MBA program entitled “Business Innovation Through Jazz Improvisation.”
Currently he serves as the Jazz Drums instructor at Portland State University (OR), leads the Metropolitan Youth Symphony’s (OR) Jazz program, and partners with Montavilla Jazz to host a monthly workshop that he created for younger musicians called “Behind the Scene,” as it seeks to prepare them for the rigors of the toughest Jazz scenes in the world (namely NYC).
Awards
Aside from having won the top high school small group award in 1995 through Down Beat Magazine, he was selected in 2002 to represent the U.S. in a Rutgers University sponsored performance in Fukui, Japan, in addition to being awarded the Pee Wee Russell scholarship from the NJ Jazz Society in the same year. Following that, he was also selected twice as the drummer for the intercollegiate all-star big band's performance at the NJ Music Educators Association annual convention (2003/2005). Also, his recording with Rutgers' Scarlet Knight Jazz Bones (led by Conrad Herwig), helped them take home the 2011 International Trombone Association's “Kai Winding Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition” award. And lastly, he was given the 2007 Artist of the Year award (following Esperanza Spaulding) through Portland State University’s “Leroy Vinnegar Jazz Institute.”
Other Accomplishments
In addition to his main passion as a drummer, he has also kept up his proficiency on the alto saxophone over the years, which consequently resulted in him having performed live with the great Ralph Peterson Jr. Quintet (2002) on channel six in NJ for one of their segments called “New Jersey Talking,” as well as having headlined as a saxophonist for both the 2007 PDX Jazz Festival (OR) and the 2010 Cathedral Park Jazz Festival (OR). And lastly, he served as the principle saxophonist in the 63rd NJ Army National Guard Band from 2001-2012.
Altogether, since Christopher’s enlistment in the Marines, and subsequent move to the North East, he has had the pleasure of performing and or recording with many of the world’s top recording artists, such as: Beyonce, Esperanza Spalding, Shoshana Bean, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, Ralph Bowen, Ralph Peterson Jr., Conrad Herwig, Steve Turre, Paquito D’Rivera, Claudio Roditi, Charles Fambrough, Benny Golson, Bobby Watson, Terry Gibbs, Buddy Defranco, Vincent Herring, Javon Jackson, Stanley Cowell, Antonio Hart, David Sanborn, Geoff Keezer, James Genus, Onaje Allen Gumbs, Don Alias, Don Braden, Victor Goines, Anthony Wonsey, John Lee, Delbert Felix, Vic Juris, Lonnie Plaxico, David Leibman, Sean Jones, Marquis Hill, Gerald Clayton, Arturo O’Farrill, Randy Brecker, Chuck Israels, George Colligan, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, John Patitucci, Cyrus Chestnut, Kamasi Washington, Orrin Evans, Samus Blake, Ben Williams, Aaron Goldberg, Sara Gazarek, Gary Bartz, Tobe Nwigwe, Damian Lillard, and Mel Brown.
Aside from Christopher’s first big musical break coming in the form of a month long European tour with Roy Hargrove’s Quintet in the summer of 2006, he has also spent some more time in front of the camera between commercials for Master Card and the History Channel, re-enactment scenes on the Maury Povich show, Beyonce’s “Count Down” video, Tobe Nwigwe “Mini Me” Music Video ft. Damian Lillard, and the big budget film “American Gangster,” starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. And lastly, he’s a former Ambassador Council board member for Habitat for Humanity (Portland Region), a current steering committee member for “TASTE for Equity” (OR), a part of the 2025 class of TEDx presenters (OR), can be found performing several times a month at Portland’s famed 1905 Jazz club, and has released a debut album as of December 3rd, 2025 entitled “Sole City” on the PJCE record label.
