John V. Brown Jr.
Professor of the Practice of Music
Bassist, composer, producer, actor and educator John Brown is a native of Fayetteville, NC. He is a graduate of the School of Music at UNC-Greensboro, and the School of Law at UNC-Chapel Hill. John has performed for President & Mrs. Barack Obama, and at major venues and festivals in the United States and abroad with artists like Wynton, Ellis and Delfeayo Marsalis, Elvin Jones, Diahann Carroll, Rosemary Clooney, Cedar Walton, and Nicholas Payton. He boasts a Grammy® Nomination for his performance and co-writing on Nnenna Freelon's 1995 Concord release, "Shaking Free." Equally gifted in classical music, John has performed as a substitute with the North Carolina Symphony since 1992, and performs with the Opera Company of North Carolina and the Carolina Ballet. John’s extensive performance experience includes feature films, television movies, theater, and recordings. He has taught at Duke University since 2001, and is currently the Director of the Jazz Program and Professor of the Practice of Music. He has also been a faculty member at UNC-Chapel Hill, NC Central University, NC State University and Guilford College. In addition to teaching and performing, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program and is a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild. He served on the juries that awarded the 2017 and 2019 Pulitzer Prizes in Music, and he has served on numerous grant panels including the National Endowment for the Arts and the North Carolina Arts Council. John is a YAMAHA® Certified String Instructor and is an Acoustic Image®, AMT®, Epifani® and Warwick® Artist. Learn more at jbjazz.com.
Office Hours
Current Appointments & Affiliations
- Professor of the Practice of Music, Music, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2018
- Vice Provost for the Arts, Institutes and Provost's Academic Units, Duke University 2020
Contact Information
- Biddle Music Building, Office 064, Durham, NC 27708
- Box 90665, Durham, NC 27708-0665
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jbrown@duke.edu
(919) 660-3385
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The Official website for John Brown
- Background
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Education, Training, & Certifications
- J.D., University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill 2000
- B.Mus., University of North Carolina - Greensboro 1994
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Previous Appointments & Affiliations
- Core Faculty in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Initiatives 2018 - 2021
- Associate Professor of the Practice of Music, Music, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2008 - 2018
- Director of the Jazz Program, Music, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2004 - 2014
- Assistant Professor of the Practice of Music, Music, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2004 - 2008
- Recognition
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In the News
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JUL 8, 2021 Duke Magazine -
JUN 11, 2020 -
APR 20, 2020 Duke Arts -
FEB 26, 2016 -
AUG 26, 2015 IndyWeek -
MAR 5, 2015 -
FEB 2, 2015 -
DEC 11, 2014 -
DEC 3, 2014 Indy Week -
NOV 6, 2014 -
DEC 20, 2013 WUNC Radio -
SEP 25, 2013 Triangle Arts & Entertainment
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Awards & Honors
- Tarheel of the Week. News & Observer. March 2009
- Expertise
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Subject Headings
- Research
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Selected Grants
- TDE Arts - Phase 2 awarded by Duke Endowment 2022 - 2026
- Publications & Artistic Works
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Exhibitions, Screenings, & Performances
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Richmond, VA 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Raleigh, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Fearringon House, Chapel Hill, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Durham, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Durham, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Garner, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Durham, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Garner, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | Annual Taste of Durham Festival at Durham, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, SC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Newberry, SC. 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | Jazz fights Malaria fundraiser at Durham, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Brunswick County Community College, Bolivia, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Thalian Hall in Wilmington, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at NC School of Science and Mathematics 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | cARTwheels tour at Statesville, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | cARTwheels tour at Kinston, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | cARTwheels tour at Hamlet, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | cARTwheels tour at Lumberton, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | cARTwheels tour at Durham, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Pinehurst, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | Sweet Arts at the Durham Arts Council fundraiser at Durham, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Friday Center, Chapel Hill, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | Grove Park Inn's Annual Jazz Weekend. at Asheville, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Hayti Heritage Center, Durham, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Oriental, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Nash Community College, Rocky Mount, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at College of the Albermarle, Elizabeth City, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2009 | at Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC 2009
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | First Night Celebration at Raleigh, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Downtown Raleigh, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Durham and Raleigh, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | Durham Christmas parade at Durham, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Spartanburg, SC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Durham, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Willamsburg, VA 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Durham, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Fayetteville, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | Dizzy Gillespie Jazz Festival at Cheraw, SC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Wilson, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Wilmington, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at the Hayes Performing Arts Center, Blowing Rock, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Durham, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | Duke Jazz Festival at Durham, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | Duke Jazz Festival at Durham, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Pittsboro, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Blowing Rock, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | Cadillac Jazz Festival at Ft. Worth, TX 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Ft. Worth, TX 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Bristol, TN 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | Unitarian Church Concert series. at Raleigh, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | Mt. Gretna Jazz Festival at Mt. Gretna, PA 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Andy Griffith Playhouse, Mt. Airy, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | CD release party for Lois Deloatch at Durham, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Ft. Worth, TX 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | Jazz on the Green at Durham, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at White Rock Baptist Church, Durham, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Cary, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | Artsplosure at Raleigh, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Charlotte, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Greensboro, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Raleigh, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | Hillsborough Jazz festival. at Hillsborough, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Raleigh, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | Unnamed event 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | New Bern Jazz Festival at New Bern, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Thalian Hall 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Kitty Hawk, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Diana Wortham Theater, Asheville, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Raleigh, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Wilmington, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | UNC Jazz Festival 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Greenville, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Nash Community College, Rocky Mount, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Hayti Hertiage Center, Durham 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Durham, NC 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2008 | at Wilmington 2008
- John V Brown: Performances, 2005 | at Diana Wortham Theater, Asheville, NC 2005
- John V Brown: Performances, 2005 | Unnamed event 2005
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Artistic Works & Non-Print Media
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Audio Recordings
- John Brown featuring Ray Codrington - Songs I Love. Musician, Producer. 2010
- Setting Standards. Musician. 2010
- Swingin' in the Crib. Musician. 2010
- Untitled. Musician. 2010
- Insight at Midnight. Musician. 2009
- Jazz-N-Brass for Christmas. Musician. 2009
- The Ft. Worth Jazz Orchestra. Musician. 2009
- Think Tank. Musician. 2009
- Untitled. Musician. 2009
- TV show - One Tree Hill. Musician. 2008
- Once Upon A Dream. Musician. 2007
- Merry Christmas, Baby. Musician. 2007
- Terms of Art - A Tribute to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Vol. 1. Musician. 2007
- The John Brown Quintet - LIVE at the Carolina Theatre. Musician. 2005
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Mixed Media
- Quiet Time. Composer, Musician, Producer. Audio Recording, Musical Composition. 2013
- field recordings. Creator. Audio Recording, Radio / Television Program. 2008
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Musical Performances
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- Teaching & Mentoring
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Recent Courses
- ARTHIST 190FS: Topics in Art History 2023
- CULANTH 190FS: Special Topics in Focus 2023
- DOCST 190FS: Focus Program Topics in Documentary Studies 2023
- FOCUS 195FS: Special Topics in Focus 2023
- MUSIC 190FS: Focus Seminar 2023
- MUSIC 210-4: Jazz Ensemble 2023
- ARTHIST 190FS: Topics in Art History 2022
- CULANTH 190FS: Special Topics in Focus 2022
- DOCST 190FS: Focus Program Topics in Documentary Studies 2022
- FOCUS 195FS: Special Topics in Focus 2022
- MUSIC 190FS: Focus Seminar 2022
- MUSIC 210-4: Jazz Ensemble 2022
- MUSIC 210-4: Jazz Ensemble 2021
- MUSIC 393: Research Independent Study 2021
- Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
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Presentations & Appearances
- Covering the Basses. November 8, 2010 2010
- Performances of the John Brown Jazz Orchestra. November 7, 2010 2010
- ArtsMarket. November 10, 2009 2009
- Jazz. November 3, 2009 2009
- Jazz. February 16, 2009 2009
- Chamber Music America. January 16, 2009 2009
- Association of Professional Arts Presenters. January 9, 2009 2009
- North Carolina Presenters Consortium. January 13, 2008 2008
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Service to the Profession
- Board Member : Duke Cancer Patient Support Program. December 2, 2009 2009
- instructor. Master Classes. October 29, 2009 2009
- Judge : Drum Competition. October 15, 2009 2009
- Judge : Drum Competition. October 1, 2009 2009
- instructor. Master Classes. September 29, 2009 2009
- instructor. Master Classes. September 15, 2009 2009
- Participant : Peer review. September 5, 2009 - December 2, 2009 2009
- Executive Board : North Carolina Presenters Consortim. June 15, 2009 2009
- Faculty in Residence. June 1, 2009 2009
- instructor. Master Classes. May 29, 2009 2009
- instructor. Master Classes. May 9, 2009 2009
- instructor. Master Classes. March 5, 2009 2009
- instructor. Master Classes. March 3, 2009 2009
- instructor. Master Classes. February 23, 2009 2009
- instructor. Master Classes. February 17, 2009 2009
- instructor. Master Classes. February 11, 2009 2009
- instructor. Master Classes. February 5, 2009 2009
- instructor. Master Classes. December 16, 2008 2008
- Academic Advising. January 14, 2008 2008
- Faculty Resident. January 14, 2008 2008
- Board Member : Duke Cancer Patient Support Program. January 1, 2008 2008
Some information on this profile has been compiled automatically from Duke databases and external sources. (Our About page explains how this works.) If you see a problem with the information, please write to Scholars@Duke and let us know. We will reply promptly.