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Draft:Kris Brownlee

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Kris Brownlee (born July 9, 1978) is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and music producer.

Kris Brownlee
Background information
Born (1978-07-09) July 9, 1978 (age 46)
Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States
GenresSmooth jazz, urban jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, producer
Instrument(s)Saxophone, guitar
Years active2001–present
LabelsMegawave Records
Websitekrisbrownlee.com

Biography

Kris Brownlee was born July 9, 1978 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He started playing classical alto saxophone in 4th grade. Brownlee attended Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he performed in the concert and jazz bands. He later graduated from Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana with two Bachelor's degrees in 2000. One in music performance and the other in psychology.[1]

After college Kris co-founded his smooth jazz, funk group, The Grooveside.[1] Under the Grooveside, Kris released two albums, Bitten by the Jazz Bug in 2001 and Gettin' Down in 2006.[2] The Grooveside became his alias for the next 11 years until he signed with Megawave Records in 2012, after which he started using and promoting his music under his own name, Kris Brownlee. [3] His debut album under Megawave Records, Sincerely Yours, released in 2013, features 4 songs that were produced by Grammy Award Winning Producer, Michael Broening. Other special guests on the album include guitarist, Jay Soto, Argentine vocalist, Gabriela Anders, and female trumpeter, Cindy Bradley.[4][5] In June 2013, The full Sincerely Yours album found it's way into the top 50 smooth jazz albums on SmoothJazz.com. The album also produced 2 singles that were among the most added to American smooth jazz radio stations. According to BDS radio, Up Front featuring Cindy Bradley was the 9th most added song in September 2013 and Solstice was the 17th most added song earlier that year in February 2013.[6]

Brownlee performs regularly in the United States at venues and festivals including Elkhart Jazz Festival[5], Niswonger Performing Arts Center, Scottish Rite Auditorium, Murat Center, Nugget Casino and Resort and has had the opportunity to take his talents overseas to play in Jamaica. Kris' music is distributed all over the world by MVD Entertainment in North America, Membran Media GmbH in Europe, and by BounDEE in Japan.[7]

Kris has performed with other top, well-named artists such as Stephen Foster (former Duke Ellington saxophonist), international trombone legend, Jiggs Whigham, and Chicago blues legend, Willie Kent.[7] Most recently Kris shared the stage with Swedish- born chart topper, Jonathan Fritzen at the Elkhart Jazz Festival 2018

In 2013, Kris was featured on WANE-TV in Fort Wayne, IN. Also in that year, Kris opened up for the legendary smooth jazz/fusion group, The Rippingtons.[8] In 2014, Kris became one of the very few American saxophonists endorsed by the Japanese company, Aizen of Japan.[9]

In 2018, Kris re-signed with Megawave Records to promote and distribute his upcoming album, Breathe: Night Sessions, which was released on June 8th, 2018. The first single off the album, "Meet Me There" is currently #58 on Smooth Jazz Network's top 100.[10] In July 2018 Kris made his Radiowave Smooth Jazz Top 100 Chart debut at #88.[11] In November 2018, Kris' Breathe: Night Sessions Album reached #36 on the Smoothjazz.com Radar Chart.

Discography

As Kris Brownlee
Album Release Date
Sincerely Yours[12][13] February 19, 2013
Breathe: Night Sessions[14] June 8, 2018
As The Grooveside
Album Release Date
Bitten by the Jazz Bug[15] 2001
Bigfoot soundtrack (Ego Trip)[15] 2004
Carpe Jazzum compilation CD (In my Room)[15] 2004
Gettin' Down[15] December 2006
As a sideman
Album Release Date
The Truth in Jazz Volume 1 2004

References

  1. ^ a b "Saxophonist fits music into busy life" (PDF). Ink News. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  2. ^ "Kris Brownlee - National Recording Artist". Kris Brownlee - National Recording Artist. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  3. ^ "Fort Wayne native signs music contract" (PDF). Grooveside Music Productions. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  4. ^ "Sincerely Yours Release Notes". www.megawavemusic.com. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  5. ^ a b "Kris Brownlee - Elkhart Jazz Festival". elkhartjazzfestival.com. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  6. ^ "Kris Brownlee - National Recording Artist". Kris Brownlee - National Recording Artist. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  7. ^ a b "Kris Brownlee Signed To Megawave Records". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  8. ^ "The Rippingtons @ Niswonger Performing Arts Ctr". Smooth Jazz Buzz. 2012-12-30. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  9. ^ "Testimonial from Kris Brownlee". www.sax.co.jp. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  10. ^ "Smooth Jazz Network Radio Stream | Top 100". Smooth Jazz Network Radio Stream. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  11. ^ "RadioWave Charts - RadioWave 100". www.radiowavemonitor.com. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  12. ^ "Release "Sincerely Yours" by Kris Brownlee - MusicBrainz". www.musicbrainz.org. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  13. ^ Sincerely Yours, MEGAWAVE RECORDS, 2013-02-19, retrieved 2018-02-16
  14. ^ Breathe: Night Sessions, Megawave, 2018-06-08, retrieved 2018-04-23
  15. ^ a b c d "Kris Brownlee - National Recording Artist". Kris Brownlee - National Recording Artist. Retrieved 2018-02-16.

External links