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To immediately listen to this month's Top Five vocalists, please Click Here Jason Brown Wins December SingerUniverse “Best Vocalist Of The Month” CompetitionBy Dale Kawashima Jason Brown, a gifted vocalist and multi-instrumentalist based in San Diego, CA, has won the December SingerUniverse “Best Vocalist Of The Month” Competition, for his performance of his song “Sing & Play.” Brown adeptly sang and played all of the instruments on this recording, including alto saxophone, which is his main instrument. “Sing & Play” is the title track of his 10-song CD Sing & Play, which was released in November 2003. Brown is currently writing and recording songs for his follow-up album.
“Sing & Play” is a song which blends jazz, R&B and gospel, and it’s an excellent showcase for Brown’s vocals and his saxophone playing. Brown’s vocal performance combines the smooth jazz & scat style of an Al Jarreau, with the more intense, soulful edge of an Aaron Hall. The song itself is fairly simple, with its steady repetition of the key line, “All I wanna do, is sing & play for you.” The “you” Brown is singing to in this song is the Lord; Brown is a devout Christian who has sung and played gospel music since his childhood. Brown was born in Los Angeles, then he moved with his parents to Harrisburg, PA when he was three. He started singing early on (from age 5) at church events, both as a solo singer, and in the choir. However, he suffered a tragedy when he was 13, when his father died, whom he was very close with. “I didn’t have any direction when my dad died,” recalled Brown. “So my grandmother and mother encouraged me to get into something to keep me occupied, and I chose music. I started to play saxophone, which I loved.” Brown became so skilled at saxophone that when he was 16, his church suggested that he record an album playing sax. He subsequently recorded a solo, instrumental album called Jason’s Beginning. Then following high school, Brown started to perform live (mostly in jazz clubs) with several bands. He also learned to play additional instruments, including keyboards and guitar.
In 2003, Brown recorded and produced his Sing & Play album, which consists of half vocal songs, and half instrumental songs featuring his sax playing. The album has fared well, selling 1,500 copies, and helping to establish Brown as a popular live performer in Southern California. Since the album’s release, Brown has been offered the opportunity to perform at many events. A definite highlight was when he played (on sax) the national anthem this spring, in front of 37,000 people, at the new PETCO Park stadium in San Diego, before a San Diego Padre game. He was the first African-American to perform the anthem at PETCO Park. Brown is continuing to build upon his success, and is currently recording his next album, which will be called Jason Brown ‘All Around Town’. Like its predecessor, the album will also consist of half vocal songs, and half instrumental songs. It is a testimony to his multiple skills as a musician, that he can create an album which showcases his equally impressive singing and saxophone playing.
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