John Brown

John Brown is a bassist, composer, educator, producer, speaker, actor, and consultant from Fayetteville, NC, now based in Durham. He earned degrees from UNC Greensboro’s School of Music and UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Law. Since 2001, he has taught at Duke University, where he is Director of the Jazz Program and Professor of the Practice. He also completed a five-year term as Duke’s first Vice Provost for the Arts and has taught at several other North Carolina institutions Including UNC-Chapel Hill and NCCU.

A professional performer since his teens, John has performed with the NC Symphony and appeared internationally with artists like Wynton, Ellis & Delfeayo Marsalis, Elvin Jones, Nnenna Freelon, Cyrus Chestnut, Diahann Carroll, Lou Donaldson, Cedar Walton.. He’s performed for President Barack Obama and at festivals across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

His accolades include a GRAMMY nomination (Nnenna Freelon’s Shaking Free), an EMMY nomination for producing Duke's Student Arts Showcase, and numerous credits as a producer and performer. His film One Night in Kernersville won awards at the Full Frame and Charlotte Film Festivals and aired on the Documentary Channel.

John has served as Chair for the Pulitzer Prize in Music multiple time, and as a juror for the NEA. He’s directed youth jazz ensembles, led education residencies nationwide, and is a member of the SAG and NARAS. He endorses Warwick basses, Epifani amps, and Pirastro strings, and serves on boards including the Nina Simone Charitable Trust and Discover Durham. Learn more at jbjazz.com.