Jazz Articles

The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra: The Music of Donald Brown

by Dave Nathan
February 1, 2001

Established in August of 1999, the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra is made up of professional musicians from the Mid South region. Led by trumpeter Vance Thompson, the group's maiden album is a series of live performances made in 2000. All but two of the compositions on this set are by Donald Brown, “Shade Street" and “Dearest Emily" come from the pen of Thompson. Brown was raised in Memphis and attended the university there. While in school he made a name for ...