Jazz Articles about Derek Brown

Derek Brown: Whatever the Case May Be

by Geno Thackara
March 22, 2023

Derek Brown: All Figured Out

by Jerome Wilson
March 7, 2021

Tenor player Derek Brown has made a name for himself with a concept called “BEATBoX SAX," a method of playing saxophone in a continuous stream of pops, honks, melody and slap-tonguing that comes out like a hip-hop variation on Boots Randolph's old novelty tune. “Yakety Sax." He has put several videos on YouTube of him doing this solo, but on this recording, he shows he is far more than a novelty act. He uses his technique in large ensemble compositions ...

Jeff Coffin / Derek Brown: Symbiosis

by Robin B James
February 25, 2021

Rhyming dragons and synergetic saxophilia, in seven tracks. Two monsters of the single reed doing the sway. Oh, wait, what about the rhythm section? They brought their own! This duo has the intuitive chemistry that comes only from epochs of experience playing together. Jeff Coffin on tenor saxophone, bass flute, bass clarinet, and clarinet; one finishes the other's groove. Derek Brown on the tenor saxophone, baritone baritone, saxophone percussion (that's the slap-beat thing he is famous for), and of course ...

Derek Brown and The Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra: All Figured Out

by Geno Thackara
October 22, 2020

Whatever you imagine when you think of big bands, it's nothing quite like this. While Derek Brown can ably channel the snappy spirit of golden-age jazz--and certainly does here, with happy hard-swinging results--his spirit in composing and bandleading could not be more thoroughly modern. The same can be said of his approach to his instrument, as shown by the breathy percussive “beatbox sax" which has become a social-media-famous trademark. Brown's catchy hooks and grooves here sound like those of an ...

Derek Brown: All Figured Out

by Robin B James
September 9, 2020

The recommended first exposure to this guy originally from Alma, Michigan, saxophonist Derek Brown, is through YouTube. His solo adventures and small ensemble numbers (mostly duets) are great fun. He has a very playful spirit and complicated sense of humor. He likes to play in acoustically interesting places which range from creepy but beautifully lit old abandoned houses to grain silos, warehouses, odd echoey chambers, huge wet basements, and well, the fun is seeing it for yourself. Saxophones are powerful ...

Derek Brown: Beatbox Sax

by Dan McClenaghan
September 18, 2016

One man bands are something of a novelty: some guy with a half a dozen instruments (or more)--guitar, drums, harmonica--affixed to his body in various ways. Saxophonist Derek Brown blows the one man band route with just the saxophone on Beatbox Sax. The first reaction on spinning the disc, opening with Brown's original composition, “Catch 'Em Up," could understandably be: “That's not live, he's slipping in loops and salting the saxophonic sonic stew in the studio with electronics." ...