ITG 2004

Kevin Hupe, Reporter

Alan Hood moderated a very interesting panel titled “The Legacy of Clifford Brown.” The panel consisted of Bobby Shew, Ira Sullivan, and the sister of the late Clifford Brown, Geneva Brown-Griffin. The session began with the playing of two ballads off the album Clifford Brown with Strings including the song Stardust.

Moderator Alan Hood began by asking Geneva Brown Griffin to tell the audience a bit about the early life of her brother Clifford. She explained that Clifford was the sixth child of eight children in her family. She said he was a “very nice boy” and shared personal stories of their relationship as

Geneva Brown-Griffin

brother and sister. Their father was very musical and had many instruments around the house that no one played until Clifford began to play the trumpet. His first trumpet teacher said surprisingly that as a beginner Brown was not particularly outstanding but apparently somewhere along the way that changed in the largest way possible.

Ira Sullivan spoke of meeting Clifford Brown, and how Clifford Brown became one of the strongest influences in his musical life. He was impressed by Brown’s lyrical, musical style that was accomplished in the “normal” range of the trumpet rather than extending the range upward.

Bobby Shew shared that Clifford Brown was one of the biggest influences for him as well. He stated that on first hearing the music of Clifford Brown, he did not like him but on further reflection he realized it was because Brown did so many seemingly impossible things with his trumpet. He felt that Clifford Brown was one of the best role models for trumpet technique, musicality, and taste. Shew mentioned that you can hear in Clifford Brown’s tone quality his niceness and sincerity as a person.

Shew said there are two ways he looks at the music of Clifford Brown. First he looks at it as a player trying to play and become better on his instrument and second, he examines Brown as a teacher. Shew said that there was a great deal to be learned by listening to the tapes made of Clifford Brown practicing. Brown was meticulous in his practice and there is a great deal to learn just from listening to the tapes.

The session concluded with questions from the audience. The panel continued to share personal anecdotes and stories throughout the discussion, and this shed valuable light on the legacy of Clifford Brown for those lucky enough to attend.