MAURICE BROWN

Biography

Maurice 'Mobetta' Brown is a Grammy Award-winning trumpeter, composer, arranger, and producer, celebrated for his dynamic presence across jazz, blues-rock, and hip-hop. Born on January 6, 1981, in Harvey, Illinois, Brown showed early promise on the trumpet, winning the prestigious national Miles Davis Trumpet Competition as a teenager. He studied under legendary clarinetist Alvin Batiste at Southern University in Louisiana, after beginning his studies at Northern Illinois University. Brown's debut album, 'Hip to Bop,' recorded in New Orleans, established his reputation for blending be-bop with contemporary jazz influences.

After Hurricane Katrina, Brown relocated first to Chicago and then to Brooklyn, New York, where he continued to evolve his sound and collaborate with a wide range of artists. He formed his own quintet, revived his hip-hop/funk group Soul'd U Out, and worked with luminaries such as Aretha Franklin, Wyclef Jean, De La Soul, Macy Gray, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Lettuce, and The Roots. His album 'The Cycle of Love' received critical acclaim, with NPR and Huffington Post naming it among the best records of the year. Brown's versatility led him to join the Tedeschi Trucks Band, where he arranged horns for their Grammy-winning debut album 'Revelator.'

Brown's musical style is defined by a seamless fusion of jazz improvisation, hip-hop rhythms, and soulful melodies. His 2014 project 'Maurice vs. Mobetta' showcased his alter-ego as a rapper and producer, remixing jazz horn lines with hip-hop beats and featuring collaborations with Talib Kweli, Prodigy, and Jean Grae. Brown continues to push boundaries, producing and performing across genres while inspiring a new generation of musicians with his innovative approach.

Fun Facts

• Maurice Brown won the national Miles Davis Trumpet Competition as a teenager.
• He created the horn arrangements for the Tedeschi Trucks Band's debut album 'Revelator', which won a Grammy for Best Blues Album in 2012.
• Brown performs under the alter-ego 'Mobetta', blending trumpet performance with rapping and production.
• After Hurricane Katrina, he relocated from New Orleans to Brooklyn, which marked a turning point in his genre-blending career.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Alvin Batiste - Studied jazz under Batiste at Southern University, shaping his improvisational and compositional skills. (Guidance during college years, foundational to Brown's early career.) [Early 2000s]
• Ramsey Lewis - Early supporter; hired Brown to perform after hearing him in the National High School GRAMMY Band. (Live performances with Lewis's band.) [Late 1990s]

Key Collaborators

• Tedeschi Trucks Band - Band member and horn arranger; contributed trumpet and arrangements. (Album 'Revelator' (2011, Grammy-winning), live tours.) [2010–2012]
• Aretha Franklin - Session and live trumpet work. (Live performances, studio sessions.) [2000s–2010s]
• De La Soul - Studio collaborations. (Studio recordings.) [2000s–2010s]
• Talib Kweli - Featured artist and producer. (Album 'Maurice vs. Mobetta', 'The Mood'.) [2014–2017]
• Jean Grae - Featured artist. (Album 'Maurice vs. Mobetta'.) [2014]
• Prodigy - Featured artist. (Album 'Maurice vs. Mobetta'.) [2014]
• Wyclef Jean - Studio collaborations. (Studio recordings.) [2000s–2010s]
• The Roots - Studio and live collaborations. (Studio recordings, performances.) [2000s–2010s]

Artists Influenced

• Emerging jazz and hip-hop trumpeters - Brown's genre-blending approach and technical mastery have inspired younger musicians to explore cross-genre collaborations. (Not specified; influence evident in contemporary jazz/hip-hop scenes.) [2010s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Finish Line (Soul In The Horn (Act 1))

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia