When Maurice Brown blows his trumpet, folks notice. His irrefutable energy, talent and focus continually surprise audiences like those at his weekly performances at New Orleans’ Snug Harbor club. “I get wrapped up in the music” is how Brown explains his exuberance, which also fills his self-released debut CD, Hip to Bop (Brown). “I’m always having fun on stage. That’s where I’m the happiest.”
The 23-year-old Chicago native and New Orleans resident of three years has perked up ears since he was teenager. Wynton Marsalis recognized his skills while conducting a workshop, and Brown later caught Ramsey Lewis’ attention while performing with the National Grammy Band, which led the pianist to invite the trumpeter to perform with him at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall. And Brown’s appearance on saxophonist Fred Anderson’s 2003 release, Back at the Velvet Lounge (Delmark), ignited even more inquiries about the sizzling young trumpeter.
