Kris Brownlee (born July 9, 1978) is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and music producer.

Kris Brownlee
Background information
Born (1978-07-09) July 9, 1978 (age 46)
Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States
GenresClassical, Smooth jazz, urban jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, Film Composer, Producer
Instrument(s)Saxophone, guitar
Years active2001–present
LabelsMegawave Records
Websitekrisbrownlee.com

Biography

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Kris Brownlee was born July 9, 1978 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He started playing classical alto saxophone in 4th grade. Brownlee attended Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he performed in the concert and jazz bands. He later graduated from Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana with two Bachelor's degrees in 2000. One in music performance and the other in psychology.[1]

After college Kris co-founded his smooth jazz, funk group, The Grooveside.[1] Under the Grooveside, Kris released two albums, Bitten by the Jazz Bug in 2001 and Gettin' Down in 2006.[2] The Grooveside became his alias for the next 11 years until he signed with Megawave Records in 2012, after which he started using and promoting his music under his own name, Kris Brownlee. [3] His debut album under Megawave Records, Sincerely Yours, released in 2013, features 4 songs that were produced by Grammy Award Winning Producer, Michael Broening. Other special guests on the album include guitarist, Jay Soto, Argentine vocalist, Gabriela Anders, and female trumpeter, Cindy Bradley.[4][5] In June 2013, The full Sincerely Yours album found it's way into the top 50 smooth jazz albums on SmoothJazz.com. The album also produced 2 singles that were among the most added to American smooth jazz radio stations. According to BDS radio, Up Front featuring Cindy Bradley was the 9th most added song in September 2013 and Solstice was the 17th most added song earlier that year in February 2013.[6]

Brownlee performs regularly across the United States at venues and festivals including the Blue Note Napa, Elkhart Jazz Festival[5], Niswonger Performing Arts Center, Scottish Rite Auditorium, Murat Center, Nugget Casino and Resort and has had the opportunity to take his talents overseas to play in Jamaica. Kris' music is distributed all over the world by MVD Entertainment in North America, Membran Media GmbH in Europe, and by BounDEE in Japan.[7]

Kris has performed with other top, well-named artists such as Mindi Abair, Grace Kelly, Stephen Foster (former Duke Ellington saxophonist), international trombone legend, Jiggs Whigham, and Chicago blues legend, Willie Kent.[7] Most recently Kris shared the stage with Swedish- born chart topper, Jonathan Fritzen in 2018, Billboard Smooth Jazz chart topper, Carol Albert, and drummer Sofia Goodman at the 2021 Elkhart Jazz Festival.

Kris recently joined NAACP Image award winning saxophonist for best jazz album[8], Jazmin Ghent, as a guest performer on her 2022 U.S. Domestic Tour.

In 2013, Kris was featured on WANE-TV in Fort Wayne, IN. Also in that year, Kris opened up for the legendary smooth jazz/fusion group, The Rippingtons.[9] In 2014, Kris became one of the very few American saxophonists endorsed by the Japanese company, Aizen of Japan.[10]

In 2018, Kris re-signed with Megawave Records to promote and distribute his upcoming album, Breathe: Night Sessions, which was released on June 8th, 2018. In June 2018, Kris Brownlee was featured in the popular lifestyle magazine, Style Quarterly.[11] The first single off the album, "Meet Me There" is currently #58 on Smooth Jazz Network's top 100.[12] In July 2018 Kris made his Radiowave Smooth Jazz Top 100 Chart debut at #88.[13] In November 2018, Kris' Breathe: Night Sessions Album reached #36 on the Smoothjazz.com Radar Chart.

In 2019, Kris traveled to Seattle Washington to study under Emmy Award Winning Film Composer, Hummie Mann, best known for his soundtrack on the Mel Brooks classic film Robin Hood Men In Tights. Kris also joined Emmy Award Winning indie rock band, The Bergamot, for their 2021 Christmas special, A South Shore Christmas. The filming for the Christmas special actually took place in December 2020. Since that filming, Kris has become a regular special-guest performer on saxophone with The Bergamot.

According to Lila Fierek of the Goshen News, Kris currently serves as the Talent Coordinator for the Elkhart Jazz Festival in Elkhart, Indiana where he books national and international talent for the festival. He also continues to perform at this festival on a regular basis.[14] In 2024, Kris now serves as the principal saxophonist for the Elkhart Symphony Orchestra when ever saxophones are required in certain musical selections.

Discography

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As Kris Brownlee
Album Release Date
Sincerely Yours[15] February 19, 2013
Breathe: Night Sessions June 8, 2018
As The Grooveside
Album Release Date
Bitten by the Jazz Bug[16] 2001
Bigfoot Soundtrack (Ego Trip)[16] 2004
Carpe Jazzum compilation CD (In my Room)[16] 2004
Gettin' Down[16] December 2006
As a sideman
Album Release Date
The Truth in Jazz Volume 1 2004

References

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  1. ^ a b "Saxophonist fits music into busy life" (PDF). Ink News.
  2. ^ "Kris Brownlee - National Recording Artist". Kris Brownlee - National Recording Artist. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  3. ^ "Fort Wayne native signs music contract" (PDF). Grooveside Music Productions. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-07-31.
  4. ^ "Sincerely Yours Release Notes". www.megawavemusic.com. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  5. ^ a b "Kris Brownlee - Elkhart Jazz Festival". elkhartjazzfestival.com. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  6. ^ "Kris Brownlee - National Recording Artist". Kris Brownlee - National Recording Artist. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  7. ^ a b "Kris Brownlee Signed To Megawave Records". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  8. ^ "50th NAACP Image Awards: Here Are The Winners". HuffPost. 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  9. ^ "The Rippingtons @ Niswonger Performing Arts Ctr". Smooth Jazz Buzz. 2012-12-30. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  10. ^ "Testimonial from Kris Brownlee". www.sax.co.jp. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  11. ^ Quarterly, Style (7 June 2018). "Saxophonist Kris Brownlee Returns With A New Collection Of Originals | StyleQuarterly". Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  12. ^ "Smooth Jazz Network Radio Stream | Top 100". Smooth Jazz Network Radio Stream. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  13. ^ "RadioWave Charts - RadioWave 100". www.radiowavemonitor.com. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  14. ^ NEWS, LILA FIEREK THE GOSHEN (2023-06-16). "Elkhart Jazz Festival celebrates 35 years". Goshen News. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  15. ^ "Release "Sincerely Yours" by Kris Brownlee - MusicBrainz". www.musicbrainz.org. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  16. ^ a b c d "Kris Brownlee - National Recording Artist". Kris Brownlee - National Recording Artist. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
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