Shawn Brown Band: Bio
Shawn Brown - Lead Vocals, Keyboards
Shawn Brown, master of the Hammond B3 and Most Soulful Vocalist this side of the Mississippi, was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. As a child, guidance from an equally talented mother taught him the fundamentals of music. "When I was a little boy, we used to practice. The whole family used to play music, and I ended up learning the blues changes basically by playing Gospel. It all kinda comes from each other, compliments each other."
Making Tampa, Florida home since 1980, Shawn played with 'Blackstar' who scored a local hit with "Animal Attraction" and toured Japan in "The Precision Band." He has opened for Howard Hewitt, Roger & Zapp, and Stephanie Mills. Shawn also has shared the stage with Al Green, Clarence Clemons, Christopher Cross, Earth Wind & Fire, Keith Sweat, Ronnie Earl, Lucky Peterson, Little Milton and Percy Sledge.
Shawn cites his main influences in music as Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Billy Preston and George Benson.
Mike MacArthur - Tenor Saxophone
In 1998 Mike MacArthur took the tenor sax chair on Maynard Ferguson’s Big Bop Neavou Band. After touring North America, Europe and Asia for two years with Maynard, mike made the decision to leave the band to start his own solo career. Later in 2000, Mike released his first solo CD “Paradise Point”. Then in 2002, he released “Deal Me In” and continues to perform and tour the country along with artists like Diane Schuur and Richard Smith. Other artists Mike has had the pleasure of working with include Jeff Kashiwa, Rick Derringer, Chieli Minucci, Mary Wilson & The Supremes, Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), and many more. (listed below)
Born in upstate New York, Mike started as a guitar player and eventually moved to the saxophone. After leaving high school Mike attended Florida State University and Manhattan School of Music. Some of Mike’s achievements include Best Young Jazz Instrumentalist in Downbeat Magazine’s Student Music Awards, 1993 as well as performances at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday in October 2000 and 2002 Currently living in Tampa Florida, Mike leads his own band locally along with touring as a sideman with national acts. Mikes inspiration comes from a variety of players and styles. From the be-bop sounds of Charlie Parker to the modern sounds of Michael Brecker, Mike approaches his music with fire and passion.
Basil Powell - guitar
BASIL (B U POWELL) HAS PERFORMED AND SHARED THE STAGE WITH WHO'S WHO IN R&B AND JAZZ, INCLUDING THE GAP BAND, BOBBY MARCHAN, AND FRANKIE LEE JUST TO NAME A FEW. FORMALLY THE LEAD GUITARIST FOR THE LEGENDARY JOHNNY TAYLOR BASIL NOW HAS MADE HIS HOME IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA WHERE HE CONTINUES HIS CAREER PERFORMING WITH THE (B3 MASTER) SHAWN BROWN BAND, LADYFINGERS JAZZ QUARTET, (SOUL BROTHERS SIX) LESTER FREEMAN & D'BAND, RON CARMICHAEL MUSIC, AND JAZZ PRINCESS RHONDA PAREMORE.... RECENTLY,BASIL COMPLETED A TWO SEASON TELEVISION PROJECT W/RON ROSSON & FRIENDS, WHERE HE HAD A CHANCE TO EXPLORE HIS GOSPEL ROOTS, ALSO PERFORMING WITH PHIL DRISCHOL AND RON KENOLLY. KNICKNAMED DR. FUNKABLAZZ (BECAUSE OF HIS FUNKY/BLUES/JAZZ APPROACH TO MUSIC) BASIL IS NOW FOCUSSING HIS CREATIVE EFFORTS IN THE STUDIO, ON A SOLO KOOL JAZZ JOINT. COMPLETING A SOLO FUNK/GOSPEL CD (TO BE RELEASED) BASIL CONTINUES HIS LIVE PERFORMANCES AND IS OPEN FOR SESSION AND SIDE MUSCIAN WORK...
Nate Najar - guitar
Nate Najar is one of those versatile artists who is equally at home in a jazz, classical, r&b, blues, gospel or even rock setting. Trained as a classical guitarist, Nate then spent years diving head first into straight ahead jazz. Known as one of the few guitarists who play jazz on a classical guitar, many don't realize that this same guitarist can lay down the perfect funky rhythm part or soulful electric guitar lead.
Nate's love of all different styles of music has placed him in such diverse musical situations as a featured jazz soloist at the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington DC, to backing up gospel diva Damita Haddon on her hit 2008 release "No Looking Back". Some of the notable (and stylistically diverse!) artists Nate has performed with include jazz legends Clark Terry and Bucky Pizzarelli and smooth jazz stalwarts like Marion Meadows and Brian Simpson.