Pianist adding own sound to Vegas jazz scene

Jazz pianist/composer/producer Vernell Brown Jr.'s resume is almost as outsized as his chops. Read on, and get hip to the guy's legacy:

What does Vernell Brown Jr.'s music sound like?

"My compositions swing from bebop to contemporary jazz. It has been compared to Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters."

You're releasing two new albums, "Do You Really Love Me" and "13 Letters." How do they compare to one another?

" 'Do You Really Love Me' is contemporary jazz and '13 Letters' is Euro-classic."

You've collaborated with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie to Herb Alpert to Gladys Knight. What did you take away from playing with people like that?

"When I performed with Kenny Garrett in the south of France we shared the stage with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland -- I experienced a sense of family versus just playing music.

"My personal encounter with Herb Alpert was in the recording studio. Herb has an incredible sense of humanity. He wasn't egotistical and stated, 'Vernell, whatever you like about my solo, you can use and whatever you don't you can take out.' His open heart and generosity is bigger than life.

"Gladys Knight is a powerful leader and because of her, many doors have been opened for jazz musicians around the world."

Vegas has a rich jazz history. How would you characterize this city in terms of its jazz legacy? And where does it stand today?

"Jazz in Vegas today is innovative, multifaceted and moving forward primarily due to the contributions of jazz greats, Roy Haynes, radio pioneers such as KUNV's music director Kim Linzy and all of the personalities at KUNV and venues like The Freakin' Frog. They are reshaping the face of jazz in Vegas today."

Hear Vernell Brown Jr. at vernellbrownjr.com.

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.