Jazz prodigy heads home for free performances

From France to Israel and numerous other places in between, jazz performer Vernell Brown Jr. has played in shows throughout the world.

Come this weekend, however, he returns Las Vegas - the place he considers home - for performances set for 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at Whole Foods Market, 8855 W. Charleston Blvd., and 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at MonteLago Village at Lake Las Vegas, 30 Strada di Villaggio. The performances are free and open to the public.

"I think what is so special about performing in Las Vegas is it's the only city where you can visit every country, and it never sleeps," Brown said. "If you want to go to Egypt, you visit the Luxor. If you want to go to Rome, visit Caesars. There's something very special about this town. This is a town with life, and I'm proud to know I actually have a residence here."

Brown has performed on the Strip in the past alongside music icons such as Gladys Knight and Prince. This time, he's taking a short break from a European tour with Kenny Garrett and performing with his trio and quintet Friday and Saturday , respectively. He said the performances are set to feature music from his new CD, "World Peace, New World," slated for release in November.

"There's this new thing I'm doing with jazz where I'm releasing a record with jazz and a Native American (music) style," Brown said. "I'll be performing 'Destination Number One,' which is a duet with Gary Powell (drummer) and has a Native American twist. I'll also be performing 'Whoever You Are,' which is the first single from the new record."

"World Peace, New World" is Brown's sixth release in a career that spans more than 30 years. Brown, originally from Los Angeles , began playing the drums at age 4 and the violin in elementary school before picking up the piano as a teenager. His mother, a singer, and father, a composer, pianist and guitarist, influenced his musical career.

Brown recorded his debut album "A Total Eclipse" at age 18 in 1990 and has since experienced a career that has connected him with several musicians and friends, such as Grammy Award winners Miles Davis and Garrett.

One such friend, Powell, the drummer for Brown's band, said working with the longtime jazz musician has been one of the most enjoyable times of his life.

"I've been in music most of my life, and this is the first band I've been a part of that's so close and has no egos," Powell said. "We wrote 'Destination Number One' just by playing. Magic appears when we're just playing. We're like a family, and there's a lot of magic between us."

Powell, a native Las Vegan, hopes that magic comes through at this weekend's performances, where he expects some familiar faces and a couple of surprises.

"Being born and raised here, I'm looking forward to seeing friends who were also born and raised here," Powell said. "It's just going to be a wonderful time. We may just break out and record something while we're playing."

Though he's not a native of Las Vegas, Brown hopes those who attend the shows in town will recognize his passion for jazz and an area he has called "home" for a large part of his life.

"We need to keep jazz alive because jazz is America's true art form," Brown said. "Las Vegas is the entertainment hub, and we're keeping jazz alive in Las Vegas."

For more information on Friday's show, call 254-8655. For more details on Saturday's performance, call 564-4766.

Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Lisa Carter at lcarter@viewnews.com or 383-4686.