Clarinet, bandleader. Another self-taught European player, Brown's tastes and style evolved from strictly traditional to mainstream and jazz-rock over the course of his career. He led a traditional jazz and swing band in Scotland in the mid-'40s. Brown moved to London in 1954, where he played occasionally with British musicians Humphrey Littleton, Ken Colyer and Chris Barber. He recorded often as a leader from 1949 - 1973, and also used his trumpeter Al Fairweather's name as a leader on some dates in the '50s and early '60s. Brown made other recordings with Sammy Price, Brian Lemon and Phil Seamon in the late '60s and early '70s, then cut in America with Earle Warren in 1974. He also authored a series of essays and autobiographical notes that were released in London in 1979, four years after his death. ~ Ron Wynn, Rovi