For bassist and educator John Brown, leading the NC Coltrane All-Star Band at the John Coltrane International Jazz & Blues Festival isn’t just another gig—it’s a homecoming wrapped in legacy, love, and reverence. There’s something sacred about returning to a place that shaped your beginnings—especially when that place carries the spirit of a legend like John Coltrane. The Sunday, Aug. 31st performance that will feature acclaimed vocalist José James is one of the true highlights of the festival, and is proudly sponsored this year by Wellcare Healthplans, Inc. and CenterWell Senior Primary Care.
IN THE BLACK
Brown’s roots in the Triad run deep, dating back to his student days at UNC-Greensboro, where he first fell in love with jazz. With longtime collaborator Thomas Taylor, he formed In the Black, a quartet that lit up the region and shared stages with the late Melva Houston. Now, decades later, Brown returns not only as a performer but as a torchbearer for Coltrane’s harmonic and spiritual ethos.
“I’m inspired by many different things in this unique space that honors John Coltrane,” Brown says, “I’m honored to come to my second home and be a part of this festival.”
This year, Brown brings with him a special guest—acclaimed vocalist José James, whom he describes as an artist who has a “depth of commitment and occupies a space of connection.” James is known for blending jazz with hip-hop and soul, but it’s his sincerity, both on and off the mic, that drew Brown to collaborate. “He’s not only a good singer,” Brown adds. “In addition to liking him as an artist, I like him as a person—as a human being.”
AN INDELIBLE MARK
Greg Tardy (L), Elvin Jones (C), John Brown (R)-Jan. 1994
Brown’s own accolades span Grammy and Emmy nominations, and performances alongside jazz greats like Elvin Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Cedar Walton, and Rosemary Clooney. But it’s his encounter with Elvin Jones that left an indelible mark. “To be the one person who has that connection – one degree removed from Coltrane—it adds the honor and adds to the responsibility,” he reflects. “Elvin taught me that music is the most important thing. You honor each other on the bandstand and the audience who created the opportunity to give to them.”
That ethos of exchange—giving and receiving energy, respecting the power of music to inspire—defines what audiences can expect from this performance. Brown’s story, like Coltrane’s, is one of intentional artistry, collaborative spirit, and deep humanity. “You never know what you might play that inspires someone in their own life,” he says. “Delivering joy, that is the number one thing I am trying to bring.”
