Clifford Brown, 1956 publicity photo

Photo: Associated Booking Corporation publicity photo, 1956 (public domain)

Clifford Brown

Trumpet · born 30 October 1930 – died 26 June 1956

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

While other figures of the bop era had drugs as their tragedy, it was left to a car accident to terminate Brown's wonderful contribution to jazz, a cruelty which a half-century later still seems devastating. Born in Wilmington, Delaware, he began on trumpet at 13 and quickly developed a breathtaking facility on the horn. In Philadelphia jam sessions he was a sensation: Fats Navarro especially liked him. He was in a first car crash in 1950, which took him off the scene for a while, but was back in action by 1952 and began making records (with an R&B group led by Chris Powell). He joined Lionel Hampton's touring band in 1953 and went with them to Europe, where he made some informal recordings (away from Hamp's watchful eye). In February 1954 he was back in New York and with Art Blakey's new Jazz Messengers: their Birdland recordings on Blue Note are enthralling, as were the results of Brown's next and as it turned out final association, a quintet co-led with Max Roach, based in California. What Brown did was sew together the best qualities of the bop players who had preceded him – Gillespie's full-tilt ebullience, Navarro's big sound, Miles Davis's melodious appeal – and intensify them, in one forthright style. He could get all over the horn with incomparable fluency, his high range as easily covered as his middle and low, but this was amplified by his voluptuous sound and vibrato and the joyful assurance he seemed able to switch on without any warming-up passages. As a ballad player he might have been the best the trumpet could muster at that time, making even the promising Davis seem like a beginner, and Emarcy recorded him with strings and as an accompanist to Sarah Vaughan. Following his work through – luckily, he was extensively set down both in the studios and in live recordings in his brief heyday – he seems to get better and better as he goes on, his later live recordings almost unbelievably skilled and exciting. The final icing was his composing, which again had the marks of natural greatness: Joy Spring, Daahoud, Blues Walk and others have the easy stride of a writer who had music spilling out of him. But it all came to an abrupt end in June 1956, in a crash on a rainy Pennsylvania night, which also killed pianist Richie Powell and robbed jazz of one of its golden princes. Who can tell what he might have gone on to achieve?

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

As leader

  • Clifford Brown / Max Roach – Brown and Roach IncorporatedClifford Brown / Max Roach – Brown and Roach Incorporated
  • Clifford Brown and Max Roach – Study in BrownClifford Brown and Max Roach – Study in Brown
  • Clifford Brown – Memorial AlbumClifford Brown – Memorial Album
  • Clifford Brown and Max Roach – At Basin StreetClifford Brown and Max Roach – At Basin Street
  • Clifford Brown – MemorialClifford Brown – Memorial
  • Clifford Brown – Clifford Brown All-StarsClifford Brown – Clifford Brown All-Stars

Plays on

  • Jay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume OneJay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume One
  • Jay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume TwoJay Jay Johnson – The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Volume Two
  • Art Blakey – A Night At Birdland, Volume OneArt Blakey – A Night At Birdland, Volume One
  • Art Blakey – A Night At Birdland, Volume TwoArt Blakey – A Night At Birdland, Volume Two
  • Sonny Rollins – Plus FourSonny Rollins – Plus Four
  • Thad Jones – The Magnificent Thad JonesThad Jones – The Magnificent Thad Jones

Mentioned in text

  • Tony Fruscella – Tony FruscellaTony Fruscella – Tony Fruscella
  • Miles Davis – The Musings of MilesMiles Davis – The Musings of Miles
  • Cannonball Adderley – Presenting CannonballCannonball Adderley – Presenting Cannonball
  • Billy Taylor – EvergreensBilly Taylor – Evergreens
  • Phineas Newborn Jr. – Here is PhineasPhineas Newborn Jr. – Here is Phineas
  • Bud Powell – The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume OneBud Powell – The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume One
  • Bud Powell – The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume TwoBud Powell – The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume Two
  • Jimmy Smith – A New Sound, A New Star, Volume OneJimmy Smith – A New Sound, A New Star, Volume One
  • Jimmy Smith – A New Sound, A New Star, Volume TwoJimmy Smith – A New Sound, A New Star, Volume Two
  • Jimmy Smith – At The Organ, Volume ThreeJimmy Smith – At The Organ, Volume Three
  • Carl Perkins – Introducing…Carl Perkins – Introducing…
  • James Moody – Hi Fi PartyJames Moody – Hi Fi Party
  • Sonny Rollins – WorktimeSonny Rollins – Worktime
  • Elmo Hope – Hope Meets FosterElmo Hope – Hope Meets Foster
  • Tadd Dameron – FontainebleauTadd Dameron – Fontainebleau
  • Sonny Rollins Quartet – Tenor MadnessSonny Rollins Quartet – Tenor Madness
  • Quincy Jones – This Is How I Feel About JazzQuincy Jones – This Is How I Feel About Jazz
  • Jimmy Smith – At Club Baby Grand, Volume OneJimmy Smith – At Club Baby Grand, Volume One
  • Jimmy Smith – At Club Baby Grand, Volume TwoJimmy Smith – At Club Baby Grand, Volume Two
  • Lee Morgan – Indeed!Lee Morgan – Indeed!
  • Lee Morgan – Lee Morgan SextetLee Morgan – Lee Morgan Sextet
  • Sonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume OneSonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume One
  • Lou Donaldson Quintet – Wailing With LouLou Donaldson Quintet – Wailing With Lou
  • Thad Jones – The Magnificent Thad Jones, Volume ThreeThad Jones – The Magnificent Thad Jones, Volume Three
  • Hank Mobley Quintet – Hank Mobley QuintetHank Mobley Quintet – Hank Mobley Quintet
  • Lee Morgan – Lee Morgan, Volume ThreeLee Morgan – Lee Morgan, Volume Three
  • Sonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume TwoSonny Rollins – Sonny Rollins, Volume Two
  • Johnny Griffin – A Blowing SessionJohnny Griffin – A Blowing Session
  • Curtis Fuller – The OpenerCurtis Fuller – The Opener
  • Paul Chambers – Bass On TopPaul Chambers – Bass On Top
  • Bud Powell – Bud! The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume ThreeBud Powell – Bud! The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume Three
  • Don Byrd / Gigi Gryce – Jazz LabDon Byrd / Gigi Gryce – Jazz Lab
  • The Jazz Messengers – Hard BopThe Jazz Messengers – Hard Bop
  • Curtis Counce – The Curtis Counce GroupCurtis Counce – The Curtis Counce Group
  • Curtis Counce – You Get More Bounce With Curtis CounceCurtis Counce – You Get More Bounce With Curtis Counce
  • Max Roach – Plus FourMax Roach – Plus Four
  • Nat Adderley – To The Ivy League From NatNat Adderley – To The Ivy League From Nat
  • Jackie McLean Quintet – Jackie’s PalJackie McLean Quintet – Jackie’s Pal
  • Tadd Dameron / John Coltrane – Mating CallTadd Dameron / John Coltrane – Mating Call
  • Phil Woods / Donald Byrd – The Young BloodsPhil Woods / Donald Byrd – The Young Bloods
  • Mal Waldron Quintet – Mal-1Mal Waldron Quintet – Mal-1
  • Art Farmer / Donald Byrd / Idrees Sulieman – Three TrumpetsArt Farmer / Donald Byrd / Idrees Sulieman – Three Trumpets
  • Ray Draper Quintet – Tuba SoundsRay Draper Quintet – Tuba Sounds
  • Ray Bryant Trio – Piano Piano PianoRay Bryant Trio – Piano Piano Piano
  • John Coltrane – ColtraneJohn Coltrane – Coltrane
  • Gene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi FiGene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi Fi
  • Idrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 TenorsIdrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors
  • Ernie Henry – Presenting Ernie HenryErnie Henry – Presenting Ernie Henry
  • Kenny Dorham – Jazz ContrastsKenny Dorham – Jazz Contrasts
  • Sonny Rollins – The Sound of SonnySonny Rollins – The Sound of Sonny
  • Hank Mobley Quintet – Introducing Lee MorganHank Mobley Quintet – Introducing Lee Morgan
  • Hank Mobley Sextet – HankHank Mobley Sextet – Hank
  • Hank Mobley – Hank MobleyHank Mobley – Hank Mobley
  • Sonny Clark – Dial “S” For SonnySonny Clark – Dial “S” For Sonny
  • John Coltrane – Blue TrainJohn Coltrane – Blue Train
  • Lee Morgan – The CookerLee Morgan – The Cooker
  • Cliff Jordan – Cliff CraftCliff Jordan – Cliff Craft
  • Louis Smith – Here Comes Louis SmithLouis Smith – Here Comes Louis Smith
  • Lee Morgan – CandyLee Morgan – Candy
  • Lou Donaldson – Lou Takes OffLou Donaldson – Lou Takes Off
  • Louis Smith – SmithvilleLouis Smith – Smithville
  • Kenny Burrell – Blue Lights, Volume OneKenny Burrell – Blue Lights, Volume One
  • Miles Davis – MilestonesMiles Davis – Milestones
  • Red Mitchell – Presenting Red MitchellRed Mitchell – Presenting Red Mitchell
  • Yusef Lateef Quintet – The Sounds of YusefYusef Lateef Quintet – The Sounds of Yusef
  • Herbie Mann – Mann in the MorningHerbie Mann – Mann in the Morning
  • Benny Golson – The Modern TouchBenny Golson – The Modern Touch
  • Sonny Rollins – Freedom SuiteSonny Rollins – Freedom Suite
  • Johnny Griffin – Johnny Griffin SextetJohnny Griffin – Johnny Griffin Sextet
  • Max Roach – Deeds, Not WordsMax Roach – Deeds, Not Words
  • Hank Mobley / Lee Morgan – Peckin’ TimeHank Mobley / Lee Morgan – Peckin’ Time
  • Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Moanin’Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – Moanin’
  • Donald Byrd – Off to the RacesDonald Byrd – Off to the Races
  • Bud Powell – The Scene ChangesBud Powell – The Scene Changes
  • Jimmy Smith – The SermonJimmy Smith – The Sermon
  • Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – At the Jazz Corner of the World, Vol. 1Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – At the Jazz Corner of the World, Vol. 1
  • Gene Ammons – Blue GeneGene Ammons – Blue Gene
  • Donald Byrd – Byrd in HandDonald Byrd – Byrd in Hand
  • Lou Donaldson – The Time is RightLou Donaldson – The Time is Right
  • Donald Byrd – FuegoDonald Byrd – Fuego
  • Dizzy Reece – Soundin’ OffDizzy Reece – Soundin’ Off
  • Stanley Turrentine – Look Out!Stanley Turrentine – Look Out!
  • Freddie Hubbard – Open SesameFreddie Hubbard – Open Sesame
  • Tina Brooks – True BlueTina Brooks – True Blue
  • Harold Land – The FoxHarold Land – The Fox
  • Eric Dolphy – Outward BoundEric Dolphy – Outward Bound
  • Booker Little – Booker LittleBooker Little – Booker Little
  • Curtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Volume ThreeCurtis Fuller – Curtis Fuller, Volume Three
  • Kenny Burrell – Blue Lights, Volume TwoKenny Burrell – Blue Lights, Volume Two
  • Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – At the Jazz Corner of the World, Vol. 2Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – At the Jazz Corner of the World, Vol. 2
  • Lee Morgan – Lee-WayLee Morgan – Lee-Way
  • Lou Donaldson – Sunny Side UpLou Donaldson – Sunny Side Up
  • Benny Bailey – Big BrassBenny Bailey – Big Brass
  • Howard McGhee – Maggie’s Back in TownHoward McGhee – Maggie’s Back in Town
  • Curtis Amy & Frank Butler – Groovin’ BlueCurtis Amy & Frank Butler – Groovin’ Blue
  • Max Roach – Percussion Bitter SweetMax Roach – Percussion Bitter Sweet
  • Eric Dolphy – Far CryEric Dolphy – Far Cry
  • Jimmy Woods Sextet – ConflictJimmy Woods Sextet – Conflict
  • Roland Kirk – Rip, Rig and PanicRoland Kirk – Rip, Rig and Panic
  • Miles Davis – Get Up With ItMiles Davis – Get Up With It
  • Jimmy Heath – Picture of HeathJimmy Heath – Picture of Heath
  • Dexter Gordon – Homecoming: Live at the Village VanguardDexter Gordon – Homecoming: Live at the Village Vanguard