Festival Schedule
Friday
6:00 PM	Janice Brown	Performance	MAJF Club

Bio

 “Uptown” Janice Brown is “an element of surprise.” She is a gifted and exciting jazz/blues vocalist and humorist with a unique voice and a style all her own. Janice has a sophisticated way of weaving music and comedy together without diminishing the romantic feel of a love song. Her unmistakable quick wit and timing are apparent in her performances. Janice engages and delights audiences time and time again.

 Her musical journey began at the age of 10, when she learned to play the clarinet. During a summer visit to New York City, she accompanied her great uncle, Leroy Kirkland, a notable jazz and-rock-n-roll guitarist and composer to a recording studio, where she experienced her first live recording session. She knew then, that music would be a major part of her life.

 In an effort to learn more about the music business, Janice worked as a radio personality, which gave her an opportunity to become more familiar with artists and the business aspect of the music industry. She interviewed countless artists, including a one-on-one with her favorite vocal stylist, the legendary Nancy Wilson, who she says gave her great advice about the business.

 Janice’s love for jazz led her to the Elliston Studio for Jazz Studies where she studied under the late Ronnie Wells, jazz vocalist; professor of music (University of Maryland); and founder of the East Coast Jazz Festival. Janice also received musical training through jazz master classes and workshops conducted by notables like Nneena Freelon; Allyn Johnson; Connaitre Miller; Lena Seikaly; Christina Creara; and Rebecca Paris. She continues to study and expand her musical horizons in the music department at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC).

 Janice. has graced the stages of national jazz festivals; nightclubs, cruise ships and other performance venues, including The East Coast Jazz Festival; Takoma Park Jazz Festival; Twin’s Jazz; One Step Down; 49 West; Madison Hotel; Washington City Club; Columbia Station; Wyndam Hotel; CARNIVAL Cruise Ship (Pride); Julio Iglesias Center; Blair Mansion; and WPFW Radio, among others. Janice is featured regularly at Vicino’s, downtown Silver Spring, Md.

 Janice is proud to help keep jazz alive, as a radio personality on WPFW 89.3 FM, in the Nation’s Capital. Her debut CD, “Two Shades of Brown,” featuring a rendition of, “Is You Is of Is You Ain’t (My Baby)”can be heard on WPFW radio.

 When she isn’t performing on stage as an artist, you’ll find Janice on yet another stage, the classroom, where she works as a college professor, teaching public speaking. Janice holds a Master’s degree in communication from American University and a B.S. from North Carolina A&T State University.