September 8, 1931 – October 18, 2010

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Marion Brown was born on September 8, 1931, in Atlanta, Georgia.

A deeply expressive alto saxophonist whose warm tone and lyrical phrasing brought a poetic quality to the avant-garde jazz movement. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, he began playing saxophone in his teens and, after serving in the Army, immersed himself in the New York jazz scene of the early 1960s.

Brown’s breakthrough came when he performed on John Coltrane’s landmark 1965 album Ascension, placing him at the center of the free jazz revolution. He soon emerged as a leader with albums like Three for Shepp (1966) and Geechee Recollections (1973), which blended avant-garde improvisation with Southern folk and African influences.

Highlights of his career include collaborations with Archie Shepp, Anthony Braxton, and Gunter Hampel, as well as his celebrated trilogy of albums inspired by Georgia and his Southern heritage. His work balanced adventurous freedom with melodic sensitivity, making him one of the most distinctive voices in modern jazz.

Marion Brown remains revered as a saxophonist who infused the avant-garde with lyricism, cultural depth, and emotional honesty.

Here is Marion Brown performing on French TV’s musical variety show Dim Dam Dom on November 12, 1967, together with Beb Guérin on bass and Eddy Gaumont on drums.

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