Rellon Brown is a highly versatile trumpeter, musical director, lecturer, arranger and composer who hails from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago in the West Indies. The son of a guitarist, Rellon was first heavily influenced by his father’s diverse long play record collection which included recordings by calypsonians Kitchener and Sparrow, Reggae by Bob Marley and a plethora of Rhythm and Blues and Jazz from the 60’s and 70’s. Having sung calypso in primary school, Rellon was first attracted to the African drums at age 20 and at 23, while at university studying music he heard the opening to Miles Davis’ “So What” solo and decided to teach himself the trumpet in 1997.
In the ten remarkable years that followed, Rellon founded Dominant Seventh Productions, The Dominant Seventh Calypso Jazz Band in 2002, secured graduate and post graduate diplomas in classical and jazz performance and embarked on a widely varied professional career highlighted by live performances and recordings
Rellon has a broad range of experience working at the top tier of the local music industry in Trinidad and Tobago. He performed the Haydn Concerto in 2007, with the National Sinfonia Orchestra under the baton of Mr. Jessel Murray and has performed and recorded as principal trumpeter for the NSO from 2005-2011. He currently serves in the same capacity with the National Philharmonic Orchestra.
Rellon has significant Broadway musical theatre experience, playing first trumpet with the members of the NSO for: Fiddler On The Roof 2006, Oliver! 2007, The Sound Of Music 2008, Beauty And The Beast 2009, Peter Pan 2011 and Hairspray 2012, all produced by Must Come See Productions and The University of The West Indies, St.Augustine
Rellon is a featured soloist for high profile weddings (The Wedding of the Century, 2011) and has provided music for the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen of England in 2012 and original fanfare music for the inauguration of the Mayor of Arima and The University of the West Indies (2010)
Mr. Brown is the musical director and soloist of Dominant Seventh Calypso Jazz Band which he co-founded in 2002. In July 2015, Rellon produced the band’s first commercial cd: ‘HomeGrown’ which is due to be released with great anticipation in June of 2016.
Rellon has played lead trumpet on various recordings, in calypso tents and salsa bands, most recently in 2015 with Calypso Rose, Heather Mac Intosh and Anne Fridal in: “The Queen, The Princess and The Duchess” with the Kaiso Showcase tent band, “Temperature” and performed in the world premiere of ‘Jab Molassie’ in November of 2014. In October 2014, Rellon led Dominant Seventh to a successful run of: ‘On A Lighter Note’ a concert of light jazz featuring soprano Natalia Dopwell Gomez. Rellon has considerable studio experience, recording with the Elijah Centre Nexus Band, Sheldon Blackman and the Love Circle, Los Parranderos De UWI, P’al Destino, Ancil Valley among others .
Rellon has appeared as soloist with Panorama champions Desperadoes in 2013 as well as Hugh Masekela and Siparia Deltones and Exodus Steel Orchestra in 2014. He has also led Dominant Seventh to successful concerts in association with The South Coterie of Social Workers (Java and Jazz 2014 and 2015), San Antonio Green Market Jazz Concert in 2015 and2016 in celebration of International Jazz Day and provided stellar arranging and musical direction for Ti Jean iand His Brothers in June 2015. Rellon’s fine solos can be heard on Kurt Allen’s 2005 calypso offering: ‘No Grace Period’ and his solid section work on Liam Teague’s pan offering for 2016.
Rellon is a part time lecturer with his alma mater, The University of the West Indies and has distinguished himself by attaining a Licentiate diploma (LTCL) in classical trumpet performance and a Fellowship diploma (FTCL) in jazz trumpet performance from Trinity College of London.
