One night while walking by the school I saw a comedy/circus troop doing aerials, stilts and mime work in the front entry of Tres Mundos. A large crowd had gathered to see their funny and challenging work. I learned later that the troop began at Tres Mundos as a creative outlet for homeless youth.

Another day, I saw the Tres Mundos Institute research staff hard at work. It was fascinating to learn about their groundbreaking research into the causes and affects of Nica migration to Costa Rica, the U.S. and other parts of the world.

The walls at Casa de los Tres Mundos are thin and most doors are left open. You can’t help feel the energy of what others are working on. Even during the slow time of winter break, the air was filled with enough creativity to inspire the dullest of souls.

I was honored to be invited by Tres Mundos to work with faculty and students on jazz and improvisation. For many involved, this was their first time playing the blues, swing or improvisation. To my delight, timing my residency during winter break meant only very dedicated students enrolled. All the artists worked together well to learn new material and challenging methods.

Word of our work spread and by the end of the course, our group had grown to include: 4 violins, 1 flute, 3 guitars, 1 trumpet, 2 saxophones, 2 keyboards, 1 cajon, and 1 upright bass.

We ended the week with a concert featuring the student and faculty improvisers playing standards, experimental improv and the debut of my song, Samba Azul.

I am particularly grateful to the Embassy of the United States Embassy in Nicaragua for funding the cultural exchange and Johannes Kranz of Tres Mundos for his work coordinating the effort. Muchas gracias to guitarist Derick Narvaez, violinists Mireia Clua and Eva Weissmueller, reeds man Norlan Santana, pianist Milton Maldonado and bassist Raffael Schwarzacher for their help during classes and great musicianship. I hope to return to Granada soon and make more music with the inspiring artists of Casa de los Tres Mundos!

“I’m thrilled the film will show alongside work from some of the most creative thinkers on LDS topics,” says Rulon of the honor. “The LDS Film Festival is a really big deal in Mormon cinema and since Sanctuary is all about LDS musical worship, I’m eager to see how people react to it in the screenings.”

Directed by Seattle filmmaker Aaron Bourget, Sanctuary is a spirited short documentary about the constraints of Mormon musical tradition, Christian devotion, fellowship and belonging. Sanctuary features Rulon’s original music and performances by the acclaimed Total Experience Gospel Choir.

This may be the last chance to see Sanctuary on the big screen. The film has already shown well at festivals including the Faith Film Festival in NY, Fear No Film Festival in SLC, and DOCUTAH in Cedar City, Utah.

ThanksOweenEasterNukkah is a campy croon inspired by Christmas jazz from the 1950s and features the vocal melodrama of Sheila Moss. Rulon wrote and recorded the song in just one day way back in late November 2010. But as anyone with the holiday spirit will tell you, that is simply not enough time to market and consume holiday cheer!

From our family to yours, we invite you to share in the warmth and spirit of the Holiday season by gifting the free MP3 (AKA indie-artist marketing device) to your friends, family, loved ones and enemies.

Happy ThanksOweenEasterNukkah RamadaKwanzaMas!

The festival runs September 8 through 17, 2011 throughout the St. George, Utah area including venues at Dixie State College and the Tuacahn Amphitheater. People who attend DOCUTAH screenings of Sanctuary will receive a special code to download Rulon’s new sacred music CD for only $0.25.

SANCTUARY SHOW TIMES (SUBJECT TO CHANGE).
Latest info at http://docutah.com
1-4 p.m., September 9,  Eccles Main in St.  George
4-7 p.m., September 10, Electric Theatre in St. George
4-7 p.m., September 11, Red Cliff 1 inSt. George
7-10 p.m., September 15, Parry Lodge in Kanab

The Faith Film Festival airs Sanctuary, a documentary film by Aaron Bourget about Rulon’s experience in the LDS music community, at 8:30 p.m. EST, August 5. Watch online or via cable TV at Time Warner Cable ch. 97 or CableVision ch. 30. Remember to vote for your favorite films. The festival schedule is available here and theatrical screenings will follow later this summer.

Sanctuary was warmly received by audiences at the Fear No Film Festival premier last month in Salt Lake City.

Like any well-balanced dish, Rejoice pairs Rulon’s spry sax and flute playing with the tender crooning of Ryan Shea Smith, bass grooves from Jon Hamar and spicy rhythms from drummer Jeff Busch.

Fans can listen to Rejoice online at ReverbNation and pre-order one of 300 signed limited-edition pressings. Each CD comes in an origami-inspired folding case designed by celebrated book maker John Hubbard “ESON.” The design fuses silver inks, heavy emboss textures and John’s trademark minimalism. Orders start shipping on July 11.

Ross Hauck, the founder of the Sacred Music Foundation, declares, “[Rulon] defies description or category. I’m going to call him an ambassador of Christativity… Christianity and creativity together.”

Rulon dedicated Rejoice to the Christian community, though he has spent most of his musical life making secular improvised music and working in Latin, Irish, Jazz and musical theater settings. “One Sunday it hit me,” says Rulon. “The hymn I was singing the same way over and over ever since I was kid was just one of the countless interpretations people had made of that melody through the ages. This thought hit me with such force, I knew it was the Lord telling me to put my talents to work, join the conversation and glorify Him.”

Rulon’s sacred music is attracting audience quickly. This summer, the Faith Film Festival in New York and Fear No Film Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah will premier a documentary about Rulon’s journey into sacred music, by filmmaker Aaron Bourget.

“It’s such a thrill to work with songs that are seven-generations older than you,” says Rulon. “Melodies like these are so wise and tough that you can’t damage them. If you respect their tone and message, they teach you what they taught others before you. I’ve found a new guilty pleasure.”

For more information, promo requests or to set up an interview, contact rulon@rulonbrown.com

Sanctuary is also an official selection of the Faith Film Festival in New York. The festival runs all summer via web streaming, and TV (NET Time Warner cable channel 97 and Cablevision channel 30) and will conclude with theatrical screenings (TBA). The Faith Film Festival schedule will be available here.

On a geeky-cool side note, Rod is literally writing the book on Cocos2D development for iPhone and iPad and will be speaking at the Voices That Matter iPhone Developers Conference, April 8-10 in Seattle. See ya there!

Watch the NBC spotlight video on the foundation’s exceptional grassroots work.

The music sampler features many of the finest Latin and jazz musicians from the Pacific Northwest and includes “The Day I’ve Had” from Brown’s Based On Actual Events CD (released previously under his given name of Nate Brown).

Sizes

Women’s – Small Women’s – Medium Women’s – Large Women’s – XL Men’s – Small Men’s – Medium Men’s – Large Men’s – XL

or place your order by phone: (206) 930-5105 

More Rulon Brown merch

I’m making the change because I want to exhaust myself making music, not finding new ways to be heard in the gaggle of Nate Browns. Put another way, my given name is so common it is a marketing liability. Google Nate Brown and you’ll find a guitarist, a drummer, a composer, a communications professor, a hydroplane racer and many other people I am not.

Please connect to my new music sites and pardon the clutter during transition.

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RulonBrown.com

Thanks!

-Rulon Brown

PS – Don’t worry. I’ll still turn my head if you shout ‘Hey Nate!’ in a crowded room.

11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Sunday, October 24
Ebenezer AME Zion Church
1716 23rd Avenue at E. Olive
Seattle WA 98122
(206) 919-6130 or (206) 322-6620
Price: Freewill offering requested

Celebration begins at the 11 a.m. Worship Hour with Bishop Charles Dickerson of Fresno, California delivering the morning message. Music will be provided by Brother Donnell Johnson of Sacramento, CA and Total Experience Gospel Choir on vocals. A light lunch will be served immediately following the morning services. At the 3 p.m. hour, Bishop Dickerson will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the 37th year Anniversary and Brother Donnell Johnson will again provide music at the Hammond organ. Other groups presently scheduled to appear are: Wallingford United Methodist Church choir, Ebenezer AME Zion choir plus more. Immediately following the 3 p.m. celebration, a full dinner will be served in the church Fellowship Hall.
The pastor and host for the Anniversary is the Reverend Alphonso H. Meadows, Jr.

“Exceptional is the only word to describe the poise, technique and taste…of [Rulon] Brown”
- Larry Spellens (Jazz Critic)

“Brown’s hard driving saxophones, expressive flutes and haunting wind synthesizer add a broad spectrum of musical colors to the group’s unique sound.”
- The West Virginia Daily News

“The [Rulon] Brown Quartet calls upon a power house rhythm section of guitar, bass, and percussion, featuring the saxophone and flute stylings of [Rulon] Brown. [Rulon] offers a fluid sound that burbles like Desmond and gushes like Coltrane. His melodies articulate an almost vocal quality…that captivates the novice and entices those more versed in the jazz tradition.”
- Al Cordray, Ear Pollution

“Rulon’s sound, his commitment to excellence, his demand for artistic integrity, his choice of material, supporting artist, and project supervision all reflect the intensity of his dedication to excellence.”
- Julian Priester, Trombonist/Composer

I use duet playing with every student and focus on technique, improvising, theory, sight reading, creative flexibility and the healthy use of breath and body.

To learn more, contact me at: (206) 930-5105 or rulon[at]rulonbrown[dot]com

The band plays 3 to 4 p.m. during the Southern cuisine dinner service and again during the combined performance featuring classical, gospel, jazz and more.

$50 advance tickets are required for this private house concert in Bellevue, Washington.

Enter the park at 74th street and follow the signs to the amphitheater.

Saturday, May 15, 2010
7:00pm – 10:00pm
Baker Street Books
32709 Railroad Ave
Black Diamond, WA
View Map

The Bank of America Commons at the new West Entry, located just off Phinney Ave. between 55th St. and 58th St. at Woodland Park Zoo.

Performance from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. followed by 30-minutes of remarks from Rep. McDermott, Mayor McGinn and Councilmember Sally Bagshaw and a ribbon cutting. Music resumes until 1 p.m.

This new “Tasting Flight” event happens
5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Aug., 27 and includes:
-10 oz tastings from over30 wineries
-Additional $1 tastings
-Full bottles and gourmet small bites for sale 
-Live entertainment by Coco Loco
-Up close animal encounter
-After hours stroll of Northern Trail exhibit, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Bring your own glass to the event. Tickets: $20 per person, must be 21 and over and have valid ID for entry.
Buy advance tickets here