The GEORGE BROWN ANSAMBEL is a collective of talented musicians formed to honor and perform the jazz music of the late George “Funky” Brown (1949–2023), the influential co-founder and longtime drummer of the funk band Kool & The Gang. The Ansambel brings to life Brown’s final musical vision, particularly his posthumously released album, Jazz in Paris, which is a soulful homage to the Cool Jazz era of the late 1950s and 1960s, drawing heavy inspiration from Miles Davis. The performing group features a rotating cast of esteemed collaborators and friends of Brown, including former and current members of Kool & The Gang such as Louis Van Taylor and Curtis F. Williams (also the album’s co-producer), alongside accomplished musicians like Anne King, Jeff Littleton, Lyndon Rochelle, Katja Koron, Andrea Lisa, and Curtis Williams (who is also listed among the performers). The collective’s mission is to carry forward Brown’s passion for jazz, soul, and world music, which he expertly blended in this final, deeply personal project.
