Tom Browne is a US jazz trumpeter from Queens, New York, born in 1954. He is also known as “Mr. Jamaica Funk” and is associated with contemporary jazz, contemporary R&B, funk, jazz, jazz-funk and smooth jazz.

Career

Browne begins as a pianist, taking lessons from the age of 11 before moving to trumpet, inspired by his collection of jazz albums. His first performance is in a Queens club called The Village Door. In 1975, he gets his first professional engagement with Weldon Irvine, then plays with Sonny Fortune and Lonnie Smith. Early in his career, he first comes to wider attention through his work with Sonny Fortune.

He is introduced to Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen at GRP Records through Earl Klugh, and they sign him to GRP via Arista Records. He breaks through in 1979 with the instrumental jazz fusion album Browne Sugar.

Key recordings

Browne’s best-known release is the 1980 single “Funkin’ For Jamaica (N.Y),” taken from his second album Love Approach. The single reaches number one on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart for four weeks and also becomes a UK Top 10 hit. It features lead vocals from Tonni Smith.

His later GRP-related albums include Yours Truly (1981), which includes “Fungi Mama” and “Bye Gones,” and Magic (1982). He then signs directly to Arista and moves into a more electro-influenced jazz style with “Rockin’ Radio” from the 1983 album of the same name, which also includes “Brighter Tomorrow,” his final GRP production.

In 1984, he records Tommy Gun, with Siedah Garrett singing lead on “Secret Fantasy,” produced by Maurice Starr. That same year he also records with Fuse One on their album Ice, and with Roy Ayers on “Goree Island” from In The Dark.

Later work

Browne later moves to Malaco Records and carries out a large amount of session work. In 2000, he re-records “Funkin’ For Jamaica” for Jazz FM’s 101 Eastbound compilation, alongside Bob Baldwin, with Tonni Smith again providing vocals.

Label and publishing details

He is linked with Thomas Browne Publishing, Inc. and the Tom Browne Band.