Music / Performance
The Stephen Barry Blues Band
Ian was a founder member of the band which was formed in 1974. He was the keyboardist for two years before committing himself to full time teaching. He was replaced by Kenny Pearson, former organ player for The Full Tilt Boogie Band (Janis Joplin's Band). At that time the two main venues for the band were the Rainbow Bar & Grill and The Rising Sun Club.
The Stephen Barry Band went on to play and tour with legends such John Lee Hooker, Big Moose Walker, Bo Diddley and Big Mama Thornton.
Recorded Live in 1976
Below is the only live recording of the original Stephen Barry Blues Band. It was recorded at The Rising Sun Club in Montreal in the summer of 1976. The band members were: Chaim Tannenbaum (vocals and blues harp), Stephen Barry (vocals and bass), Andrew Cowan (guitar), Gord Adamson (drums) and Ian Brown (piano). I played in the band for a couple of years and then left to pursue full time teaching, as did Chaim. Ian was replaced by Kenny Pearson (former keyboard player for Janis Joplin's "Full Tilt Boogie Band"). The Band is still playing 40 years later. They are celebrated in Eastern Canada and have played and toured with the likes of Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Pinetop Perkins and Bo Diddley.
Ian Brown (Vocals and Keyboard)
These are not studio-quality audio recordings. However I wanted to include them on the website as a memory of my experiences as a solo performer in Montreal and in British Columbia. Some of the recordings are from 1978 (when I was 32) and some from 1986 (when I was 40).
Bourgeois & Brown
Ian formed a duo with Warren Bourgeois (a fellow instructor at Kwantlen University) in 2004 and they played and performed together for the next 6 years. Ian played piano and sang and Warren played guitar, harmonica and supplied back-up vocals.
Zen Dogs (2015 – current)
A duo of Ian and his son Ben Brown (drummer with 'The Pugs & Crows' who won a Juno for their album "Fantastic Pictures" in 2013). Ian performs piano and vocals and Ben plays drums, guitar and sings. Since 2015, they have performed several times at The Libra Room in Vancouver as the main act. Previous to that they have performed at the Seafest Festival in White Rock (2007), the Wired Monk in Crescent Beach and at Ben's MAMM (Music and Movement Monday) improvisation sessions with dancers.