Tap Percussionist Chandler Browne’s deep listening began as a child when they heard Robert Hurst’s "Brother Tryin’ to Catch a Cab” off Branford Marsalis’ I Heard You Twice The First Time record as a ‘driveway moment’ in the car with their dad. Their brain chemistry would be forever changed.  A fire of passion and dedication ignited in Browne that day, beginning a life of sonic study and commitment to Black American Instrumental Music (A.K.A. Jazz). 

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Browne strives to investigate the unending capabilities taps have as a percussive form and contributor to the rhythmic fabric of music.  As a bandleader Browne is dedicated to enhancing the electro acoustic representation of tap dance in an ensemble context to discover how the form would sound if The Dance and The Music were never separated by divisive cultural erasure and instead were united through the years and development of modern jazz: Bebop and beyond. Browne meditates on this work with their groups Chandler Browne Trio and Chandler Browne Quintet. Their electronic project “WithanE” (a reference to  their surname, Browne with an ‘e’) takes off from the legacy left for us by the prolific Gregory Hines in the final scene of the movie Tap, an electronic taps layered rhythmic landscape centered on a potential future of The Dance.

Browne has presented their music as a tap percussionist, bandleader, and side person in such venues as Elastic Arts, Epiphany Center for the Arts, Fulton Street Arts Collective, Beck Arts Center, Lemon Chicago, Connect Gallery, Comfort Station, Color Club, So Far Sounds, Dorothy, Clara Chicago, California Clipper, Golden Dagger, The Burlington, Archpocolapse Festival for Archies Cafe, and more. 

Browne’s academic credits include Chicago High School for the Arts and Oberlin College and Conservatory where they spent invaluable time listening, developing their ear, and building in community for the love and continuation of Black American Instrumental Music i.e. The Music, i.e. Jazz, in dedication to and on behalf of The African Diaspora. 

Browne was raised with the love of Jazz as the center of their upbringing, culture, and identity. Named after Chan Parker, dancer, wife of Charlie Parker, and godmother figure to their father, Browne was brought into this world from infancy with the melodious expressions of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Clifford Brown. Chandler Browne grew up under the feet of their father hearing stories of his childhood growing up in New York City playing trumpet and learning at the feet of the great and wonderful Melba Liston, Nelson Harris, and Chan Parker. They took him under their wings, shared their wisdom and care, and brought him into their community allowing him to have the privilege to spend significant time with such greats as Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie, Phil Woods, amongst others. Chandler Browne’s father was bestowed by the kings of Jazz the responsibility to carry on the love of The Music, to “make sure the form never dies”, and so he did by instilling all these blessings and teachings in Chandler. Browne internalized  the honor of carrying on such a totem and has dedicated their life and artistry to the preservation, love, and empowerment of Jazz, i.e. The Music, through the pedagogy of the Tap Dancer. 

Chandler Browne has meticulously  studied the roots of both The Dance and The Music. They first compiled their studies in a one person documentary play The Tap Project, their senior capstone at Oberlin College. For two years and on multiple grants Browne traveled all over the country to research and interview 17 of the greatest tap dancers alive today, such as Savion Glover, Jumaane Taylor, and Starinah Dixon.  This allowed them to trace the development of the dance from Africa to the bandstand, through the drum, to tap dance, to the drum set to your ears. Browne was fortunate enough to do a full run of the production in the then brand new Kander Theatre at Oberlin College. They also had the honor to perform an excerpt of The Tap Project  for John Kander himself for commencement. 

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Since then, Chandler Browne has been bandleading as an instrumental tap percussionist all over Chicago. They have both inherited and chosen to step up to the immense responsibility of being a representative and ambassador for The Dance and The Music in Chicago and anywhere their feet land in The Pulse. 

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Chan is forever grateful to be able to say they have been mentored and/or taught by some of the best in the literary, film/tv, music, tap dance, and theatrical fields. This list includes but is not limited to: Jamey Haddad, Savion Glover, Dianne “Lady Di” Walker, Chloe and Maud Arnold, Jumaane Taylor, Derick Grant, Dave Eggers, Caroline Jackson Smith, PJ Paparelli, Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, and Jared Laboff.

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