Born in Ottawa and now based in Toronto NICK MACLEAN is a JUNO nominee for "Jazz Album of the Year", the winner of 10 Global Music Awards, and a Toronto Independent Music Award. Nick holds a Bachelors of Music from Humber College and a Masters of Jazz Performance from the University of Toronto where he studied with some of Canada's leading jazz musicians including David Restivo, Bernie Senensky, Nancy Walker, David Occhipinti, Andrew Downing, Chris Donnelly, and David Braid. Maclean has also been mentored by acclaimed trumpet player Brownman Ali since he was 22, who signed him to Browntasauras Records shortly after meeting. Nick leads two critically acclaimed and multi-award winning jazz ensembles: the funkified electric jazz group SNAGGLE and the hard swinging modern jazz group NICK MACLEAN QUARTET, as well as having received numerous accolades and acclaim for his SOLO PIANO work. The future is bright for this young visionary as he continues his upward ascent in jazz artforms of all shapes & sizes.




Trinidadian-born, NYC-schooled & heralded as “Canada’s preeminent Jazz trumpeter” by NYC’s Village Voice, multi-award winning trumpet player Brownman Ali stands at the forefront of innovation in the Canadian jazz community. One of Canada’s most decorated trumpet players, Brownman is a winner of 2 National Jazz Awards, the Montreal Grand Prix du Jazz, 7 Toronto Independent Music Awards, a JUNO nomination, and was longlisted for a GRAMMY. A protégé to his teacher, Grammy- winning trumpet legend Randy Brecker, Brownman tirelessly leads 10 unique ensembles of his own including the internationally acclaimed, Miles Davis influenced, BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO. In 2009 he launched his own record label: Browntasauras Records, which is now a home to all his ensembles as well as SNAGGLE feat ALI BROS. Now, using the label as a breeding ground for new and visionary talent in the modern jazz realm, Browntasauras and Brownman himself are widely regarded as vanguards for the evolution of Jazz in Canada.