By Jaclyn Breeze — Jason Robert Brown is an American pianist, composer, and playwright born in 1970. After growing up in New York City, he attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. He is best known for his Broadway works, including Songs for a New World, The Last Five Years, 13 the Musical, Parade, and The Bridges of Madison County, among others. He has won several Tony and Drama Desk Awards.
Outside of the theater, Jason also has released solo albums and performs with his jazz trio, Jason Robert Brown and the Caucasian Rhythm Kings, for which he is the composer, vocalist, and pianist. His music has many trademarks that make it so popular, including a lot of rhythmic variety, unconventional harmony, and it’s melodic unpredictability. He currently lives in New York City with his wife and 2 daughters.
Listen to some of his work here:
13 the Musical (rated PG) is available on Netflix. One of his full concerts is available on YouTube from the Library of Congress.