recent releases
Spells Are Cast (2025)
Relay Recordings 038
Chris Brown, piano/electronics &Tim Daisy, drums and percussion
Track 01 “Counting Feathers (excerpt)”
JONGLEURS (2025)
ArtifactRecordings ART 3023
Chris Brown, piano/electronics & Ben Davis, cello/percussion
Track 01, “peck”
SUB WAY BEATS (2025)
ArtifactRecordings ART3026
Chris Brown, composition, piano and electronics, with William Winant, percussion and Ben Davis, cello
Track 01, “Summing”
TREMBLE TROVE (2022)
(2023)ArtifactRecordings ART3017
Chris Brown, piano&electronics, Ben Davis , vello and percussion, Matt Ingalls, clarinets – Marshall Trammell, drums
Track 02, “Among Us”
Scree (2024)
Relative Pitch CD release of quartet improvisations performed by Zeena Parkins, harp; Chris Brown, piano & electronics; William Winant, percussion; and Ben Davis, cello and percussion.
Track 01, “Minotaur”
[/audio https://relativepitchrecords.bandcamp.com/album/scree
Occhio (2022)
ArtifactRecordings, ART3016
CD release of songs setting poetry by Erika Dagnino performed by Chris Brown, composition, virtual piano and interactive computer; Theresa Wong, cello and voice, and Kyle Bruckmann, oboe. The piece is written in modes from Harry Partch’s 43 tone just intonation tuning.
Track 01, “Sguardo”
older releases
In the Pocket (2021)
ArtifactRecordings, ART3011
Studies in polyrhythm using rhythmic cycles with different numbers of beats playing at the same time. In polyrhythmic music, each rhythm has multiple meanings in relation to the others, giving the feeling of being pulled simultaneously towards more than one center.
Track 02, “Invention #1 (gazamba)”
Some Center (2020)
New World Records, Catalog. No. 80822
Songs from poems by Emily Dickinson (1830–1886) and Jackson Mac Low (1922–2004), making use of the 43-tone tuning system devised by Harry Partch (1901–1974). Performed by The Chromelodia Project: Theresa Wong, cello & voice; Kyle Bruckmann, oboe; Chris Brown, piano, electronics, composition.
Track 08, “Magellanic” (excerpt)
Synergy Signals (2020)
ArtifactRecordings ART3007
Improvised music by Jon Raskin, saxophones; Chris Brown, piano&electronics; Jason Hoopes, electric bass; Vladimir Tarasov, drums.
Track 04, “Magnetic Fields”
Track 04, “Retrospectacles” (excerpt)
Transit (2017)
ArtifactRecordings ART3001
Veteran electronic musicians John Bischoff, Chris Brown and Tim Perkis play live electronic music recorded in 2014 by Phillip Perkins at Mills College and at the Active Music Festival at Duende in Oakland. Guest artist Mark Trayle joins the trio on “Gradient”. All four of these musicians were members of the pioneering live computer music ensemble The Hub, and represent a well-known West Coast school of live electronic music. In memory of Mark Trayle (1955-2015)Track 02, “Phosphor” (excerpt)
Six Primes (2016)
New World Records Catalog Number 80781
Six Primes (2014) is a suite for retuned piano in 13-limit just intonation—drawing on the Rhythmicana ideas of Henry Cowell, the pure keyboard focus of Conlon Nancarrow, the affection for just intonation of Lou Harrison, and the unadulterated clarity of mathematical process of James Tenney—Brown is staunchly positioned, aesthetically, as a West Coast American experimentalist.
Track 5 “13-7-6-4” (excerpt)
Vermilion Traces/Donaueschingen 2009 (2012)
Leo Records
Gratkowski-Brown-Winant Trio, Leo Records, double CD, studio recordings of free improvisations (disc 1) and a live performance at the 2009 Donaueschingen Festival of free improvisations.
Track 1 “Trampoline” (excerpt)
Iconicities (2011)
New World Records, Cat. No. 80723
Three compositions by Chris Brown for percussion and live computer processing, featuring the William Winant Percussion Group. All three of these pieces are through-composed using simple processes applied to both the sounds of the instruments and their real-time electronic transformations. The players must synchronize exactly with the rhythms produced by these transformations, and together the acoustic and electronic layers of sound create closely interwoven textures that evolve gradually into more complex forms. The acoustic sounds and the patterned variations of their recurrence affect the listener’s experience of time, and provide a metaphor for its transcendence.Track 02, “Stupa” (excerpt)
Music In The Air (2010)
Deep Listening, DL 43
Chris Brown & Pauline Oliveros
Chris Brown, piano and live computer Signal Processing (SuperCollider).
Pauline Oliveros, Accordion, conch, percussion, and EIS (Expanded Instrument System).
Recorded by Philip Perkins, Berkeley, California September 12, 2008
Track 02, “Gravity Waves” (excerpt)
José Maceda’s UGNAYAN (2009)
Tzadik release, Cat.# 8068
Music by José Maceda for 20 radio stations, mixed and produced by Chris Brown with program notes by Ramón Santos and Chris Brown. Originally recorded in 1974 as 20 channels broadcast simultaneously on Manila’s radio stations to the population gathered in public spaces with hand-held transistor radios, Ugnayan was a massive production intended to meld values of indigenous Filipino culture with modernist aesthetics. Xenakis-like clouds of sounds from bamboo instruments, cymbals, gongs and voices were precisely notated in its nearly 100 page score using complex polyrhythmic relationships that realize Maceda’s unique textural style. The composer supervised a different recording for each radio channel to realize the score perfectly, and the result is a stunning masterpiece of this important composer’s work.
last 4′ of “Ugnayan”
The HUB: Boundary Layer (2008)
New World Records, Cat. No. 8050-3 The HUB is John Bischoff, Chris Brown, Tim Perkis, Mark Trayle, Scot Gresham-Lancaster, and Phil Stone. Functioning in the West Coast tradition of composer as instrument builder—redefining music from the ground up—The HUB makes music using electronic and digital systems of their own devising. providing new insights and historical perspective to some of the most imaginative and compelling electronic music ever made. This 3 CD box set anthology of new and previously released music by the network music band, includes a booklet with program notes, and reproduced historical documentation.Track 3-03 “Cut to Ribbons” (excerpt)
Cutter Heads (2007)
Intakt 124
Fred Frith and Chris Brown
duo improvisations: Frith, electric and acoustic guitars; Brown, piano and electronics
Track 3 “Swing Like Riddle” (excerpt)
Suspension (2006)
Rastascan BRD 058
CBD Trio
Chris Brown (piano/electronics)
Biggi Vinkeloe (alto saxophone/flute)
Donald Robinson (drums)
Track 01 “Outside/Inside” (excerpt)
Rogue Wave (2005)
Tzadik 8045 CD
Chris Brown, compositions for instruments and live electronics
Track 01 "Transmission
Tenderloin" (excerpt)
Wake (2005)
Red Toucan RT9336
Frank Gratkowski, Chris Brown and William Winant
Track 01 “Slip” (excerpt)
Talking Drum (2005)
Pogus P21034-2
Chris Brown
Binaural motion recordings composed as a dialogue of distances. Live recordings of music for electronic network music ensemble juxtaposed with location recordings of traditional music and environmental soundscapes. Made in Bali, the Philippines, Turkey, Europe, Cuba and America 1991-99.
Tracks 13->14 “BerkeleyBali” (excerpts)
Headlands (2002)
482 Music CD
Philip Gelb, shakuhachi, Shoko Hikage, koto, Chris Brown, piano, Tim Perkis, electronics
Track 01 “Miso” (excerpt)
Branches (2002)
Ecstatic Peace e#87b LP
Chris Brown, composition, piano and electronics, with William Winant, percussion, Toyoji Tomita, trombone, and DJ Eddie Def, turntables
Side A, “Branches”
Side B, “Alternating Currents”
fuzzybunny (2001)
sonore, [SON-14] CD
Chris Brown, Tim Perkis and Scot Gresham-Lancaster, live electronics
Track 03, “AntFarm”
Duets (1996)
ArtifactRecordings CD ART1016
Chris Brown, duet improvisations with Tom Nunn, William Winant, Ikue Mori, and Tom Djll
Track 01 “Parbuka” (excerpt)
Lava (1995)
Tzadik TZ 7002 CD
Chris Brown, composition & electronics with William Winant, percussion, Toyoji Tomita, trombone, Tom Djll, trumpet, Peter Wahrhaftig, tuba
Track 9 "Crest" (excerpt)
Hall of Mirrors (1992)
Music & Arts 700 CD
Chris Brown, piano,”gazamba” (electronic prepared piano) and electronic design, Larry Ochs, sopranino and tenor saxophones, William Winant Vibraphone and Percussion, Scot Gresham-Lancaster, Live electronics and computer
Track 04 "Hall of Mirrors" (excerpt)
The Hub – Computer Network Music (1992)
ArtifactRecordings ART 1002
John Bischoff, Tim Perkis, Chris Brown, Scot Gresham-Lancaster, Mark Trayle, Phil Stone
Track 01 “Perry Mason in East Germany” (excerpt)
Track 3 "Snakecharmer" (excerpt)
Master Switch (1986)
Insignificant Records LP
Electroacoustic Music 1978-81
Chris Brown, Tom Nunn, David Poyourow, and Michael Schippling, playing homemade instruments and electronic circuits
Side A ” Master Switch (excerpt)
Releases as a sideman, and of other composers music
2008 Arcade
2007 Improbable Transgressions, CD by Pedro Carneiro, SIRR Records, Lisbon, Portugal includes Fugue for Wood, electronic composition by Chris Brown.
2007 Drone and Melody, music by José Maceda, Tzadik, CD. Performed by the University of the Philippines Contemporary Music Players, Ramón P. Santos, conductor and the Mills Performing Group, Steed Cowart, conductor. Produced by Chris Brown, recorded in Quezon City, Philippines and Oakland, California, 2007.
2006 Music + One, Chris Brown, computer solo improvisation, from a compilation of improvised solos to be used in further improvisations, Rastascan Records, CD.
2006 Grosse Abfahrt with Serge Baghdassarians, Boris Baltschun, Tom Djll, Matt Ingalls, Tim Perkis, Gino Robair, and John Shiurba. Creative Sources Recordings, CD.
2005 Talking Drum, re-issue on Pogus Records of out-of-print 2001 release on Sonore, CD.
2005 Thousand Oaks – Natto Quartet, Chris Brown, piano; with Philip Gelb, shakuhachi; Shoko Hikage, koto; and Tim Perkis, electronics, 482 Music, CD.
2005 Rova::Orkestrova:Electric Ascension, laptop performance, Atavistic, CD.
2003 Headlands – Natto Quartet, Chris Brown, piano; Philip Gelb, shakuhachi; Shoko Hikage, koto; and Tim Perkis, electronics, on 482 Music, CD.
2002 Branches, recordings of Branches, and Alternating Currents, on Ecstatic Peace, LP.
2002 Transmission Temescal, binaural recording of installation of 20 boomboxes and clock radios on the decks of the Artship, the Artship Recordings, disc 47.
2002 Wadada Leo Smith’s Luminous Axis, Wadada Leo Smith, trumpet with William Winant, percussion, and computer-driven electronics performances by Chris Brown, Tim Perkis, John Bischoff, Mark Trayle, Ikue Mori. Tzadik, CD.
2002 Visions, performances from the EMIT series. Chris Brown, live electronics with Philip Gelb, shakuhachi, track 4, CD.
2001 Talking Drum, binaural recordings of live electronic installations, and location recordings of traditional music and environmental soundscapes, Sonore, CD.
2001 Oasis Music from Mills 2001 knottyspine, Chris Brown computer performance on a compilation of music by composers from Mills College including music by Pauline Oliveros, Maggi Payne,Fred Frith, John Bischoff, and Alvin Curran, CD.
2001 fuzzybunny, live electronic improvisations with the trio by the same name which also includes Tim Perkis and Scot Gresham-Lancaster, Sonore, CD.
2000 John Zorn’s Xu Feng, performed by Chris Brown, live electronics; Dave Slusser, live electronics; Fred Frith, electric guitar; John Schott, electric guitar; William Winant, percussion; Dave Lombardo, drums. Tzadik, CD.
1999 New Music: Piano Compositions by Henry Cowell, piano performances by Chris Brown, New Albion Records, CD.
1999 Waves, composition and performance with Philip Gelb, shakuhachi on “between/waves”, Sparkling Beatnik, CD.
1999 Glenn Spearman’s Blues for Falasha, piano performance with the Glenn Spearman Double Trio, Tzadik, CD.
1998 Luc Ferrari’s Cellule 75, piano performance with William Winant, percussion of Luc Ferrari’s composition, Tzadik CD.
1998 Non Stop Flight, electronic performance with The Hub on this live recording by the Deep Listening Band, Music & Arts, CD.
1997 John Coltrane’s Ascension, large ensemble including Glenn Spearman, saxophone, the Rova Saxophone Quartet, and Chris Brown piano , Black Saint, CD.
1996 Duets, by Chris Brown, with Tom Nunn, William Winant, Ikue Mori, and Tom Djll, Artifact Recordings, CD.
1996 Larry Ochs’ The Secret Magritte, piano performance in ensemble including the Rova Saxophone Quartet, Marilyn Crispell, Barry Guy, Lisle Ellis, and William Winant, Black Saint, CD.
1996 Master Switch, compositions and improvisations by Chris Brown, with Tom Nunn, David Poyourow, and Michael Schippling, electroacoustic instruments. Insignificant Records, LP.
1995 Lava by Chris Brown, for brass, percussion and live electronics, Tzadik, CD.
1995 Butch Morris’ Conductions #11, large ensemble including Chris Brown performance on original instruments, New World Records, CD.
1995 Terry Riley’s In C The 25th Anniversary Performance, large ensemble including Chris Brown keyboard performance, New Albion, CD.
1994 Music from the CCM at Mills College: CDCM Computer Music Series, vol. 17“, Chris Brown’s Chain Reaction, performed by Room: Chris Brown, piano, Larry Ochs, saxophone, William Winant, Airdrums MIDI controller, and Scot Gresham-Lancaster, electronics. Centaur Records, CD.
1994 Wreckin’ Ball, The HUB – Computer Network Music, Artifact Recordings, CD.
1994 Smokehouse, Glenn Spearman Double Trio: Glenn Spearman and Larry Ochs, saxophones; Chris Brown, piano; Ben Lindgren, bass; Donald Robinson and William Winant, drums and percussion. Black Saint, CD.
1993 Mystery Project, Glenn Spearman Double Trio: Glenn Spearman and Larry Ochs, saxophones; Chris Brown, piano; Ben Lindgren, bass; Donald Robinson and William Winant, drums and percussion. Black Saint, CD.
1992 Hall of Mirrors, Room: Chris Brown, piano; Larry Ochs, saxophones; William Winant, vibes and percussion; Scot Gresham-Lancaster, electronics. Music and Arts. CD.
1991 The Virtuoso in the Computer Age — I: CDCM Computer Music Series, vol. 10“, Chris Brown, piano performance on David Rosenboom’s A Precipice in Time”, with David Rosenboom, conductor and computer music systems, Anthony Braxton, alto saxophone and William Winant, percussion. Centaur Records, CD.
1989 The Hub: Computer Network Music, Artifact Recordings, CD.
1989 Snakecharmer Live Electroacoustic Music by Chris Brown, Artifact Recordings, CD.
1989 Room, Room: Chris Brown, piano; Larry Ochs, saxophones; William Winant, vibes and percussion. Sound Aspects, CD.
1987 Wayne Horvitz’s This New Generation, includes Chris Brown performance on original instruments, Elektra/Musician CDs, records, and tapes.
1980 Earwig, Chris Brown and Tom Nunn, original electroacoustic instruments, cassette released by Essential Recordings, 16mm film by Eric Marin.