New jazz club brings community-centered good times to Uptown

A new jazz venue in the Twin Cities is aiming to be more than just a place to hear live music. For co-founder Johnnie Brown, The Brownstone Jazz Club is about access, community, and creating space for artists, especially Black artists, to grow.

Brown, a longtime Twin Cities musician, officially began his professional music journey in March 2012, debuting with a Teddy Pendergrass tribute performance. More than a decade later, he remains an independent artist, blending gospel, R&B, neo-soul and jazz, a sound shaped by his upbringing in the Church of God in Christ, where his father served as a pastor.

“Gospel was my foundation,” Brown said. “Jazz is something I’m still working my way into, but I love it.”

That openness to learning and growth is central to the vision behind The Brownstone Jazz Club, which recently soft-launched in Uptown. Brown said the idea emerged from witnessing the limited opportunities available for local artists to perform, practice and improve.

“There are not a lot of places to play,” he said. “And some of the venues people dream about, places like the Dakota, Chanhassen, or the Ordway, not everyone is honored with access. But artists still need space to share and develop their craft.”

Brown says the nature of music as a business, where hierarchy and lack of mutual support can limit growth, is where the new jazz club comes in as a vital resource.

“We hinder ourselves with some of the attitudes about who’s who in the Twin Cities music business,” he said. “I support everybody because I love music. I love watching other entertainers do their craft.”

That mindset helped shape The Brownstone as a space that prioritizes inclusion, opportunity and respect for artists at all stages of their careers. While jazz is the club’s anchor, Brown emphasized that the programming will be diverse.

“Jazz is the title, but other things will take place,” he said. “I want people to feel comfortable no matter who they are.”

Brown said he is especially intentional about creating a mature, elevated atmosphere, a space where older audiences can relax, listen, and enjoy the music without distraction.

“Listening to music takes maturity,” he said. “Jazz audiences are connoisseurs. They know how to sit in a space and really enjoy the set.”

The goal, he said, is to build a venue the community can be proud of, not a “hole in the wall” but a destination. “I want people to hear about The Brownstone when they come to the city,” Brown said. “Uptown is on its way back, and I hope to be a part of that.”

Brown does not plan to center himself as the primary performer at the club. While he will perform occasionally, his focus is on opening the stage to others and rethinking how artists are compensated. Drawing from years of experience performing in sold-out shows where artists often receive a small share after expenses, Brown said he hopes to develop a more equitable pay structure at The Brownstone.

“I’m trying to create something different,” he said, “a system that makes more sense for artists.”

The club’s soft grand opening drew about 80 to 90 people per show, Brown said, and confirmed for him that the vision is resonating.

“It was just a good time,” he said. “The energy in the space is good even just sitting there.”

Beyond music, The Brownstone is already being used as a community gathering space. Brown said the venue has hosted benefits, including a holiday toy drive, as well as a men’s group that met weekly.

“You could see the comfort on their faces,” he said. “They felt safe being there, talking and connecting.”

Looking ahead to 2025, Brown said his focus is shifting from performing to building The Brownstone into a sustainable community institution. While he is experienced in organizing shows and managing artists, he acknowledged that running a business is new territory.

“This is a whole different beat,” he said. “I’m learning. I’m meeting with people who understand business and the community, because I know I can’t do this alone.”

Brown emphasized repeatedly that The Brownstone is not meant to be a personal venture, but a shared one. “This is not a Johnnie Brown club,” he said. “It’s a community club.”

Co-owned with Anita Moore, the venue is gradually building a team and infrastructure, including sound and social media support. Brown said community backing, from attendance to funding to ideas, will be critical to its success.

Upcoming plans include a New Year’s Eve event with a DJ, future live shows, and tribute performances honoring artists such as George Duke and Lou Rawls. Brown said he is intentionally curating programming that appeals to nearby residents while drawing people from across the metro.

Above all, he wants the message to be clear: “Everybody is welcome,” Brown said. “We’re open to new ideas, new solutions, and bringing people together. That’s the goal.”

Catch a Christmas-themed show presented by Sovereign Collective on Tuesday, December 23, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at The Brownstone. For more information, visit www.tickettailor.com/events/wholemvmnt/1977714.

Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com.