East Lansing producer, musician up for Grammy honors

East Lansing’s Glenn Brown knows who he’s rooting for at this year’s Grammy Awards.

After all, he had a hand in engineering the latest release from bass player Marcus Miller, “Afrodeezia,” which is up for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 58th Grammy Awards.

“I had a hunch when we were working on the record there was a chance for a Grammy nomination, because Marcus has been nominated before, and he’s super talented," said Brown, a music producer, engineer and mixer "He’s one of the best bass players out there. After the record came out, we were getting great feedback, so I thought, ‘This could happen!’”

Brown recorded trumpet solos and melodies on the album, as well as some percussion.

Michigan State University professor of jazz trumpet Etienne Charles played trumpet on the release.

Charles calls Miller “an inspiring person and musician,” and says it was “a great privilege and humbling honor to get to record on his album.”

“This album celebrates the African Diaspora with musicians from each region,” Charles added.

This isn’t Brown’s first brush with the Grammys. He mixed a song on Spinal Tap’s “Back from the Dead” album, “Rock and Roll Nightmare,” in 2009, which was nominated for a Grammy. He has the Grammy plaque in his office to prove it.

“It’s not about winning. It’s the fact I’m doing that kind of work,” Brown said. “It’s good that I’m getting that clientele at my studio in humble East Lansing. That’s even cooler than getting the Grammy.”

The Grammy Awards will air Feb. 15 on CBS.

Check out Brown online via www.gbp-studio-acoustics.com.

Find Marcus Miller at www.marcusmiller.com.

Contact Anne Erickson at (517) 377-1006 or aerickson@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AnneErickson.