11/22/2025, 07:30 PM ESTAlison Brown
One of the most multi-faceted minds in roots music, Alison Brown is a GRAMMY-winningmusician,GRAMMY-nominatedproducer, former investment banker (with an AB from Harvard and anMBA from UCLA) and co-founder of The Compass RecordsGroup which celebratesits30thanniversary in2023.
Although Alison began her musical career as a teenager in the Southern California bluegrass scene, shehas built a reputation as one of today’s most forward thinking and innovative banjo players.She isknown for taking the instrument far beyond its Appalachian roots by blending bluegrass and jazzinfluences into a sonic tapestry that has earned praise and recognition from a variety of nationaltastemakers including The Wall Street Journal, CBS Sunday Morning, NPR and USA Today.On her newrelease, aptly titledOn Banjo, Alison continues her musical explorations on aset of original compositionswith special guestsincludingSteve Martin, Kronos Quartet, Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan and members oftheAlison Brown Quintet.
Alison is the recipient of the USA Artists Fellowship in Music and the Distinguished Achievement Awardfrom the International Bluegrass Music Association.A pioneer among women in the music industry,Alison was the first female towin an Instrumentalist of the Year award from the International BluegrassMusic Association; in 2019, shebecame the first female 5-string banjoist to beinductedinto theAmerican Banjo Museum’s Hall of Fame.Alison serves on the Board of Governors of theRecordingAcademy and as co-chair of the Steve Martin Banjo Prize.
