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John Brown, Playing Bass for the President

Duke music professor performs with Nneena Freelon at APEC concert

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That's
Duke Music Professor John Brown on the bass sharing the stage Sunday night with
singer Nnenna Freelon, US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle at a
dinner and luau hosted by the Obamas for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) summit in Hawaii.

"It
was a blast!" writes Brown, who had spent several years as bassist in
Freelon's backing band. He left the band when he went to law school at
UNC-Chapel Hill, but continues to perform with her on select occasion.  The Obamas are fans of Freelon, a
6-time Grammy Award nominee with strong ties to the Durham area, and when the
singer extended the invitation to Brown to join her at the concert, Brown
leaped at the opportunity.

The
concert included jazz, soul and pop standards including "Just Squeeze
Me," "My Cherie Amore," "The Very Thought of You" and
Close Your Eyes."

"Being
brought to Hawaii to perform for the president was a high high honor,"
Brown wrote in an email before he flew back to Durham on Tuesday.