“Brown’s banjo is an instrument possessed of a unique sonic signature and an inescapable beauty” – Billboard
One of the most multi-faceted minds in roots music, Alison Brown is a Grammy-winning musician and a Grammy-nominated producer. Additionally, she is a former investment banker (with an AB from Harvard and an MBA from UCLA). Also, she co-founded The Compass Records Group which celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in 2023.
Alison began her musical career as a teenager in the Southern California bluegrass scene. Now, she has built a reputation as one of today’s most forward-thinking and innovative banjo players. She is known for taking the instrument far beyond its Appalachian roots by blending bluegrass and jazz influences into a sonic tapestry. Thus, she has earned praise and recognition from a variety of national tastemakers. For example, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Sunday Morning, NPR, and USA Today.
Steve Martin and Alison Brown released their debut collaborative album, Safe, Sensible and Sane, in 2025. There, it features guest appearances from Jackson Browne, Vince Gill, the Indigo Girls, Tim O’Brien, Jason Mraz, Della Mae, and more. Moreover, Safe, Sensible and Sane emerges as a captivating new turn in the evolution of banjo music.
There, the album follows their chart-topping collaborations “Foggy Morning Breaking”, “Bluegrass Radio”, and “Wall Guitar (Since You Said Goodbye)”. Here, these longtime friends and banjo aficionados have crafted a collection of banjo-inspired songs. Further, they are built on Brown’s daringly inventive melodies and Martin’s idiosyncratic yet ineffably tender lyrics.
Recommended for fans of Steep Canyon Rangers, Yonder Mountain String Band, Della Mae and Béla Fleck.
