ABOUT

Jonathan Escoto Brown is a composer of British-Filipino heritage from Birmingham, UK, emerging as a formidable talent in the world of film composition. 

Jonathan composed the original score for Lorna Nickson Brown's award-winning short film, DOG RUN. He received a nomination for the Crystal Pine Award for ‘Best Original Score for Short Film’ at the International Sound and Film Music Festival in 2023, and was long-listed at the British Short Film Awards in the same category.
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Following his success on DOG RUN, Jonathan completed the National Film and Television School's (NFTS) course, ‘Composing for Film and TV,’ and is currently composing an original composition for the musical and narrative performance, POWER, for the Ifa Yoruba Contemporary Arts Trust, with Grammy award winning percussionist, Lekan Babalola. 

An experienced practicing guitarist/musician, Jonathan’s passion for composing original pieces was fostered during his undergraduate study of the Leeds College of Music BA Jazz programme, from which he graduated with First-Class Honours. 

Jonathan’s career composition highlights include composing for and performing in a finale performance at the Royal Albert Hall’s ‘Elgar Room’ as part of the PROMS PLUS LATE SESSIONS broadcast on BBC Radio 3. He composed and arranged musical accompaniment for an intimate duo performance with highly respected East London singer-songwriter Murkage Dave.

He has composed many original songs for Birmingham-based reggae band KIOKO, which have received frequent airplay on BBC Radio 1, BBC 1 XTRA and BBC Radio 2.

‍ Highly regarded in the UK’s jazz and reggae scenes, Jonathan’s approach towards composition is rooted in these two pioneering genres, not necessarily in aesthetic but in approach. He embodies the mission statement of jazz musicians to push the boundaries of the musical envelope, and follows in the footsteps of reggae and dub producers who reconceptualised the recording studio as their musical instrument.
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He has collaborated as a performer with world-renowned jazz musicians Ashley Henry, Matt Anderson and Reuben James. He is lead guitarist and a composer for the band KIOKO, who have toured the UK and internationally, supporting the late, great Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Dub Pistols and most recently, UB40.