Dianne Reeves - The Nearness of You

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:12
Size: 115,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:55) 1. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
(5:41) 2. Like A Lover
(4:08) 3. How High The Moon
(8:05) 4. For All We Know
(3:19) 5. The Nearness of You/Misty
(6:18) 6. You Taught My Heart To Sing
(5:39) 7. Ancient Source
(9:02) 8. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
(3:01) 9. Oh What A Freedom

Five-time Grammy winner DIANNE REEVES is the pre-eminent jazz vocalist in the world. As a result of her breathtaking virtuosity, improvisational prowess, and unique jazz and R&B stylings, Reeves received the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for three consecutive recordings a Grammy first in any vocal category.

Featured in George Clooney’s six-time Academy Award nominated Good Night, and Good Luck, Reeves won the Best Jazz Vocal Grammy for the film's soundtrack.

Reeves has recorded and performed with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. She has also recorded with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim and was a featured soloist with Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic. Reeves was the first Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the first vocalist to ever perform at the famed Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Reeves worked with legendary producer Arif Mardin (Norah Jones, Aretha Franklin) on the Grammy winning A Little Moonlight, an intimate collection of standards featuring her touring trio. When Reeves’ holiday collection Christmas Time is Here was released, Ben Ratliff of The New York Times raved, “Ms. Reeves, a jazz singer of frequently astonishing skill, takes the assignment seriously; this is one of the best jazz Christmas CD's I've heard.”

In recent years Reeves has toured the world in a variety of contexts including “Sing the Truth,” a musical celebration of Nina Simone which also featured Lizz Wright and Angelique Kidjo. She performed at the White House on multiple occasions including President Obama's State Dinner for the President of China as well as the Governors’ Ball.

Reeves’ most recent release Beautiful Life, features Gregory Porter, Robert Glasper, Lalah Hathaway and Esperanza Spalding. Produced by Terri Lyne Carrington, Beautiful Life won the 2015 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. Reeves is the recipient of honorary doctorates from the Berklee College of Music and the Juilliard School. In 2018 the National Endowment for the Arts designated Reeves a Jazz Master the highest honor the United States bestows on jazz artists.
https://diannereeves.com/media/
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Personnel: Lead Vocals [Vocals] – Dianne Reeves; Acoustic Guitar – Kevin Eubanks (tracks: 2); Alto Saxophone – Greg Osby (tracks: 1, 4); Bass – Charnett Moffett (tracks: 1, 3 to 7), Tony Dumas (tracks: 9); Drums – Marvin Smitty Smith* (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 7), Michael Baker (2) (tracks: 9), Terri Lyne Carrington (tracks: 3, 5); Keyboards – David Torkanowsky (tracks: 9); Piano – Donald Brown (tracks: 1, 7), Mulgrew Miller (tracks: 3 to 6, 8); Tenor Saxophone – Gerald Albright (tracks: 9); Vibraphone – Bobby Hutcherson (tracks: 1, 7); Wind Chimes – Ron Powell (tracks: 2).

The Nearness of You

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Donald Brown - Autumn in New York

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:06
Size: 151,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:48) 1. Make Sure You're sure
(7:47) 2. I Can't Give You Anything but Love
(5:14) 3. Strange
(5:41) 4. Miro's Flight
(6:32) 5. I Was Just Thinking About You
(6:20) 6. Dorothy's Love Letter
(8:18) 7. If I Should Loose You
(6:27) 8. Willow Weep for Me
(6:20) 9. Killer Joe
(5:39) 10. Autumn in New York

In spite of a lengthy discography of recordings as a leader, pianist Donald Brown remains a talent deserving of wider recognition. Whether it is due to his soft-spoken nature or the fact that his series of excellent recordings for the French label Space Time is not yet widely enough distributed in the U.S., Brown's abilities as a player, composer, and arranger are never in question. On this trio date with bassist Essiet Essiet and drummer Billy Kilson, the veteran catches listeners off guard with a laid-back opener, a dreamy take of Stevie Wonder's ballad "Make Sure You're Sure." His off-kilter approach to the old warhorse "I Can't Give You Anything but Love" and wailing treatment of "If I Should Lose You" add new life to these time-tested standards. Perhaps his most intriguing arrangement is the bluesy saunter through "Willow Weep for Me." The bright and somewhat funky "Dorothy's Love Letter" is among the three superb originals which Brown contributed to this very enjoyable CD.~Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/autumn-in-new-york-mw0000235054

Personnel: Piano, Liner Notes – Donald Brown; Acoustic Bass – Essiet Essiet; Drums – Billy Kilson

Autumn in New York

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Donald Brown - Fast Forward to the Past

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:19
Size: 164,3 MB
Art: Front

(9:25)  1. Eminence
(6:39)  2. Skatterbrain
(7:09)  3. Carter Country
(7:13)  4. The Thing About George Coleman
(5:22)  5. Skain's Domain
(8:04)  6. Gazelle
(4:58)  7. Vera Cruz
(6:35)  8. Never In My Wildest Dream
(8:50)  9. Where Pelicans Fly
(6:59) 10. Don't Forget to Tell Her You Love Her

A fine pianist and educator, Donald Brown has also been a prolific composer. He grew up in Memphis and actually started out on drums and trumpet. By the time he attended Memphis State University (1972-1975), he was playing jazz piano. After years of local work, Brown replaced James Williams with the Jazz Messengers (1981-1982). He went on to teach at Berklee (1983-1985) and the University of Tennessee (starting in 1988), recorded albums as a leader for Sunnyside and Muse, and had his compositions performed and recorded by a wide variety of top modern jazz players. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/donald-brown-mn0000180014/biography

Personnel:  Piano – Donald Brown; Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Mark Bolling; Bass – Essiet Essiet, Robert Hurst; Drums – Eric Harland; Electric Guitar – Lionel Loueke; Flute, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Danny Walsh ; Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Jean Toussaint; Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Bill Mobley; Vibraphone – Steve Nelson

Fast Forward to the Past

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Donald Brown - Wurd on the Skreet

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:34
Size: 156,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:53)  1. Shadow Chasers
(6:00)  2. Judgement Day
(7:01)  3. Grammy's Bathwater
(7:08)  4. L's Bob
(6:32)  5. Granny's Bathwater
(6:39)  6. Easley Said and Done
(7:11)  7. The Thing about Harold Mabern
(6:14)  8. For the lack of a Better world
(4:39)  9. Pressing the Issue
(9:12) 10. Wurd on the Skreet

One of many fine alumni of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers to develop into leading bands of his own, Donald Brown has also been very successful as a composer, arranger, and pianist. Since the end of his association with the now defunct Muse, Brown has recorded a series of exciting sessions for the French-owned Space Time, including these 1995 outings. The exciting opener, "Shadow Chasers," is an uptempo romp mixing hard bop, post-bop, and a Latin tinge as well, with terrific solos by trumpeter Bill Mobley, alto saxophonist Manny Boyd, soprano saxophonist Sam Newsome, and the leader. The delicate "Granny's Bathwater" is introduced by Brown with a thoughtful solo that is full of love; Manny Boyd soon joins him with his warm, lyrical flute, with the piece taking on a brisk waltz setting as the full band is added. Brown's "Song for My Mother" showcases Newsome again on soprano in this richly voiced ballad. "Easley Said and Done" suggests a voice of protest initially, though it quickly segues into a brisk hard bop vehicle. "Wurd on the Skreet," dedicated to Brown's brother Ramone, manages to convey funkiness in a sophisticated composition. Mobley contributed the tense but swinging "Judgement Day," in which he switches to flügelhorn. The rhythm section includes bassist Essiet Essiet (known for his great work with Bobby Watson & Horizon), drummer Billy Drummond, and percussionist Daniel Sadownick, all of whom help to provide a firm foundation for the soloists throughout this highly recommended CD. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/wurd-on-the-skreet-mw0000222875

Personnel: Piano, Producer – Donald Brown; Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Manny Boyd; Bass – Essiet Essiet; Drums – Billy Drummond; Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Sam Newsome; Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Bill Mobley

Wurd on the Skreet

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Donald Brown - People Music

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:29
Size: 123,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:48)  1. Biscuit Man
(6:26)  2. Gaslight
(5:06)  3. Prism
(9:01)  4. Reruns from the Sixties
(5:46)  5. Over at Herbie's Juke Joint
(5:48)  6. I Love It When You Dance That Way
(7:00)  7. Graylon
(5:46)  8. Booker T
(4:45)  9. Intensive Care Unit (I.C.U.)

Fine '90 date by a Memphis pianist. He plays nice bluesy chords and gospel-influenced phrases, but is also an effective straight-ahead and hard bop improviser. He's backed by a large group that features an interesting configuration with a trumpet/alto sax/vibes front line, and also uses vocals at times. Vincent Herring plays with fire on alto, while Steve Nelson adds a different dimension on vibes. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/album/people-music-mw0000278194

Personnel:  Donald Brown – piano; Tom Harrell - trumpet, flugelhorn; Vincent Herring - flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone; Steve Nelson - vibraphone; Robert Hurst – bass; Samurai Celestial – drums, vocals; Daniel G. Sadownick– percussion; Lenora Zenzalai Helm – vocals (track 6)

People Music

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Kenny Garrett - Black Hope

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:54
Size: 154,3 MB
Art: Front

( 6:08)  1. Tacit Dance
( 4:09)  2. Spanish Go-round
(10:04)  3. Computer G
( 7:39)  4. Van Goghs Left Ear
( 3:53)  5. Black Hope
( 7:01)  6. Jackie And The Bean Stalk
( 4:46)  7. Run Run Shaw
( 5:24)  8. 2 Step
( 4:53)  9. Bone Bob
( 4:42) 10. Books And Toys
( 5:34) 11. Bye Bye Blackbird
( 1:35) 12. Last Sax

Alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett hasn't been as heavily publicized as his fellow young lions, but he can play with as much authority, conviction, and sheer energy as anyone. Only some uneven material keeps his '92 album from being exceptional, and even on the weak songs, Garrett's playing forces you to pay attention. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/album/black-hope-mw0000082568

Personnel:  Kenny Garrett: alto saxophone, soprano saxophone;  Joe Henderson: tenor saxophone;  Kenny Kirkland: piano, synthesizer;  Donald Brown: synthesizer;  Charnett Moffett: bass;  Brian Blade, Ricky Wellman: drums;  Don Alias: percussion

Black Hope

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Wallace Roney - Obsession

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:41
Size: 98,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:12)  1. Obsession
(8:01)  2. Scenario One
(8:56)  3. Alone Together
(7:30)  4. Seven
(7:40)  5. Black Moon
(4:22)  6. Donna Lee

In the early days of his career, trumpeter Wallace Roney was tagged as being yet another Miles Davis-influenced player, though a focused hearing of his fourth CD as a leader will demonstrate how much he was developing his own voice on this exciting hard bop session with tenor saxophonist Gary Thomas, pianist Donald Brown (like the leader, an alum of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers), bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Cindy Blackman. Roney's furious "Obsession" crackles with energy, showcasing the trumpeter, Thomas, and Brown. McBride contributed the loping, bluesy "Black Moon," while Blackman's "Scenario One" is full of twists, dominated by her drums. 

The one standard is "Alone Together," with Roney utilizing a mute, inviting the inevitable comparisons to Miles. But the sizzling take of "Donna Lee" finds Roney very much in his own voice. An enjoyable early effort, Obsession unfortunately lapsed from print with the sale of Muse, and it is increasingly difficult to acquire. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/obsession-mw0000078455

Personnel:  Wallace Roney - trumpet;  Gary Thomas - tenor saxophone, flute;  Donald Brown - piano;  Christian McBride - bass;  Cindy Blackman - drums

Obsession

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Donald Brown - Sources of Inspiration

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1990
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:35
Size: 120,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:54)  1. Capetown Ambush
(6:28)  2. Overtaken by a Moment
(6:22)  3. Do We Have to Say Goodbye?
(6:46)  4. Embraceable You
(6:36)  5. New York
(7:03)  6. Phineas
(4:15)  7. The Insane Asylum
(8:09)  8. The Human Impersonator

With the exception of "Embraceable You" (one of two songs on this CD that are "bonus" cuts not on the LP version), pianist Donald Brown wrote all of the material. The strong quintet (which also features Eddie Henderson and altoist Gary Bartz) really digs into the diverse originals which are often reminiscent of a Blue Note date circa 1967.  ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/sources-of-inspiration-mw0000612773

Personnel:  Donald Brown – piano;  Eddie Henderson - trumpet, flugelhorn;  Gary Bartz - soprano saxophone, alto saxophone;  Buster Williams – bass;  Carl Allen – drums

Sources of Inspiration

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Donald Brown - Cause and Effect

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:03
Size: 156,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:03)  1. The Power of the Drums
(6:25)  2. I Should Care
(7:45)  3. A Free Man?
(8:08)  4. Cause and Effect
(6:58)  5. Theme for Mandela
(7:09)  6. Black Narcissus
(7:14)  7. Daddy's Girl Cynthia
(7:12)  8. The Smile of the Snake
(6:23)  9. Man in a State of Nature (Part 1)
(4:44) 10. Man in a State of Nature (Part 2)

A really wonderful little album from pianist Donald Brown deeply soulful, and in ways that go beyond just his work on piano! There's some great higher-concept ideas going on here bits of culture and philosophy folded into the music, courtesy of recitations by Marlon Saunders on a handful of tracks the oft-overlooked legacy of soul jazz that extended well past the 70s, at a time when this sort of music was often an expression for deeper thoughts in the years before hip hop dominated such territory too strongly. 

Brown's got some great help on the date too tenor from Joe Henderson, flute from James Spaulding, and vibes from Steve Nelson plus bass from Ron Carter and drums from either Kenny Washington or Carl Allen, both the kind of players who get the rhythmic pulse of the record right. Titles include "A Free Man","The Power Of The Drums", "Black Narcissus", "Man In A State Of Nature", "Daddy's Girl Cynthia", and "Cause & Effect". (Out of print.)  © 1996-2018, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/497070

Personnel: Donald Brown (piano), Marlon Saunders (vocals, narration), Joe Henderson (tenor saxophone), James Spaulding (flute), Steve Nelson (vibraphone, marimba), Ron Carter (bass), Carl Allen, Kenny Washington (drums), Rudy Bird, Donald Eaton (percussion), Lenora Helm (background vocals).

Cause and Effect

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Donald Brown - The Classic Introvert

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:39
Size: 164.0 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[ 6:10] 1. Theme For Malcom
[ 6:13] 2. Enchanté!
[10:02] 3. Suite Africa
[ 5:06] 4. The Mc Ghaw's Place
[ 6:13] 5. A Dance For Marie-Do
[ 5:56] 6. The Classic Introvert
[ 7:36] 7. Dance Sucker
[ 5:51] 8. Phineas
[ 4:17] 9. Strangers In Paradise
[ 4:03] 10. A Poem For Martin
[ 5:58] 11. I Love It When You Say It In French
[ 4:09] 12. A Diamond In The Rough

Piano – Donald Brown. Recorded July 17 & 18, 1997.

One of many alumni of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, pianist Donald Brown is easily one of the most accomplished composers to graduate from the late drummer's finishing school for talented young musicians. On this solo piano session for Space Time, Brown explores a dozen thoughtful original compositions cast in a variety of moods. "Theme for Malcom," dedicated to the slain Muslim leader Malcom X, is Brown's third recorded version of this work, but it proves to have a character as complex as its namesake. "The McGhaw's Place" is a cheerful, upbeat ballad with a rich chord structure and a recurring bass vamp, a piece that needs lyrics to go along with it. Equally infectious is "A Dance for Marie-Do," a hip calypso, while "Dance Sucker" is an enticing salute to the late giant of New Orleans piano, James Booker, featuring Brown's striding left hand. Brown was friends with the late Phineas Newborn and his tribute, "Phineas," is every bit as multifaceted as the phenomenal musician it honors is. The session is beautifully recorded on a pristine Steinway piano. It is little wonder that so many of Donald Brown's peers have recorded his compositions, though no one can interpret them as well as the pianist himself. ~Ken Dryden

The Classic Introvert mc
The Classic Introvert zippy

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Carl Allen & Manhattan Projects - Picadilly Square

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:39
Size: 132.0 MB
Styles: Bop, Straight ahead jazz
Year: 1993
Art: Front

[8:25] 1. Piccadilly Square
[4:12] 2. Autumn Leaves
[7:47] 3. 'round Midnight
[5:07] 4. Lullaby Of Birdland
[6:27] 5. Annie's Mood
[5:24] 6. The Biscuit Man
[4:03] 7. New Joy
[6:57] 8. What's New
[3:57] 9. In The Still Of The Night
[5:15] 10. Afterthoughts

Bass – Ira Coleman; Drums – Carl Allen; Flute, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Vincent Herring; Piano – Donald Brown; Trumpet – Freddie Hubbard (tracks: 1, 9), Roy Hargrove. Recorded 6 and 7 December 1989 at A&R Studio, New York

The music on this CD is very much in the Young Lions/modern hard bop vein. In this 1989 session, drummer Carl Allen leads a fairly young all-star group -- comprised of trumpeter Roy Hargrove, Vincent Herring on alto, soprano, and flute, pianist Donald Brown, and bassist Ira Coleman -- through five originals by bandmembers and five standards. Veteran trumpeter Freddie Hubbard sits in on "Piccadilly Square" (a rare chance for one to hear both Hubbard and Hargrove soloing on the same number) and "In the Still of the Night." Few surprises occur, but the musicians (particularly Herring) play up to expectations and fans of hard bop will enjoy this. ~Scott Yanow

Picadilly Square

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Donald Brown, Charles Thomas, Harold Mabern, Roy Drummond, Alan Dawson - A Season Of Ballads

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:14
Size: 147.0 MB
Styles: Bop
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[8:16] 1. Harlem Nocturne
[4:21] 2. The View From Here
[6:35] 3. Give Me The Simple Life
[5:15] 4. The Midnight Sun Will Never Set
[6:45] 5. When You Look Into Your Eyes
[4:10] 6. Welcome To My World
[4:18] 7. Come Sunday
[4:44] 8. I'm Old Fashioned
[5:53] 9. Your Name Is Love
[5:10] 10. Brownie's Eyes
[3:55] 11. Raintree
[4:46] 12. Love Wise

This James Williams-produced date actually features each of the three Memphis pianists separately with bassist Ray Drummond and the late drummer Alan Dawson (on one of his last recordings) in an all-ballad CD. Brown starts off with a funky "Harlem Nocturne" followed by his melancholy original "The View From Here." Charles Thomas is a veteran who hasn't ventured into the studio much but is highly respected by his peers. He offers a lyrical take of "When You Look Into Your Eyes," a full-bodied gospel-flavored arrangement of Duke Ellington's "Come Sunday," and a richly textured "I'm Old Fashioned."

Mabern is the big surprise with his choice of four lesser known songs; his waltzing take of "Your Name Is Love," the bright version of Quincy Jones' "Brownie's Eyes," and his exuberant playing on "Raintree" show his willingness to take chances. It's too bad there wasn't time or room for producer Williams to take his turn at the piano, too; maybe next time. ~Ken Dryden

A Season Of Ballads

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Carmen Bradford - With Respect

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:15
Size: 122,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:52)  1. Even Steven
(4:08)  2. You'll Have To Swing It (Mr. Paganini)
(4:58)  3. Look Who's Mine
(5:10)  4. High Wire
(4:47)  5. Finally
(3:52)  6. Maybe Now
(4:12)  7. Little Esther
(4:43)  8. Ain't No Use
(4:43)  9. Was I In Love Alone
(5:53) 10. He comes to Me for Comfort
(5:53) 11. Nature Boy

Carmen Bradford is a belter, a singer not afraid to show off her emotions or to occasionally go over the top. She toured with Count Basie's Orchestra for nine years but somehow never achieved much fame, only recording on a very irregular basis as a singer despite her strong musicality and powerful pipes. This set is a fine all-around showcase, featuring her with a variety of small groups including ensembles with either Cedar Walton or Donald Brown on piano. Among the other prominent players are vibraphonist Steve Nelson, guitarist Dori Caymmi, saxophonist Charles Owens, and (on a closing duet version of "Nature Boy") guitarist Michael O'Neill. Although it probably was not the best idea to perform "You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)" (since Ella owns it), Bradford sounds particularly strong on the more recent and obscure material, including Chick Corea's "High Wire," Cedar Walton's "Even Steven," and Red Mitchell's "Finally." Since she has not recorded all that often since this period, With Respect is still Carmen Bradford's definitive recording. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/with-respect-mw0000174309

Personnel:  Vocals – Carmen Bradford;  Bass – James Leary, Robert Hurst;  Drums – Ralph Penland;  Flute, Saxophone – Charles Owens;  Guitar – Dori Caymmi , Michael O'Neill, Wali Ali;  Percussion – Bill Summers;  Piano – Cedar Walton, Donald Brown;  Vibraphone – Steve Nelson

With Respect

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Donald Brown - Born To Be Blue

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 75:09
Size: 172.0 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz, Piano jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[7:38] 1. Bye-Ya
[6:18] 2. Daly Avenue
[7:38] 3. Just One Of Those Things
[5:50] 4. Dad's Delight
[7:45] 5. Cheek To Cheek
[5:50] 6. The Innocent Young Lowers
[5:32] 7. Born To Be Blue
[8:55] 8. Fly With The Wind
[8:47] 9. Take My Breath Away
[4:54] 10. You Must Believe In Spring
[5:58] 11. I Cover The Waterfront

Donald Brown's 'Born to Be Blue', sees the pianist/composer team up with Kenny Garrett and Wallace Roney for the first time since they were all members of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the 1980s. This occasion would be illustrious enough in itself but when these titans of today's jazz scene are joined in the front line by a musician of the stature of Ravi Coltrane, then this recording becomes a special event indeed.

A generational concept is woven into Brown's choice of material for the album as he features songs by three of his favourite composer/pianists, each one representing a different era: Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner and Geoff Keezer. Other highlights include the Blues-drenched version of Mel Tormé's title track, the spirited approach to Irving Berlins "Cheek to Cheek" and Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things".

Donald Brown was raised in Memphis and cut his teeth working as a session musician for Hi Records, with artists like Al Green and Ann Peeples. He toured with Stax artists Rufus Thomas, William Bell and the Soul Children, and was introduced to Art Blakey by fellow Memphis pianist James Williams. He has also performed with leading jazz artists such as Donald Byrd, Joe Henderson and Freddie Hubbard, to name a few.

Donald Brown (piano, keyboards), Kenny Garrett (alto & soprano saxophone), Wallace Roney (trumpet), Ravi Coltrane (tenor & soprano saxophone), Mark Boling (guitars), Robert Hurst (double bass), Marcus Gilmore, Kenneth Brown (drums), Rudy Bird (percussion), Emily Mathis (flute - 6 & 8), Vance Thompson (flugelhorn - 6)

Born To Be Blue

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Donald Brown - French Kiss

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 61:32

Size: 140.9 MB

Styles: Hard bop, Piano jazz

Year: 2010

Art: Front

[7:25] 1. Utopia

[6:47] 2. The Mcghaw's Place

[7:34] 3. Keep' Takin' Me Higher

[6:51] 4. Pomponio

[6:00] 5. All My Yesterday's

[6:19] 6. Mr Day Dream

[8:08] 7. French Kiss

[3:51] 8. A Poem For Martin

[3:56] 9. Smile

[4:37] 10. 49th Street

Donald Brown's series of recordings for the French label during the 1990s shows a continuous growth from his earlier dates for Muse. He puts his own stamp on McCoy Tyner's thunderous "Utopia" and compelling ballad "All My Yesterdays." Brown's dazzling introduction to Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" gives it an entirely new face, while he sizzles on Bill Mobley's "49th Street" in a sparkling duet with guitarist Jerome Barde. Brown's compositions were recorded by a number of other artists during the 1990s for a good reason: they stood out from the mass of new works that appeared during that time. The pianist's originals on this CD include the catchy but not overly sentimental "The McGhaw's Place"; "French Kiss," which features lively percussion by Billy Kilson and an infectious vamp that continues to inspire the musicians; and, finally, "A Poem for Martin," a somewhat dark Latin-flavored piece featuring percussionist Anga Diaz. This is yet another excellent CD by Donald Brown. ~Ken Dryden

French Kiss

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Donald Brown - The Sweetest Sounds

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:46
Size: 148,7 MB
Art: Front

(7:01)  1. I Used To Think She Was Quiet
(7:05)  2. I Should Care
(5:36)  3. Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You
(5:00)  4. Theme For Ernie
(5:05)  5. The Sweetest Sounds
(6:55)  6. Affaire D'Amour
(7:13)  7. Nature's Folk Song
(3:04)  8. Betcha By Golly Wow
(6:57)  9. Woody N' You
(6:49) 10. Night Mist Blues
(3:57) 11. Killing Me Softly With His Song

Donald Brown has had a fairly low-profile career despite his talents, settling in Tennessee as a teacher after a period playing with the Jazz Messengers and teaching at Berklee. This lesser-known effort, cut for the JazzCity label and reissued a decade later by Evidence, matches the pianist with bassist Charnett Moffett, drummer Alan Dawson, and (on four of the 11 songs) vibraphonist Steve Nelson. Brown contributed three of the originals and digs into such standards as "I Should Care," "Woody N' You," and Ahmad Jamal's "Night Mist Blues," uplifting such later pop tunes as "Killing Me Softly With His Song" and "Betcha By Golly Wow." An excellent effort by a greatly underrated player and composer. ~ Scott Yanow   http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-sweetest-sounds-mw0000035476

Personnel: Donald Brown (piano); Steve Nelson (vibraphone); Charnett Moffett (bass); Alan Dawson (drums). Reissue Producer: Jerry Gordon.

The Sweetest Sounds

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