Paul Brown | Love You Found Me
Paul Brown – Love You Found Me
By Peggy Oliver
For
the past fifteen years, many in the contemporary jazz community turned
to Paul Brown for his production, sound engineering and composer. From
Al Jarreau, to Boney James, to his major guitar hero, George Benson,
Brown brought his very keen ear behind the boards. His technical skills
were also utilized outside the jazz realm; such as the pop-dance hit for
Paula Abdul, “Straight Up,” for singer/songwriter Jennifer Warnes and
modern rock band Oingo Boingo. But where Brown got his feet wet was his
engineering time spent with R&B legend Luther Vandross. Though he
came into the business as one who appreciated a wide variety of music
from The Grateful Dead to Peter Gabriel, Vandross’ stylish vocals
certainly rubbed off on Brown’s work with Benson, Jarreau, Gerald
Albright and his own solo projects. There is no doubt listening to his
effortless way with a melody and his masterful ability to see the big
musical picture, that Brown has no trouble creating the ultimate smooth
jazz tapestry. This is reflected in numerous number one hits from one of
the genre’s most reliable architects.
When Brown finally stepped up as an artist in 2004, it was the appropriately dubbed Up Front
for GRP Records. Listening to his body of work, his gentle strokes on
his Gibson guitar are what most fans expect. As he progressed and
matured as a performer, Brown added disco, blues and adult contemporary
rock to the mix with The City (2005) and White Sand (2007). Brown also joined fellow guitarist Marc Antoine in a meeting of jazz and gypsy music on the 2009 release, Foreign Exchange.
Just like his previous recordings, there are plenty of friends by Brown’s side on his latest, Love You Found Me,
presenting his usual sweet palette of jazz. In a firm nod to Benson,
"Sugar Fish," co-written by Jeff Carruthers (a featured keyboardist on
White Sand) is a snap your fingers kind of groove, capped with Brown’s
subtle scats and his oh-so-squishy guitar work, and Richard Elliot’s sax
curls all over Brown’s guitar on Strollin’. Two of Love You Found
Me’s bright spots are because of Brown’s opportunity to display an
earthy tenor voice that echoes Boz Scaggs and Van Morrison; the title
track which is given the vocal production treatment by Brown’s wife -
Jacqui and “End of the Day,” reflecting his influences of vocal stylist
Jackson Brown. It is only fitting that smooth jazz and romance work are
bosom musical buddies, as evidenced on Paul Brown’s special dedication
to Jacqui, “Let Me Love You” featuring Euge Groove providing some gospel
fiery saxophone darts (Brown played on Groove’s Sunday Morning
disc). For stereophonic guitars, Antoine takes the acoustic and Brown
the electric for “Right Back at Ya” in a reunion of their Foreign Exchange days. “In The Shadows” takes a bite out of contemporary blues, suitably framed by the airy keys by Brandon Coleman.
Overall, Love You Found Me
is quite inviting with the exception of the usually tantalizing vocals
of Al Jarreau being rushed on the lackluster R&B flavor of “Shine
Shoes.” Otherwise, Love You Found Me provides a
valid reason to hear Brown in another capacity; as a performer
who consistantly demonstrates his suave guitar lines and steady vocal
chops.
Peggy Oliver
The Urban Music Scene
Paul Brown is a masterful composer and knows how to create the right vibe using great melodies and endless creativity. His audience will enjoy this album Love You Found Me very much. I touches the soul.
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