Deborah Brown - International Incident (2003)
Deborah Brown - International Incident (2003)
1 Take My hand (J. Griffin/D. Brown) 4.01 2 Lonely Woman ( H. Silver/L. Feather) 4.49 3 Silver Blue (H.V.D. Geijn/Suzie Scragg) 5.29 4 Make Up Your Mind (J. Griffin/D. Brown) 4.41 5 Western Ballad (Z. Namyslowski/D. Brown) 8.11 6 Danse Du Petite Geant (H. Sellin/D. Brown) 4.43 7 For the Time Being ( B. Joris/S. Scragg) 6.42 8 A Child is Born (T. Jones/ A. Wilder) 6.53 9 Atonal (B. Joris/ S. Scragg) 6.32 10 What Comes Up (J. Teepe/D. Brown) 5.31 11 Always and Forever (P. Metheny/D. Brown) 5.21 12 For the Time Being (reprise)( B. Joris/S. Scragg) 4.51 Deborah Brown – vocals & piano (11 & 12) Zbigniew Namyslowski – alto & sopranino saxophone Nicolai Panov – tenor & soprano saxophone Mikael Raberg – trombone Bert Joris – trumpet & flugelhorn Ernst Reijseger – cello Herve Sellin – piano Hein Van De Geijn – bass Keith Copeland – drums Chris Joris – percussion
Kansas City-reared jazz singer Deborah Brown employs an international, multicultural little big band to make progressive American vocal jazz, managing the logistics brilliantly to produce one of the best vocal recitals of the year. This fearless repertoire maven is not afraid of even the stickiest subjects.
On International Incident, Brown takes on two Johnny Griffin compositions ("Take My Hand" and "Make Up You Mind"), Thad Jones' "A Child is Born," and Pat Metheny's "Always and Forever." These are certainly not your typical standards, but Brown and her crack band make their performance sound easy and very enjoyable.
All the songs on the disc were originally instrumentals that later had lyrics applied. Some are delivered in a typical vocalese fashion ("Make Up Your Mind"), navigating Griffin's craggy lines, while others sound down right novel, as in the lengthy "Western Ballad."
"Western Ballad" is centered on the rhythm section with horn filigree. It is a beautiful treatment. Brown's able band never gets in the way but does exist on an equal footing with the singer. All solos are well constructed and intelligent, no sloppiness here. This group of professionals came to do what they know best—play. ---C. Michael Bailey, allaboujazz.com
Kansas City born, Deborah Brown is simply one of the great jazz vocalists of our time. Her career has included recording, touring and performing with artists like Johnny Griffin, Benny Bailey, Horace Parlan, Ed Thigpen, and Slide Hampton. Her extensive tours have seen her develop a strong and ever growing fan base in Europe and the Far East.
On this album, Deborah is joined by a fantastic group of musicians with whom she has worked with in the past. Representing seven countries – this album is a truly “International Incident” Making music is often described as a “labor of love”, and it has certainly been that in my career. I have had the pleasure of playing music with so many talented people in so many countries. I’ve also been fortunate to enjoy their company and develop some close friendships with a number of these musicians. I have always wanted them to meet each other but, that was just wishful thinking until “International Incident”.
As an artist, breaking new ground is so important for development. I had sounds that existed in my mind but nobody but me was experiencing them. These sounds were put there by musical experiences and my imagination but almost always tied to a certain musician and his instrument. I love the freedom of singing with a trio but I also enjoy the power and pallette of a swinging big band. “International Incident” gives me the intimacy to deliver a lyric and the energy to get “lift” as (Russian bigband leader) Oleg Lundstrem so aptly described.
It is an understatement to say that I’m happy to introduce each of these friends of mine to you now… I’m tickled! Space dictates a short introduction so I cannot let you know their complete musical bios… they have done it all… suffice to say! ---deborah.jazzvox.com
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