Kenneth Brown: 2nd Chances

Drummer Kenneth Brown swings in a variety of settings with a mix and match all start team including Nicholas Payton/tp, Chris Potter/ts-ss, Darryl Hall/b, Keith Brown/keys, Ashlee Varner/voc, Jamel Mitchell/ts, Will Boyd/cl-ss and Steve Kovalcheck/g. The intriguing mix here is the inclusion of lithe toned vocalist Varner, who gives a soft caress to the easy soul along with Potte’rs soprano on “Patiently Waiting” while her sweet lyrics team with Brown’s suave pulse and Potter’s tenor for a bopping read of “Softly As A Morning Sunrise.” Brown’s sticks are crisp as Steve Kovalcheck’s Wes Montgomery-inspired strums, Donal Brown Jrs rap and Nicholas Payton swing hard on the title track, and the horns ride Brown’s funky backbeat to a hip “Black and Blues” while the are big and bold to the drummer’s gallop on “Down At Smalls.” Strong outing with creative harmonies and textures.

www.spacetimerecords.com

Leave a Reply