Norman Brown • It Hits Different

 

Biography by Matt Collar
Known for his mellow, romantic style, guitarist Norman Brown is an award-winning performer whose sound straddles the line between contemporary jazz and R&B. He initially rose to fame with 1992's Just Between Us, earning comparisons to his idols George Benson and Wes Montgomery. He has regularly reached the top echelon of Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, issuing albums like 1994's After the Storm, 2002's Grammy-winning Just Chillin', and 2012's 24/7 with Gerald Albright. He scored two consecutive number one albums on the chart with 2017's Let It Go and 2019's Highest Act of Love. Along with his solo work, Brown is also a member of the smooth jazz supergroup BWB along with Kirk Whalum and Rick Braun. In 2022, he paid homage to Montgomery on Let's Get Away and returned in 2024 with It Hits Different.

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1970 and raised in Kansas City, Brown first became interested in the guitar at age eight, when he grew fond of his brother's acoustic six-string. He was initially influenced by such guitar-based acts as Jimi Hendrix and the Isley Brothers, but once he discovered one of his father's favorite guitarists, Wes Montgomery, everything changed. He began exploring contemporary jazz tunes and standards. After high school, he moved to Los Angeles where, in the mid-'80s, he studied formally at the Musician's Institute in Hollywood. Following his graduation, he taught briefly and signed to Motown's Mo Jazz label, where he splashed onto the soul-jazz scene with 1992's Just Between Us. Suddenly critics drew comparisons to other astonishing jazz guitarists from the past such as George Benson and Wes Montgomery, and Brown became the toast of the soul-jazz crowd.

It was Brown's sophomore album, however, 1996's After the Storm, that found him breaking through to the top echelon of smooth jazz artists. Both Gavin and Soul Train named it Jazz Album of the Year, and After the Storm remained on the charts for over two years. On the heels of his remarkable success, Brown continued to wow jazz listeners. His eagerly awaited follow-up, Better Days Ahead, won the 1997 American Jazz Award for contemporary guitar and the album's title track became the most-added single in NAC history until that point.

Following his flurry of successes at Mo Jazz, Brown moved to Warner Bros. and released several more well-received albums, including 1999's Celebration and 2002's Grammy Award-winning Just Chillin'. Also in 2002, Brown debuted his smooth jazz supergroup with saxophonist Kirk Whalum and trumpeter Rick Braun, BWB, with the album Groovin'. He then returned to his solo work with 2004's West Coast Coolin', followed two years later by Stay with Me on the Peak label.

Brown then signed with longtime jazz label Concord and released 2010's Sending My Love. Two years later, he paired with saxophonist Gerald Albright for the Concord release 24/7. Also in 2013, he rejoined BWB for Human Nature.

In 2016, Brown released his third album with BWB, and delivering his first solo effort for the Shanachie label, the number one contemporary jazz-charting Let It Go. The Highest Act of Love followed in 2019 and included guest spots from Deniece Williams, Baby Lee, as well as longtime producer Paul Brown. It also peaked at number one on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. He again collaborated with Brown on 2020's Heart to Heart, which also included appearances by guitarist Peter White, pianist Jeff Lorber, keyboardist Chris "Big Dog" Davis, and saxophonist David Mann. Another Paul Brown production, Let's Get Away, arrived in 2022 and included the Wes Montgomery tribute "Wes Side Story." In 2024, the guitarist returned with his 14th album, It Hits Different, which included the single "Anything," and featured guest appearances by Wirlie Morris, Lil' John Roberts, Tom Schuman, and Paul Brown, among others.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/norman-brown-mn0000388167#biography

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Biografía de Matt Collar
Conocido por su estilo suave y romántico, el guitarrista Norman Brown es un artista galardonado cuyo sonido se extiende entre el jazz contemporáneo y el R&B. Inicialmente saltó a la fama con Just Between Us de 1992, ganando comparaciones con sus ídolos George Benson y Wes Montgomery. Ha alcanzado regularmente el escalón más alto de la lista de Álbumes de Jazz Contemporáneo de Billboard, publicando álbumes como After the Storm de 1994, Just Chillin', ganador del Grammy en 2002, y 24/7 with Gerald Albright de 2012. Obtuvo dos álbumes consecutivos número uno en la lista con Let It Go del 2017 y Highest Act of Love del 2019. Junto con su trabajo en solitario, Brown también es miembro del supergrupo de jazz suave BWB junto con Kirk Whalum y Rick Braun. En 2022, rindió homenaje a Montgomery en Let's Get Away y regresó en 2024 con It Hits Different.

Nacido en Shreveport, Luisiana, en 1970 y criado en Kansas City, Brown se interesó por primera vez en la guitarra a los ocho años, cuando se encariñó con las seis cuerdas acústicas de su hermano. Inicialmente estuvo influenciado por actos basados en la guitarra como Jimi Hendrix y The Isley Brothers, pero una vez que descubrió a uno de los guitarristas favoritos de su padre, Wes Montgomery, todo cambió. Comenzó a explorar melodías y estándares de jazz contemporáneo. Después de la secundaria, se mudó a Los Ángeles, donde, a mediados de los 80, estudió formalmente en el Musician's Institute de Hollywood. Después de su graduación, enseñó brevemente y firmó con el sello Mo Jazz de Motown, donde incursionó en la escena del soul-jazz con Just Between Us de 1992. De repente, los críticos hicieron comparaciones con otros asombrosos guitarristas de jazz del pasado, como George Benson y Wes Montgomery, y Brown se convirtió en el brindis de la multitud del soul-jazz.

Sin embargo, fue el segundo álbum de Brown, After the Storm de 1996, el que lo llevó a la cima de los artistas de jazz suave. Tanto Gavin como Soul Train lo nombraron Álbum de Jazz del Año, y After the Storm permaneció en las listas de éxitos durante más de dos años. Inmediatamente después de su notable éxito, Brown continuó sorprendiendo a los oyentes de jazz. Su esperado seguimiento, Better Days Ahead, ganó el Premio American Jazz Award de guitarra contemporánea de 1997 y la canción principal del álbum se convirtió en el sencillo más agregado en la historia de NAC hasta ese momento.

Tras su oleada de éxitos en Mo Jazz, Brown se mudó a Warner Bros.y lanzó varios álbumes más bien recibidos, incluidos Celebration de 1999 y Just Chillin', ganador del Premio Grammy en 2002. También en 2002, Brown debutó con su supergrupo de jazz suave con el saxofonista Kirk Whalum y el trompetista Rick Braun, BWB, con el álbum Groovin'. Luego regresó a su trabajo en solitario con West Coast Coolin' de 2004, seguido dos años más tarde por Stay with Me en el sello Peak.

Brown luego firmó con el sello de jazz Concord y lanzó Sending My Love en 2010. Dos años más tarde, se emparejó con el saxofonista Gerald Albright para el lanzamiento de Concord 24/7. También en 2013, se reincorporó a BWB for Human Nature.

En 2016, Brown lanzó su tercer álbum con BWB y lanzó su primer esfuerzo en solitario para el sello Shanachie, el número uno en las listas de éxitos del jazz contemporáneo Let It Go. The Highest Act of Love siguió en 2019 e incluyó anuncios invitados de Deniece Williams, Baby Lee, así como del productor Paul Brown desde hace mucho tiempo. También alcanzó el puesto número uno en la lista Billboard de Álbumes de Jazz Contemporáneo. Nuevamente colaboró con Brown en Heart to Heart del 2020, que también incluyó apariciones del guitarrista Peter White, el pianista Jeff Lorber, el tecladista Chris "Big Dog" Davis y el saxofonista David Mann. Otra producción de Paul Brown, Let's Get Away, llegó en 2022 e incluyó el tributo a Wes Montgomery " Wes Side Story. En 2024, el guitarrista regresó con su decimocuarto álbum, It Hits Different, que incluía el sencillo "Anything", y contó con apariciones especiales de Wirlie Morris, Lil' John Roberts, Tom Schuman y Paul Brown, entre otros .  
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/norman-brown-mn0000388167#biography


www.normanbrown.com ...

Tracks:
1 - Anything 3:31
2 - To Forever 3:39
3 - Chicken Shack 3:48
4 - It Hits Different 3:49
5 - Strollin' 3:41
6 - Ausar 5:08
7 - Wings Of Love 3:59
8 - Cloud Chase 3:46
9 - Can't Stop Tryin' 3:51
10 - Sundance 3:37
11 - Casual Cool 3:40


Credits:
    Design, Layout – Lorien Babajian
    Executive-Producer – Danny Weiss
    Guitar, Executive-Producer – Norman Brown
    Management – Axis Management, Howie Hubberman, Nelly Neben
    Mastered By – David Darlington
    Photography By – Corey Reese
    Producer – Phil Davis (2) (tracks: 6), Wirlie Morris (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 7)
    Producer, Mixed By – Paul Brown (tracks: 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11)

Tracks 1, 2, 4, 7 Produced for WirlWide Entertainment Inc.
Tracks 3, 5, 8 to 11 Produced and Mixed at The Funky Joint

Label:    Shanachie – 5513
Country:    US
Released:    Mar 29, 2024
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Contemporary Jazz, Smooth Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/30458429-Norman-Brown-It-Hits-Different?srsltid=AfmBOopKSfpUcI6AXvwokWI00WWNwC7tp9fZ6m6XtWYum3foTl0ZWT-C

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