Norman Brown (guitarist)
Encyclopedia
Norman Brown is a smooth jazz
guitarist & singer, often compared to his contemporary George Benson
.
' Jazz label, Mo Jazz in 1992. Collaborators included the chorus group Boyz II Men
, the singer Stevie Wonder
and also noted engineer and writer Kenneth H. Williams. A portion of the album was produced by Norman Connors
, a jazz drummer and producer which discovered Brown.
Brown released the album "After the Storm" in 1994, which gained critical success; he followed this with the 1996 release "Better Days Ahead" which earned him a broader audience.
Brown transferred Warner Bros. Records
. In 2000, he released Celebration, which was produced by Paul Brown.
In 2002, he formed BWB
with saxophonist Kirk Whalum
and trumpeter Rick Braun
, and released Groovin.
In 2003, he and his producer Paul Brown won Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album
for 2002's Just Chillin'
. This was followed by the 2004 release West Coast Coolin' .
During the summer of 2007, Brown had a No. 1 smooth jazz radio hit, "Let's Take A Ride," taken from the album Stay With Me, according to Radio and Records magazine.
In 2008, the Verve Music Group re-released ' "Just Between Us" ' as part of the "Verve Originals" Series.
His music can be heard during The Weather Channel's "Local on the 8s" segments and his song "Lydian" is included in their 2008 compilation release, The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II
.
He is currently an artist on Russ Freeman
's label Peak Records
.
In June 2010, Brown released a new album, "Sending My Love".
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
guitarist & singer, often compared to his contemporary George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
.
Overview
Norman Brown released debut album "Just Between Us" from Motown RecordsMotown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
' Jazz label, Mo Jazz in 1992. Collaborators included the chorus group Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
, the singer Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
and also noted engineer and writer Kenneth H. Williams. A portion of the album was produced by Norman Connors
Norman Connors
Norman Connors is an American jazz drummer, composer, arranger, producer, and headliner, who has led some influential jazz and R&B groups. He also achieved several big R&B hits of the day, especially with love ballads.-Biography:...
, a jazz drummer and producer which discovered Brown.
Brown released the album "After the Storm" in 1994, which gained critical success; he followed this with the 1996 release "Better Days Ahead" which earned him a broader audience.
Brown transferred Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. In 2000, he released Celebration, which was produced by Paul Brown.
In 2002, he formed BWB
BWB (band)
Brown-Whalum-Braun, better known as BWB, is a jazz band that is named after its three members: guitarist Norman Brown, saxophonist Kirk Whalum, and trumpeter Rick Braun.- Session :...
with saxophonist Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz...
and trumpeter Rick Braun
Rick Braun
Rick Braun is a smooth jazz trumpet player.Before embarking on a solo career, Braun got his start by playing in several bands, including guitarist Jeff Golub's Avenue Blue...
, and released Groovin.
In 2003, he and his producer Paul Brown won Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album
Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality instrumental albums in the pop music genre...
for 2002's Just Chillin'
Just Chillin'
Just Chillin' is an album by American guitarist and singer Norman Brown, released in 2002 through Warner Bros. Records. In 2003, the album won Brown the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.-Reception:-Track listing:...
. This was followed by the 2004 release West Coast Coolin' .
During the summer of 2007, Brown had a No. 1 smooth jazz radio hit, "Let's Take A Ride," taken from the album Stay With Me, according to Radio and Records magazine.
In 2008, the Verve Music Group re-released ' "Just Between Us" ' as part of the "Verve Originals" Series.
His music can be heard during The Weather Channel's "Local on the 8s" segments and his song "Lydian" is included in their 2008 compilation release, The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II
The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II
The Weather Channel Presents: Smooth Jazz II is a 2008 compilation release by Midas Records. It is the second CD from The Weather Channel which features their most requested music from the "Local on the 8s" segments...
.
He is currently an artist on Russ Freeman
Russ Freeman (guitarist)
James Russell Freeman is a smooth jazz artist of multiple genres, composer and bandleader. He studied for a time at UCLA and CalArts, but remained somewhat obscure before leading the studio-formed contemporary jazz band The Rippingtons in 1986. Freeman and his manager, Andi Howard, also formed...
's label Peak Records
Peak Records
Peak Records is a record label that was co-founded by The Rippingtons leader and guitarist Russ Freeman & Andi Howard in 1994.The early years, Peak founded as a production for Russ' group The Rippingtons in GRP Records...
.
In June 2010, Brown released a new album, "Sending My Love".
Norman Brown
| titles | |year | label | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Just Between Us | 1992 | Motown | |
| After The Storm | 1994 | Motown | |
| Better Days Ahead | 1996 | Motown | |
| Celebration | 1999 | Warner Bro. | |
| Just Chillin' Just Chillin' Just Chillin' is an album by American guitarist and singer Norman Brown, released in 2002 through Warner Bros. Records. In 2003, the album won Brown the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.-Reception:-Track listing:... |
2002 | Warner Bro. | |
| West Coast Coolin' | 2004 | Warner Bro. | |
| Stay With Me | 2007 | Peak | |
| Sending My Love | 2010 | Heads Up |
BWB
(Brown-Whalum-Braun)| titles | |year | label | |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Groovin'" | 2002 | Warner Bros. |