The
statement "I'll tell you after I play" has stuck with jazz trumpeter and
singer Johnny Britt, who promptly gave his fifth album that title. Britt will soon tell his life story in his autobiography 'The Soloist'. He grew up as an urban kid in Cleveland, where he was in a school band with young drummer Arsenio Hall. The multi-instrumentalist then attended the prestigious Conservatoire de Versailles in Paris, and when he returned to the States, Otis Williams of The Temptations made him their music director.
In 1995 Britt got his own record deal with Motown for his group Impromp2, with whom he recorded 4 albums. But in 2012 he chose to go solo with his debut 'Feels So Good'.
Since then he has written songs for saxophonist Boney James, Peabo Bryson, Rick Braun, Euge Groove, Paul Brown, Jeff Golub, Jessy J and The Temptations. He played trumpet on the big screen in the movie ˜La La Land' and was hired by Oscar and Grammy Award winner Hans Zimmer to be the trumpet soloist on Hidden Figures.
Britt composed 10 new songs and produced the CD himself. On the funky opener 'Ain't Nothin But The Funk' you can hear one of his biggest influences, the trumpeter Tom Browne. This is followed by the title track, accompanied by guitarist Peter White, who recently rose to the top.
Singer Will Downing is a guest on the beautiful ballad 'Butterflies', so that Britt forms a duet with him here. Saxophonist Gerald Albright and rapper Kashan perform for the hip 'Summer Love'. The ocean washes up on 'Ocean Waves' like a sensual wave, accompanied by bassist Blair Bryant. Bacharach's cover 'Walk on By' is a solo piece by Britt, except for the drums. Pianist Ricky Peterson lends a hand on 'Hold On Be Strong', after which guitarist Nils leads the up-tempo 'Let's Do This'.
The dreamy 'Goin' Out of My Head' is reinforced by legend Little Anthony (who sang the original with The Imperials) and by my idol, guitarist George Benson. The funky groove is central on 'Love Paradise', after which 'Midnight' comes across as sensual, again with Nils. 'More Love' sounds even more sensual and romantic. The instrumental 'Love Paradise' closes Britt on braces.
A beautiful album, full of quality music, which Britt himself describes as “an album of feelings, emotions, thoughts and imagination. I wrote, produced and performed every song from within. Every song was born out of a deep sense of love, compassion and sincerity. I love singing and I love playing the trumpet. That's what you'll hear when you listen to the album, which came together wonderfully.”
Sophisticated and in one word beautiful!
Tracks:
After We Play
Butterflies
Summer Love
Ocean Waves
Walk On By
Hold On Be Strong
Let’s Do This
Goin’ Out of My Head
Love Paradise
Midnight
More Love
Love Paradise (instrumental)
Johnny Britt