Brian Simpson - It's All Good
Brian
Simpson performed with Michael White, Everette Harp,
Michael Paulo, Freddie Fox, Teena Marie, Warren Hill, Sheena Easton,
Janet Jackson, Jonathan Butler, Rick Braun, Norman Brown, Allan Sams and Dave Koz. His
new album "It's All Good" was released on Dave Koz' new
label Rendezvous Entertaine
ment
(2005). I saw Brian on Warren Hill's Smooth
Jazz Cruise 2005. Dave Koz and Brian flew in just to play for a
concert in St. Thomas. Brian has toured with
Dave Koz for years as his musical director and keyboardist.
Brian is one of those keyboardists mostly staying in the
background. So I didn't recognize him till he was introduced by Dave Koz.
Even at this time he remained behind his keyboard smiling to the
audience. From time to time he is releasing a solo album. His previous
album "Closer Still" was released in 1995. Unbelievable that it last 10 years
till his
new one. Let's hope that's won't be the regular period.
The new album was recorded in 2004 with excellent musicians, the
who-is-who of smooth jazz.
The
album opens with the title song It's All Good
featuring maestro Dave Koz. Brian plays gratefully piano on a Latin
rhythm. The main melody is repeated by Ron King on trumpet while Dave
Koz sets some improvised phrases.
Here
With You has a high potential for a classic. The accessible
melody sounds familiar. Nice elegant piano play. No flourishes, pure
melody.
Saturday
Cool reminds me at the ease of "Soul Ballet"
(Rick Kelly and Ken Ross). The combination of mellow piano and
flugelhorn is unbeatable. Perfectly framed with keyboards, drums
(Michael White) and percussion.
On
the slowtempo Twilight
Brian melted his sound with Ron King's muted trumpet. Allen
Hinds adds his smooth guitar chords. Allen is temporarily touring
with Brenda Russell, Down To The Bones, Jeff Kashiwa and his own
group.
And
The Story Goes was originally published under the title
"And The Story Goes Like This" at
CDBaby by "Everett B. Walters". That's the name
under which Mike Brown & Harold W. Brown III have chosen to
record. They've performed with The Rippingtons, Joe Sample, & Rick
Braun. We will certainly hear more of both artists in the future.
Friends
of Marc Antoine should listen to his acoustic guitar on Waiting.
This tune was recorded in L.A. while Marc recorded his guitar sound in
Madrid. No problem in the era of internet.
I
Remember When
is featuring Everette Harp on sax. Like on most tunes of this album
Brian's talent is glowing in some short piano riffs which are
unfortunately too short for my personal taste.
On Warren Hill's Smooth Jazz cruise 2005 I met bassist and
song-writer André
Berry. He has written and produced great parts of Warren
Hill's new album "Popjazz". He also penned It
Could Happen and performed bass and drum programming on
this song. Together with the great guitarist Randy Jacobs he is
responsible for the funky mood of this tune. Both are playing in the
group "The
Boneshakers".
On
Blues For Scott Brian takes the term "Blues"
seriously. Roberto Vally's acoustic bass, Tony Moore's jazz-brushes,
Brian Kilgore's bongo beat and Brian Simpson's magic piano touch are
perfect ingredients for an authentic homage to Scott Joplin.
Au
contraire means "on the contrary". Brian plays
jazz on the final tune as one can hear in jazz clubs. Is jazz a
contrary to smooth jazz? Brian obviously realizes the necessary
co-existence of both genres.
