Paul Brown - Uptown Blues (2018) [CD Rip]

Paul Brown's talents as producer/engineer have earned him two Grammy Awards and an impressive string of more than 40 number one hits on Radio & Records' smooth jazz chart. In an illustrious career spanning multiple decades, Brown has worked on projects for such influential artists as George Benson, Al Jarreau, Kirk Whalum, Patti Austin, Norman Brown, Luther Vandross, Larry Carlton, Euge Groove, Boney James, Rick Braun, and Peter White, among many others.

Born in Los Angeles to musician parents who sang with Mel Tormé, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and many others, Brown started playing drums at age five and picked up his first guitar two years later. During high school, he played in various bands and first began working as an assistant engineer in a studio when he was 15. After studying music and math at the University of Oregon, Brown returned to L.A. and began his rise to fame producing, composing, and engineering for a bevy of artists from across the R&B, pop, and contemporary jazz spectrum.

In 2004, Brown finally stepped out from behind the producer's chair and released Up Front on GRP, which was followed up by The City in 2005. He then recorded two albums for Concord with White Sand and Foreign Xchange. Signing with Woodward Avenue Records, Brown released 2012's Funky Joint and 2014's Truth B Told. In 2016, he delivered the bluesy One Way Back, featuring guest appearances from Darren Rahn, Chris Standring, Chuck Loeb, and others. Released in 2018, Uptown Blues offered another mix of blues and horn-led jazz with guest spots from Kenny Rankin and Jacqui Brown. -- Paula Edelstein