Rick Braun - Can You Feel It (2014)

On the 16th release from trumpeter/vocalist Rich Braun, 'Can You Feel It', Braun fondly conjures the spirit of 'Beat Street' (his 1994 breakthrough release) in a return to his jazz-funk roots, while continuing to record and collaborate with old and new musical friends. It features star guests, including Dave Koz, Jeff Lorber and Philippe Saisse.
"When I started working on this album...I wanted it to be really organic and have a lot of my friends playing on it. Young players - like Third Richardson, who is one of the best drummers in the world and Nathaniel Kearney Jr., an extraordinary bassist - melding together with the old faithful; guys like Nate Phillips [bass] and Randy Jacobs [guitar]. It's a return to the sound and style of Beat Street, which essentially was a tribute to my years playing in War. I took out all of the sequencing with one exception and made the record like a garage band using great live players. It was a lot of fun making the record. It's energetic and earthy. We hit it hard - kind of like Tower of Power - capturing the energetic, funky horn band sound. I wanted lots of horn section parts on the album," explains Braun.