Paul Brown: The Funky Joint (2012)

One of the challenges of being a mega-successful producer and artist whose talents run deeper and more diverse than what you're known for is trying to find a few spots to showcase that deeper soul in the midst of the in the pocket stuff fans and record labels expect. No surprise that Brown's inviting his favorite musicians and fans to enter a realm called The Funky Joint on his sixth solo CD. He's been making smooth jazz funkier and more dynamic for years, scoring over 50 number one radio hits for genre stars like Boney James, Euge Groove, George Benson, Norman Brown, and Larry Carlton. From the mid-2000s on, he's scored his own share of solo hits as a grooving, old-school leaning electric guitarist. He lays the foundation of this infectious, well played set with crisply rendered tunes like the retro-flavored, easy grooving title track (colored beautifully by the rising sparks of the Jerry Hey horns) and the balmy meditation "Say It Like It Is." He shines an ample spotlight on some brilliant collaborators, from newcomer Jonathan Fritzen ("Tuff Times") to saxmen Euge Groove (who enters the party better late than never on the silky and sensual "From the Ground Up"), and Darren Rahn (the power ballad "Ya Dig"). There's more creative jazz spark, however, on the numbers he does with Boney James and Marc Antoine (the Stanley Turrentine-flavored "As Clear as Day") and keyboard legend Bob James (whose cool runs play off Brown's energetic strumming on "Backstage Pass"). But the emotional centerpieces that transcend all the cool funk and jazz are the tracks where Brown digs deeper into blues and complements his guitar lines with his increasingly emotional lead vocals. "Love Don't Come EZ" tells us how to make love work, and the simmering closer "I Get a Feeling" takes the guitarist's artistry to a realm previous jazz/rock/blues efforts have paved the way for. The fact that Brown earned a nomination for "Best Vocalist" at the 2011 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards (where he had the chance to sit in with Carlton) speaks volumes about his ability to create richly emotional songs in a multitude of ways. The joint is funky, but the blues is where Brown's heart is. -- Jonathan Widran ~ AllMusic.com

Tracklist:
01. The Funky Joint [3:32]
02. As Clear As Day (feat. Boney James) [3:44]
03. Montreux [4:18]
04. Say It Like It Is [3:34]
05. Love Dont Come EZ [3:48]
06. Tuff Times (feat. Jonathan Fritzen) [3:57]
07. Backstage Pass (feat. Bob James) [3:26]
08. Ya Dig (feat. Darren Rahn) [4:36]
09. From The Ground Up (feat. Euge Groove) [4:44]
10. I Get A Feeling [4:04]
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Patti Austin: On The Wat To Love (2001)

After affiliations with CTI (1976-80), Qwest (1981-88), and GRP (1990-1994), Patti Austin, as she passed the age of 50, seemed to have moved permanently from the soul jazz divisions of major labels to independents like Concord Jazz (for whom she made In and Out of Love in 1998) and even more modest recording affiliations (her last album, Street of Dreams, was handled by Platinum Entertainment). It is therefore something of a surprise that she has landed back at Quincy Jones' Warner Bros.-distributed Qwest label for her 15th album, On the Way to Love. It's also good news, since a singer of Austin's talent (and there aren't many of those) deserves the exposure possible through major-label distribution. The question, of course, is what sort of commercial compromises it entails. The answer is that Qwest's vision for Austin, one she seems to endorse enthusiastically, is to take her right back to the kind of quiet storm/adult contemporary/smooth jazz approach that characterized most of her earlier Qwest releases in the 1980s. Paul Brown, Boney James' producer, has been brought in, and, not surprisingly, the saxophonist turns up on "If You Really Need Me Now," a track that also features Austin's old duet partner (and Qwest labelmate) James Ingram. Siedah Garrett, another Qwest stalwart, co-wrote the title song, and Austin herself contributed to the writing of three songs, among them "Love's Been Kind to Me Lately," an attractive pop song that, like many here, may be more welcome on contemporary jazz stations than anywhere else. The songs indulge in street argot here and there, but this is an upscale effort for the most part, music for middle-aged Terry McMillan fans who aren't Waiting to Exhale anymore, but still don't want to work up a sweat. It's not bad, but Austin can do much better. -- William Ruhlmann

Tracklist:
01. Girlfriend (4:02)
02. What Can I Say? (4:17)
03. On The Way To Love (4:00)
04. Love's Been Kind To Me Lately (3:37)
05. Make It Right (4:27)
06. If You Really Need Me Now (4:28)
07. Playin' Arround (3:55)
08. Let Me Be Me (4:26)
09. Southern Rain (4:31)
10. Tell Me Why (4:33)
11. Love's Been Kind To Me Lateley (Unplugged) (3:38)
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