Jazz Producer Paul Brown Steps Out from

 

Doug Levine

For years, jazz producer Paul Brown has been making hit records for everyone from Al Jarreau and Rick Braun to Boney James and George Benson. In 1992, Paul Brown won a Grammy Award for his production on guitarist Norman Brown's album Just Chillin'. Paul Brown is also a first-rate guitarist, composer and arranger as we hear on his debut¹ solo album, Up Front.
Having produced so many contemporary jazz artists, and having arranged and mixed so many best-sellers, it's no wonder Paul Brown is often called "The Babyface of Smooth Jazz," referring to the superstar R&B producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmunds.
At long last, after a never-ending string of production credits, Brown has emerged from behind the scenes and proven himself an accomplished² musician behind the microphone.
Paul Brown was given complete control over the making of his debut album when he signed with GRP Records in 2003. For his band, Brown hired some of the top names from "smooth jazz", including session players and soloists³ he's worked with on previous recordings⁴.
One of those special guests is trumpeter Rick Braun who accompanies Brown on 24/7.
Growing up in California, Paul Brown was an avid⁵ fan of pop, jazz and R&B. His musical influences included composers Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart, jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery, and singer Van Morrison.
Yes, Paul Brown also sings, taking lead vocals⁶ on his rendition of Van Morrison's Moondance.
Brown composed seven original songs for his debut album, Up Front. Additional guest musicians include guitarists Peter White and Chuck Loeb, saxophonist Boney James, and vibraphonist Jeff Lorber. A great example of taking an old tune⁷ and making it new again is Brown's reggae-style version of the Bill Withers⁸ hit, Ain't No Sunshine.

注释：
first-rate adj. 第一流的
babyface n. 娃娃脸
refer to 参考，这里指借鉴
string [striN] n. 一串，一行
credit [5kredit] n. 信誉， 声望
emerge [i5mE:dV] vi. 显现，呈现
accomplished [E5kCmpliFt] adj. 成熟的
session player 现职乐手
accompany [E5kQmpEni] vt. 陪伴
avid [5Avid] adj. 热心的
rendition [ren5diFEn] n. 表演
debut album 首张专辑
vibraphonist [5vaIbrEfEJnIst] n. 电颤琴（一种打击乐）演奏家
reggae-style 瑞格舞风格的

1 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

2 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

3 soloists   

n.独唱者，独奏者，单飞者( soloist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The soloists were ably supported by the University Singers. 这些独唱歌手得到了大学歌手的大力支持。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Summer music festivals feature leading orchestras, soloists and opera companies. 在夏季举行的各音乐节，有著名的交响乐团、独唱和独奏者及歌剧团表演。 来自互联网

4 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

5 avid   

adj.热心的；贪婪的；渴望的；劲头十足的

参考例句：

• He is rich,but he is still avid of more money.他很富有,但他还想贪图更多的钱。
• She was avid for praise from her coach.那女孩渴望得到教练的称赞。

6 vocals   

（乐曲中的）歌唱部份，声乐部份( vocal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Also look out for soaring vocals on The Right Man. 另外，也可留意一下《意中人》中的那高亢的唱腔。
• Lazy bass line, lazier drums, lush violins, great piano and incomparable vocals. 懒惰的低音线，较懒惰的鼓，饮小提琴，棒的钢琴和无比的声音。

7 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

8 withers   

马肩隆

参考例句：

• The girl's pitiful history would wring one's withers. 这女孩子的经历令人心碎。
• "I will be there to show you," and so Mr. Withers withdrew. “我会等在那里，领你去看房间的，"威瑟斯先生这样说着，退了出去。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹