Norman Brown Jazz Guitar Video
By Leon in Popular Jazz Guitarists - Video
For those of you interested in smooth jazz guitar, at the end of this post is a YouTube video of Norman Brown playing live at the 2007 All Star Smooth Jazz Cruise. I’ve seen Norman play live many times and he’s an amazing performer. His style is similar to George Benson but with less of the bebop tradition and more of the R & B flavor. In fact, he’s probably responsible for me learning jazz guitar in the first place. It was only after hearing him pull off licks like in the following audio clip that got me excited about the instrument and other jazz guitarists like George Benson, Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny, etc…
Many jazz musicians get stuck on this elitist “smooth jazz sucks” sort of trip. I think I fell into that for a while but then I realized that there are many smooth jazz musicians (Norman Brown, for example) who are just as masterful on their instruments as other jazz musicians. It’s just that they have a passion for more modern sounds, technology, and rhythms. I digress…
Anyway, as far as the All Star Smooth Jazz Cruise goes, the next one is January 2008. I’m pretty sure I’m going to be there. Apparently they have a jam session where you can bring your instruments and jam with all of these top musicians. Where else can you meet and jam with all of these musicians in one place?
Check out the video and let me know what you think!
Leon
richard20 | Jun 30, 2008 | Reply
i,m very happy,withyour instruction.to learn people to play guitar well
max | May 21, 2008 | Reply
a great guitarist, yet the music is a bit too commercial for me. that’s a matter of personal taste however.. this is just how smooth jazz sounds.
your site is great. i liked the article on 3 types of improvisation, i totally agree with you.
Ana | May 8, 2008 | Reply
Pure genius!I absolutely love his music, his style, and i have to admit he’s got such a charisma.My iPod is filled full of his songs.And just like most of you, i’d love to be able to play the guitar half as good as him.Thanks God for his talent!
All my best,
Ana
jai | Jan 22, 2008 | Reply
Norman Brown,,, what can i say about the man, he’s sheer genious!! I have travel out of town to catch his performances because he’s simply that good. Before, I was into jazz from a saxophone perspective (such as Boney James, Kirk Whalum) but once i heard Norman on internet radio, his music was like a kalidascope of colors! I knew that day i would purchase his West Coolin album. Since then, I have collected his previous albums AND his most recent and let me tell you, the man never fails to please… keep it up Norm!!
Stanley | Jan 8, 2008 | Reply
Woow!! This is what i usually say when i hear him play. I actually lack words to describe what him and his guitar are doing to me. In the entire jazz guitar community, he is the one that makes me stand up and grab that guitar and begin to simulate. I wonder what’s in his fingers “hence his quickly played notes that beautifully blends in the backrownd sound collectively creating a melody that is too perfect for my ears”. Through listenin’ to his music, i have aquired a lot. The 1st time i listened to “after the storm” (his 2nd album), i wondered, then later it was “better days ahead”, therefore i concluded that i am going to learn how to play a jazz guitar, particularly like him. This is my 6th year of learning the instrument and am quite happy with my progress. He’s so amazing and completely playing stuff out of this world. REGUARDS!
seyibabs | Oct 30, 2007 | Reply
Norman Brown is simply amazing, he has great and thrilling grooves which he plays at the right places and time. He is a great jazz artiste for the future. He is also one of my mentors, as i aspire to play like him.
Angelia | Aug 28, 2007 | Reply
LOVE LOVE LOVE [him]!!! I have been a fan of [his] since the beginning. I am a huge fan of guitar players/singers, and [he] easily roll right in there with the likes of George Benson and Jonathan Butler. My 11 and 8 year old daughters enjoy [his] music as well, especially since two of [his] songs are played on the local R&B radio station. I have seen [him] several times in concert and have great respect for [him] as an artist, as well, as an entertainer. [His] performance was exciting. Can’t wait to see [him] in Clearwater and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Trying to get on the 2008 cruise as well.
Bahati | Aug 21, 2007 | Reply
I have been a fan of his since his first album. However, when I saw him in concert, I came to realize he is an amazing entertainer as well as a great jazz guitarist. Because of him, I have traveled out of my comfort zone (from DC to Ca and St. Lucia) just to attend his concerts.
That is a very good clip of his performance. Thank you for sharing!
I definitely will look into the cruise for 2008.
Best regards,
Bahati