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Deborah Brown: International Incident

By C. Michael Bailey
July 25, 2003
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Kansas City-reared jazz singer Deborah Brown employs an international, multicultural little big band to make progressive American vocal jazz, managing the logistics brilliantly to produce one of the best vocal recitals of the year. This fearless repertoire maven is not afraid of even the stickiest subjects.

On International Incident,, Brown takes on two

Johnny Griffin

saxophone, tenor
1928 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Johnny Griffin compositions ("Take My Hand" and "Make Up You Mind"),

Thad Jones

trumpet
1923 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Thad Jones' "A Child is Born," and

Pat Metheny

guitar
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Pat Metheny's "Always and Forever." These are certainly not your typical standards, but Brown and her crack band make their performance sound easy and very enjoyable.

All the songs on the disc were originally instrumentals that later had lyrics applied. Some are delivered in a typical vocalese fashion ("Make Up Your Mind"), navigating Griffin's craggy lines, while others sound down right novel, as in the lengthy "Western Ballad."

"Western Ballad" is centered on the rhythm section with horn filigree. It is a beautiful treatment. Brown's able band never gets in the way but does exist on an equal footing with the singer. All solos are well constructed and intelligent, no sloppiness here. This group of professionals came to do what they know best—play.

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Track Listing

Take My Hand; Lonely Woman; Silver Blues; Make Up Your Mind; Western Ballad; Danse Du Petite Geant; For The Time Being; A Child Is Born; Atonal; What Comes Up; Always And Forever; For The Time Being.

Personnel

Deborah Brown

vocals

Zbigniew Namyslowski

saxophone, alto

Nicolai Panov

saxophone

Mikael Raberg

trombone

Bert Joris

trumpet

Chris Joris

percussion

Keith Copeland

drums

Hein Van De Geijn

bass

Herve Sellin

piano

Ernst Reijseger

cello

Album information

Title: International Incident | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Unknown label

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