THE BRAKEMEN: 14 Songs by Milan & Pinkerton

The Brakemen

14 Songs by Milan & Pinkerton

© 2003 Jon Milan & Richard Pinkerton (649288307625)

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The Brakemen, Detroit-based, singer/songwriter band, features a large body of the powerful and often socially charged songs of longtime songwriters Jon Milan and Richard Pinkerton. Ranging from accoustic strings and piano to Stones-like fiery guitar, the

tracks

1 Caught in a Memory
2 What Kind of People
3 Perfect World
4 New Orleans, Grey Days
5 Jelly Roll Blues
6 Gates of Graceland
7 Bela
8 America's Sweetheart
9 Wheatfields Burning
10 Temporary People
11 Pouring Rain
12 The Killing Frost
13 Blame it on the Weather
14 Little
15 We All Pass This Way

notes

The term eclectic is too often used in describing musicians with a varied output, but in the case of The Brakemen, it fits better than any other. The Brakemen, a Detroit-based, singer/songwriter band, features a large body of the powerful and often socially charged songs of longtime Detroit writers Jon Milan and Richard Pinkerton.

The band's new CD, 14 Songs by Milan & Pinkerton, has been graced by the presence of many guest artists who have long been friends and supporters of their songwriting efforts.
14 Songs features performances by blues greats, Johnnie Bassett, Thornetta Davis and Nikki James, as well as rock artists Vinnie Dombrowski of Sponge and Liz Larin. The whole package is rounded out by the addition of world renowned poet and activist John Sinclair, who wrote and recorded a poem especially for the album

The Brakemen, led by pianist Jon Milan, includes Scott Clauser and Lou Simon on guitar, John Dunn on Bass, Todd Glass on drums and Phillip J. Hale on keyboards. The vocals are rendered primarily by Milan with the assistance of Pinkerton and Clauser rounding out the mix.

"The project began in October 2002," states Milan, "and we had the extra added advantage of many outstanding Detroit-area instrumentalists including jazz cellist and bass player Mike Karoub, jazz trumpeter Ingrid Racine and folk-rock violinist Mike Smith."

The collaboration of Milan and Pinkerton goes back to the seventies when the two joined up to put together their first band, The Crowd. Over the years the two have assembled various groups such as Imaginary Friend and Mabel's Dream as instruments to convey the songs that serve as the centerpiece to each performance.

In assembling The Brakemen, they chose veterans of projects past and mixed them with new members. Together, the musicianship that these members bring to the table, especially with the addition of a second guitar, often translates the songs into a fiery frenzy.

"In Detroit, it's an unusual presentation," says Pinkerton, "the singer/songwriter group is not something you see every day here. This is a great town to see incredible bands playing blues, rock, jazz -- just about anything, but when people come to see what we're doing, it's not so easy to put a handle on it."

"You really have to call it eclectic," added bandleader Milan, "and that can confuse people accustomed to seeing one particular genre at a time. With the general mix presented by the band, it's not unusual to jump from driving rock to a subdued blues, or to step from something funky into a ragtime tune. And I think it's this unexpected collection that has appealed to many of the musicians and music aficionados in the region. They have always been our first level of support, and we can't appreciate it enough."


For more information, visit the bands website at: www.thebrakemen.net.
Media outreach: Matt Lee for Drumbeaters at 248.584.3715.

reviews

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  • America's Sweetheart
    author: Hunkydorrie

    Still a stunning song, every time I listen to it. Great album...More...more....more.....America needs more of the Brakemen!

  • Great CD! Bella...Oh Bella...!!
    author: ~Cute's in boots

    Keeps me switch'n in my kitchen!! Jon Milan is HOT!!

  • Great music
    author: Keith

    Some great songs and music. Catchy tunes, I was singing them in my head for days!

  • excellant folk rock from detroit...unreal
    author: beth gamburd

    heard this cd on the local detroit npr station and had to find out about the music...emailed and got the website, listened and had to buy the cd....the music is folk/rock/blues for the 2000's. must have for any serious collection.

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