Album Notes

Smooth Jazz News

Paul Brown Producing New CD By Singer Kiki Ebsen

The new album by vocalist Kiki Ebsen, produced by Paul Brown, will feature a song written by the vocalist's father -- the late actor Buddy Ebsen.

Famed Hollywood actor Buddy Ebsen, an iconic American figure who starred in the TV series The Beverly Hillbillies and Barnaby Jones and who died in 2003 at age 95, was also a dancer on Broadway who wrote songs for musicals. One of the songs he wrote has been interpreted by his singer-songwriter daughter, Kiki Ebsen, in a tune she's calling "Missing You."

It's one of several original and cover songs on a new album called Kiki that's produced by smooth jazz producer and guitarist Paul Brown. The album features Kiki's vocals and a trio consisting of Brown on guitar, Roberto Vally on upright bass and Dave Beyer on drums.

It was 12 years ago that Ebsen released a CD called Red, which featured backing instrumentals by saxophonist Boney James, guitarist Paul Jackson Jr. and Yellowjackets bassist Jimmy Haslip. Brown produced that album, as well.

Cover songs include "Tears Of A Clown" by Smokey Robinson, "I Say A Little Prayer," which was written by Burt Bacharach and made into a hit by Dionne Warwick, and "Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys," performed by Steve Winwood and Traffic.