Saxophonist Ron Brown pushes the Gospel Jazz genre forward with his latest release, Were You There.
This 2003 release takes Ron Brown's career, composing, production, and the Gospel/Jazz genre itself to a new level. This dynamic release contains Brown's version of the Yolanda Adams/Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis classic, "Open My Heart", arranged by Houston native Philip Moore. The combination of Gospel and Smooth Jazz continues to captivate and inspire the listener with arrangements such as "Our Father", "God Will Take Care Of You", and "The Lord's Prayer". Were You There also contains powerful vocal presence on songs such as "Worship" featuring Tim Kepler, "Wake Up" and "I Just Want To Praise You", featuring the music industry's most respected background singers, The Waters. Brown's powerful and well versed rhythm section, The Fellowship, which includes Land Richards, Todd Hunter, Dwane "Smitty" Smith, and guest guitarist Doc Powell add to the anointed mix of tunes.
Currently residing in Los Angeles, Ron Brown's career began in his hometown of Austin, Texas. After graduating from UT Austin, Brown became a member of The Duke Ellington Orchestra. Touring and recording gigs with Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Whitney Houston, and Al Jarreau soon followed.
After more than 20 years of backing up some of the music industry's top names, Ron Brown's new mission in life and music is to glorify God. While performing at a concert at Japan's Budokan Theatre, Brown was inspired to form Ron Brown Ministries; Brown even gave his life changing testimony to the audience in their native Japanese language, telling them about God's healing power, which saved him from a 4 year bout with drug addiction.
After his first solo release, From My Eyes Only in 1997, Brown decided to form his own music label, Mankind Records. The musical maiden voyage of Mankind Records was a concept release called Urban Jazz Network/Urban Dreams, released in 1999. This one of a kind CD contains Brown's gifted composition and production, along with guest musicians, including Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, Kenny Garrett, and bassist Alex Al. Brown then decided to move his ministry forward in 2001 with the release of an all gospel hymn CD, "In The Spirit", which was nominated for a gospel Stellar Award. Both "Urban Dreams" and "In The Spirit" contain the powerful "I Surrender All", featuring Brown, Whalum, and Butler.
Read more...