Brown, Maurice
Brown Records, 2004, CD
Instrument: Trumpet
Issue: 11.1
Jazz Ruler Type: Kool
Performance: 4
Sound: 4
Score: 
O’s Notes: Brown is a young trumpeter who is lighting up the New Orleans jazz scene with a fresh approach. While the title suggests an infusion of hip-hop beats, we heard more sophistication. This excludes the title track where Maurice uses a wah wah on his horn on top of a funky beat. For the balance of the session the upbeat cuts are straight ahead bop with Jason Stewart walking his bass. On the ballads like “Mi Amor”, Brown’s tone is warm and rich. The band is a quintet and they are tight. There is ample improvisation but focused on the listener. Maurice has a wealth of talent and uses it wisely. He remains articulate when blazing through the notes, furthering our appreciation. The session includes 8 varied originals that left us anxious for Brown’s next work.
