# Just Between Us (Norman Brown album)

Just Between Us is the debut album by jazz guitarist Norman Brown. It was released in 1992 by Motown Records. The album reached No. 4 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

## Background

Brown produced the album with guest appearances by Stevie Wonder, Kirk Whalum, Ronnie Laws, the Earth, Wind & Fire Horns and Boyz II Men. The album contains cover versions of two songs: "Love Holiday" by Earth, Wind & Fire and "Too High" by Stevie Wonder. The latter song was featured in the end credits of the film Passenger 57.

## Critical reception

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
Sherri Winston of the Sun Sentinel called Just Between Us "jazzy fun that gets moody and sexy and thoughtful, but never boring... A beautiful ride."
Thom Jurek of AllMusic, in a 4 out of 5 stars review, commented, "The end result is an album that, although surely a product of its time in terms of production, is musically timeless. Its sense of balance between composition, arrangement, improvisation, and its various genre blends is still a blueprint for contemporary jazz in the 21st century."

## Personnel

* Norman Brown – guitar, arrangements (1-3, 5-11), music concept (4), BGV arrangements (9)
* Herman Jackson – keyboards (1, 3, 5, 7, 11), synthesizers (9), synth strings (10)
* Wayne Linsey – keyboards (1, 3, 5, 11)
* Jerry Peters – keyboards (2)
* Brian Simpson – keyboards (2, 8), programming (2, 8)
* Bobby Lyle – acoustic piano (4, 7, 9), acoustic piano solo (8)
* Larry Farrow – keyboards (10), synth bass (10)
* Juewett Bostick – programming (10), arrangements (10)
* Al McKay – rhythm guitar (4)
* Richard Patterson – bass (1, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11)
* Sam Sims – bass (2, 8)
* Verdine White – bass (4)
* Nathan East – bass (7, 9)
* Chuck Morris – drums (1, 3, 5, 6, 11)
* Land Richards – cymbals (2, 8, 10), arrangements (3, 8), drum fills (10)
* Michael Baker – drums (4, 7, 9)
* Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 3, 4, 6, 9)
* Munyungo Jackson – percussion (2, 7, 11)
* Ronnie Laws – soprano saxophone (1)
* Kirk Whalum – tenor saxophone (1)
* Gerald Albright – tenor saxophone (1, 5)
* Gary Bias – saxophones (4, 7, 9), flute (4, 7, 9)
* Jeff Clayton – saxophones (4, 7, 9), flute (4, 7, 9)
* Reggie Young – trombone (4, 7, 9)
* Ray Brown – trumpet (4, 7, 9)
* Stevie Wonder – harmonica (6), lead vocals (6), arrangements (6)
* Norman Connors – arrangements (1-3, 5, 7-11)
* Benjamin Wright – arrangements (4, 7, 9), horn arrangements (7, 9), string arrangements (9)
* Denise Stewart – BGV arrangements (4, 9)
* Perri – backing vocals (4, 9)
* Boyz II Men – backing vocals (6)
* Della Miles – backing vocals (10)
* Tony Warren – backing vocals (10)

### Production

* Steve McKeever – executive producer, producer (6), mixing (6)
* Norman Connors – producer (1-5, 7-11)
* Norman Brown – co-producer (1-3, 5, 8, 10, 11)
* Ralph Sutton – recording, mixing (3, 7, 9, 10)
* John Falzarano – recording (2, 8)
* Brian Simpson – recording (2, 8)
* Richard Huredia – assistant engineer (1-9, 11)
* Noel Hazen – assistant engineer (4, 7, 9)
* Brant Biles – mixing (1, 2, 6)
* Malcolm Cecil – mixing (1, 2, 6)
* Robert Margouleff – mixing (1, 2, 6)
* Barney Perkins – mixing (4)
* Elliott Peters – mixing (5, 8, 11)
* William Cooper – mix assistant (1, 2)
* Bob Tucker – mix assistant (3, 7, 9, 10)
* Kenny Ochoa – mix assistant (4, 5)
* David Betancourt – mix assistant (8)
* Tina Antoine – mix assistant (11)
* Bruce Walker – A&R project coordinator
* Stephen Meltzer – art direction
* Shauna Woods – design
* Todd Gray – photography