Just Chillin'
The opening track here is aptly titled "The Feeling I Get," because there is a certain good vibe to Brown's style and his melodies. Brown's use of swinging horn sections and the way he pads his lines with reeds, blending in swirls of triplets with hisWes Montgomery/George Bensonsound, can't help but make real smooth-jazz lovers feel good and smile. The expert pen of the tasteful veteran arranger Jerry Hey on the opener (and the following title track) magnifies this unique sound. This album takes a left turn on the four vocal tracks.Chante MooreandMichael McDonaldtotally dominate their turns, but the other two are real gems. Singers Debbie Nova andMiki Howard, respectively, on "Won't You Stay" and "Not Like You Do," mix in their neo-soul style perfectly as Brown sounds like himself, not just another guitarist playing behind a singer. Even then, the vocals get in the way of a fine guitar player. To really hear a great new Norman Brown record, program the CD player to skip the singing. Other standouts include the bouncy "Night Drive" (featuringRick Braun) andJanet Jackson's "Let's Wait Awhile."--Mark Ruffin