Demitris Edwards Brown, aka Dee Brown, was born in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in a home where his mother was into the Motown Sound and his father listened to the music of jazz greats such as Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk and Charles Mingus. Brown’s own contemporary jazz guitar style is an amalgam of all those influences and his special blend of sumptuously smooth jazz and soulfully urban vibes is presented to incredible effect on his debut solo album ‘No Time To Waste’. Released in October of 2006 it follows on from Brown’s projects as a member of the bands One Wish and Shelby Brown (where he duet-ed with sax player Gentry Shelby) and showcases his skills as a guitarist, composer, producer and arranger.
In fact all eleven tracks are co-produced by Brown and long time friend Gerald Mitchell. They also variously write or co-write the entire CD and the opening number, the mid tempo and jazzy ‘Blue Street’, immediately provides a glimpse of the quality that permeates the entire collection. Dezie McCullers Jr, as he does throughout the album, catches the attention on sax while Browns playing is tight as tight can be. Equally jazzy is the aptly named ‘Sunday Jazz’. Turned down and blessed by the bluesy gospel tinged vocals of Audra Phillips this is one that could well find its way to radio. When Brown turns his attention to jazz of the smoother variety he shows he can get the job done just as well. ‘Reunited’ has a rhythm and a groove that is picture perfect for the genre and with the sophisticated ‘Confessions’ McCullers sweeps in on a soulful roll to gel wonderfully with Browns funky guitar.
The sax guitar combination of McCullers and Brown is again at play on ‘Beautiful Melodic’. Together they show great sensitivity in delivering exactly what the title suggests they should and with ‘Dee Browns Place’ Brown illustrates he can shift gears too. With more than a nod to some timeless jazz influences he creates a groovy foot-tapper that is brim full of class. ‘Wings Of Love’, with cool guitar from Brown and strangely Jonathon Butler-esque vocals from Gerard Brooks, provides one of the albums more mellow moments but when it comes to choosing a stand-out track there is quite frankly a surplus of riches.
‘El Spanyo’ is as edgy a piece of guitar driven smooth jazz as you will hear all year and the title track, morphing from a scene setting intro to a sultry yet compelling vibe, is urban jazz of the highest order. Equally urban and equally delicious is ‘Before I Began’. The hypnotic chorus and sensuous groove ensures it checks all the right boxes but just shading them all as the albums best cut is the sensational ‘Call Me Up’. Horn driven, up tempo and right in the pocket this one epitomizes what ‘No Time To Waste’ is all about.
‘No Time To Waste’ is an absolute joy and could well turn out to be one of the surprise packets of 2007. It is available now at all Dee Brown’s performances and online at www.deebrownmusic.com by download or CD.