Derek Brown: All Figured Out
Let's talk about the valve noises. Most saxophone players try to hide those sounds, but Brown? Noooooooo. He has it down. The valves are percussive and he has a whole new way of playing beats with those metal tube popper stoppers. There are no special effects or overdubs, its just all Derek, in real time.
They (this sax and flesh unit) use everything imaginable to make sound and it is a hoot to experience. The name of his experience is the BEATBoX SAX, and he does it all to present a full sound event each time he plays. When he does the duet/collaborative thing, everyone is strong. When he is solo, nothing is missing. So when offered a chance to experience this human tornado with a full orchestra, well, one would be still looking for the top of one's head. This is Brown's third album. It has nine songs that provide each of the musicians an opportunity to give it their all, and the reason it works is that Derek Brown just loves what he does, and it transfers perfectly.
The first track on the album, "Prelude," lays out the whole premise in less than a minute. You hear the big orchestra with all the extras. You get the full bodied flavor all in one deliciously tantalizing track. There are vocals on the title track, "All Figured Out." The other eight tracks are instrumentals. The Hope College Brazilian Drumming Ensemble joins in and brings it all back home on the final track, "The Good Fight," plus some daring grungy guitar madness. Bottom line, the music on All Figured Out is not based on the freakshow beat-box gimmick. Derek Brown is a seasoned and skilled virtuoso saxophonist who consistently delivers excitement and great music because he has found that spot within that music comes from and he brings his fellow musicians there with great passion.
Track Listing
Prelude; Human Error; Again; A Simple Gesture; Vantage Point; All Figured Out; The Pursuit; Hoping for the Best; The Good Fight.
Personnel
Derek Brown: saxophone, tenor; The Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra: band/orchestra.
The Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra Director: Jordan VanHemert; im Grieme: alto saxophone; Charlie Jordan: alto saxophone; Bill Bier: tenor saxophone; Tommy Pancy: tenor saxophone; Caleb Elzinga: tenor saxophone; Mike Hamann: baritone saxophone; Shawn Nichols: trumpet; Austin Hunt: trumpet; Keith Walker: trumpet; Rick Holland: trumpet; Mark Wells: trombone; Aaron Hettinga: trombone; Logan Vanderlaan: trombone; Adam Graham: bass trombone; Lee Heerspink: guitar; Andrew DePree: piano; Liam Coussens; bass; Madison George: drums. Members of the Hope College Orchestra: Anna Janowski: violin; Lian Robinson: violin; Abigail Finnegan: viola; Elizabeth Bachwich: cello.
Album information
Title: All Figured Out | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Self Produced