Trumpeter Rick Braun.
*“Philippe is a dear friend…I met him through Jeff Golub. He would play in my band. He wrote the title cut,” said Trumpeter Rick Braun, a Soul Train Award nominee, when asked about featured musicians on his new album “Crossroads.” The Shanachie project is produced by Braun and drummer Bud Harner. “He’s also a producer and keyboardist. We have a long history of writing and producing together.”
The “Crossroads” project has a sweet Jazz feel that’s fresh. The 18th Rick Braun album also features, aside from Philippe Saisse ( keys), Richard Elliott (sax), Chris “Big Dog” Davis (keys), Peter White (guitarist), Eric Valentine (drummer), Nate Phillips (bass), Richie Garcia (percussionist), Greg Phillinganes, Michael Thompson (guitar), Gregg Bissonette (drummer), Richard Fremont (flute), Lenny Castyro (percussion) and Tony Pulizzi (guitarist). His son plays the piano on the “Around the Corner” selection, which was inspired by his daughter. The “Crossroads” album was released on my birthday August 16th on Shanachie Entertainment.
When I asked Rick about the song inspired by his daughter he said, “My daughter loves to dance. She’d put music on loud and dance, freestyle. She feels the music deeply. On every album I put a song on it so she can dance. My son really wants to be a basketball player. We’re in Annapolis now, the Navy Academy is interested in him, but he still plays the piano now and then.”
My favorite cuts on the “Crossroads” project include the title song #1 “Around the Corner,” a finger popping/toe tapping selection thanks to Tony Pulizzi on the keys. The #2 cut “Brazz Street,” written and arranged by “Big Dog” (keys), is so sweet. I love the angelic feel of #4, “The Moment I Saw You,” because the piano playing by Braun is perfection. The cover of Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish,” #5, featuring Richard Elliott on sax, Philippe Saisse on piano and Rick Braun on vocals because it’s a funky fresh version of the hit. Last, I like #8 “Bahia,” written and arranged by Braun and Saisse, because it offers good ole’ Jazz and I love the vocals by Braun and LaTisha B. Valentine. www.RickBraun.com
ACTRESS JACKIE GARCIA CO-STARS IN NEW ROB ZOMBIE HORROR SEQUEL ‘3 FROM HELL’
SYNDICATED COLUMN: Eunice Moseley, has an estimated weekly readership of over ¼ million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations Strategist and Business Management Consultant at Freelance Associates, and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENT: Eunice is founder of the annual “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference (ULMII), into its 20th year. Next event dates include Los Angeles Saturday, November 9, 2019 at the Los Angeles Convention Center (511) and Baltimore Saturday April 18, 2020, held in partnership with Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times. The free conference offers an Entertainment Business Panel and a Talent Showcase and Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) with over $15,000 valued in prizes/product/services to selected artists. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com for more information or to participate as a panelist or talent call 562-424-3836.
www.GoFundMe.com/Uplifting-Minds-II-Entertainment-Conference
