🎵 AotW AOTW: Vernell Brown Jr. - A Total Eclipse (CD-5305)

[Captain Bacardi]

Vernell Brown Jr.
A TOTAL ECLIPSE
A&M CD-5305

Released 1990

Format: CD/Cassette

Produced by Stix Hooper
Executive Producer: Jerry Moss

Songs:

• 1. New Shoes - 5:39
  2. A Total Eclipse - 6:38
  3. Perfect Timing - 4:16
  4. August - 6:07
  5. Rise Of The Gods - 5:31
  6. Hanging Loose - 4:11
  7. Traffic - 5:45
  8. Vernellergize - 4:46
  
  All musical compositions and arrangements by Vernell Brown Jr. and published by Vernellergize Music/Almo Music Corp (ASCAP).

Musicians:
Vernell Brown Jr. - Acoustic Piano, Keyboards, Hand Claps
Marcus Miller - Bass (1, 3)
Neil Stubenhaus - Bass (2, 4, 5, 7)
John Patitucci - Acoustic Bass (8 )
Vinnie Colaiuta - Drums
Stix Hooper - Drums (8 )
Paul Jackson Jr. - Guitar (1)
Pat Kelley - Guitar (3)
Lenny Castro - Percussion (1, 4, 5, 7)
Ernie Watts - Tenor Saxophone (2, 4)
Herb Alpert - Trumpet (5)
Franz Pusch - Keyboards (5), Hand Claps (6)
Maisha Brown - Hand Claps (6)
Elmer Wichter - Hand Claps (6)

Recorded and mixed at Studio Ultimo, Los Angeles, CA
Engineered and mixed by Franz Pusch, assisted by Tom Biener
Mastered by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering

All keyboard and drum programming by Vernell Brown Jr.
Additional programming by Franz Pusch.

Art Direction & Design: Richard Frankel and Rowan Moore
Photography: Bret Lopez


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Captain Bacardi]

Vernell Brown Jr. was a finalist at the 1988 and 1989 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competitions. Jerry Moss had heard him at one of these Grammys at the Schools programs and signed him to A&M, where he did two albums - this one and Stay Tuned. Producer Stix Hooper, of course, is the drummer for the Crusaders.


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Captain Bacardi]

I first picked this up as a promo when it came out and bought it as soon as I saw Herb Alpert playing on one track ("Rise of the Gods"). It's an interesting album, kind of a mix of styles, from straight-ahead jazz to fusion to more r&b/funk. The title track is a cooker! Ernie Watts blazes some trails with his sax solo on this cut, which is a quick samba. "Rise Of The Gods" features Alpert on muted trumpet, pretty much just playing the melody line with the piano. It's a laid-back moody piece, and is kind of catchy. Some tunes such as "Perfect Timing" and "Hanging Loose" are your basic funk jams that don't really go anywhere. The album ends on a high note though, with "Vernellergize" that features John Patitucci on acoustic bass. For a debut album, this isn't bad at all. 3 stars.


Capt. Bacardi

 

[Mr Bill]

Image finally up... I've had some trouble with Photoshop lately...

--Mr Bill