🎵 AotW AOTW: Vernell Brown, Jr. - A TOTAL ECLIPSE (CD-5305)

[Captain Bacardi]

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

Released 1990
Peaked at #20 on the Top Contemporary Jazz chart (1990)

Format: CD/Cassette

Produced by Stix Hooper for Stix Hooper Enterprises
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.

Musicians:
Vernell Brown, Jr. - Acoustic Piano & Keyboards, Handclaps (6)
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
Ernie Watts - Tenor Sax (2), Soprano Sax (4)
Herb Alpert - Trumpet (5)
Franz Pusch - Keyboards (5), Handclaps (6)
Maisha Brown - Handclaps (6)
Elmer Witcher - Handclaps (6)

Recorded and Mixed at Sound 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
Liner notes: Stix Hooper



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Captain Bacardi]

I just happened to stumble upon this CD in a used CD store many years ago, and when I found out that Herb Alpert played on one track ("Rise Of The Gods") I snatched it up immediately, hoping that this would be a hot release. Alas, it turned out to be your basic stereotypical smooooth jazz outing, although there are moments that are above this sort of thing. The title track changes things up abit, with a bit more of a bite than most of the tracks, including a sizzling sax solo by Ernie Watts. There's a bit of the Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis feel on "Hanging Loose", where Brown gets in some funky synth work. The best track is the last, "Vernellergize", which is a straight-ahead romp with a nifty bass solo from John Patitucci. Had there been more tunes like this I would've enjoyed it more. 2 stars.



Capt. Bacardi