Wikipedia

Just Between Us (Norman Brown album)

Just Between Us is the debut album by jazz guitarist Norman Brown.[1] It was released in 1992 by Motown Records.[2] The album reached No. 4 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.[3]

Just Between Us
Studio album by
Norman Brown
ReleasedSeptember 8, 1992
Recorded1992
Studio
  • Lion Share, Studio On Wheels, Studio 56 and Music Animals (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Ocean Way Recording and M'Bila Studios (Hollywood, CA)
  • Simpson Sonics (Van Nuys, CA)
  • Alpha Studios and Encore Studios (Burbank, CA)
  • Golden Scarab Studios (Studio City, CA)
GenreJazz, smooth jazz
Length59:31
LabelMotown
ProducerNorman Brown, Norman Connors, Steve McKeever
Norman Brown chronology
Just Between Us
(1992) 		After the Storm
(1994)

Background

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Brown produced the album with guest appearances by Stevie Wonder, Kirk Whalum, Ronnie Laws, the Earth, Wind & Fire Horns and Boyz II Men.[2] The album contains cover versions of two songs: "Love Holiday" by Earth, Wind & Fire and "Too High" by Stevie Wonder. The latter song was featured in the end credits of the film Passenger 57.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]

Sherri Winston of the Sun Sentinel called Just Between Us "jazzy fun that gets moody and sexy and thoughtful, but never boring... A beautiful ride."[5]

Thom Jurek of AllMusic, in a 4 out of 5 stars review, commented, "The end result is an album that, although surely a product of its time in terms of production, is musically timeless. Its sense of balance between composition, arrangement, improvisation, and its various genre blends is still a blueprint for contemporary jazz in the 21st century."[4]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Stormin'"Norman Brown6:09
2."Just Between Us"Norman Brown5:08
3."East Meets West"Norman Brown5:24
4."Love's Holiday"Skip Scarborough, Maurice White5:47
5."It's a Feelin'"Norman Brown4:00
6."Too High"Stevie Wonder5:11
7."Something Just for You"Norman Brown5:26
8."Here to Stay"Norman Brown6:31
9."Moonlight Tonight"Norman Brown, Angel Rodgers5:36
10."Sweet Taste"Norman Brown4:26
11."Inside"Norman Brown6:03

[2]

Personnel

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  • Norman Brown – guitar, arrangements (1-3, 5-11), music concept (4), BGV arrangements (9)
  • Herman Jackson – keyboards (1, 3, 5, 7, 11), synthesizers (9), synth strings (10)
  • Wayne Linsey – keyboards (1, 3, 5, 11)
  • Jerry Peters – keyboards (2)
  • Brian Simpson – keyboards (2, 8), programming (2, 8)
  • Bobby Lyle – acoustic piano (4, 7, 9), acoustic piano solo (8)
  • Larry Farrow – keyboards (10), synth bass (10)
  • Juewett Bostick – programming (10), arrangements (10)
  • Al McKay – rhythm guitar (4)
  • Richard Patterson – bass (1, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11)
  • Sam Sims – bass (2, 8)
  • Verdine White – bass (4)
  • Nathan East – bass (7, 9)
  • Chuck Morris – drums (1, 3, 5, 6, 11)
  • Land Richards – cymbals (2, 8, 10), arrangements (3, 8), drum fills (10)
  • Michael Baker – drums (4, 7, 9)
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1, 3, 4, 6, 9)
  • Munyungo Jackson – percussion (2, 7, 11)
  • Ronnie Laws – soprano saxophone (1)
  • Kirk Whalum – tenor saxophone (1)
  • Gerald Albright – tenor saxophone (1, 5)
  • Gary Bias – saxophones (4, 7, 9), flute (4, 7, 9)
  • Jeff Clayton – saxophones (4, 7, 9), flute (4, 7, 9)
  • Reggie Young – trombone (4, 7, 9)
  • Ray Brown – trumpet (4, 7, 9)
  • Stevie Wonder – harmonica (6), lead vocals (6), arrangements (6)
  • Norman Connors – arrangements (1-3, 5, 7-11)
  • Benjamin Wright – arrangements (4, 7, 9), horn arrangements (7, 9), string arrangements (9)
  • Denise Stewart – BGV arrangements (4, 9)
  • Perri – backing vocals (4, 9)
  • Boyz II Men – backing vocals (6)
  • Della Miles – backing vocals (10)
  • Tony Warren – backing vocals (10)

Production

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  • Steve McKeever – executive producer, producer (6), mixing (6)
  • Norman Connors – producer (1-5, 7-11)
  • Norman Brown – co-producer (1-3, 5, 8, 10, 11)
  • Ralph Sutton – recording, mixing (3, 7, 9, 10)
  • John Falzarano – recording (2, 8)
  • Brian Simpson – recording (2, 8)
  • Richard Huredia – assistant engineer (1-9, 11)
  • Noel Hazen – assistant engineer (4, 7, 9)
  • Brant Biles – mixing (1, 2, 6)
  • Malcolm Cecil – mixing (1, 2, 6)
  • Robert Margouleff – mixing (1, 2, 6)
  • Barney Perkins – mixing (4)
  • Elliott Peters – mixing (5, 8, 11)
  • William Cooper – mix assistant (1, 2)
  • Bob Tucker – mix assistant (3, 7, 9, 10)
  • Kenny Ochoa – mix assistant (4, 5)
  • David Betancourt – mix assistant (8)
  • Tina Antoine – mix assistant (11)
  • Bruce Walker – A&R project coordinator
  • Stephen Meltzer – art direction
  • Shauna Woods – design
  • Todd Gray – photography

[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Words of the Week". Jet. Vol. 83, no. 2. Nov 2, 1992. p. 40.
  2. ^ a b c d Norman Brown: Just Between Us. Motown Records. 1992.
  3. ^ "Norman Brown: Just Between Us (Top Contemporary Jazz Albums)". billboard.com. Billboard.
  4. ^ a b Jurek, Thom. "Norman Brown: Just Between Us". AllMusic.
  5. ^ Winston, Sherri (September 24, 1992). "BROWN GIVES LABEL FINE START". newsbank.com. Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
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