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Unless you have been working as a producer,
recording engineer, songwriter or session player in Los Angeles for the
past 20 years, you may be wondering, “Who is Phil Brown and why
does he rate the cover of ToneQuest?” On the other hand, if you
have heard Phil Brown play the guitar, you understand. Completely. A
reader recently asked when we were going to venture beyond the “blues/roots/rock” genré in
TQR. Today, you got your wish, brother, be careful what you ask for.
Phil Brown’s Cruel Inventions incites intense scrutiny from guitarists
and countless questions about his rig and playing style that will be answered
soon enough. But as Brown’s haunting melodic hooks subtly bind to your
synapses, surrender any desire to conveniently categorize this artist. In his
own words, “No one goes home humming a guitar solo.” Indeed, a
well-crafted song is still the rare stuff that inspires guitar playing that
eclipses the ordinary, and Phil Brown has devoted most of his life to learning
this lesson well... (David Wilson Editor & Publisher ToneQuest Report).
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MAY 2004 – Dan Quinnan one of my California
buddies has sent me some cuts by one Phil Brown. This guy has a gruff
voice and a spacey guitar style and he understands Curtis Mayfield, Dan
explains. Have I found a musical Soul Brother ?? Turns out so. I play ‘Heaven’ and
other cuts from Phil’s album on my Resonance FM radio/Internet
show. Guests are knocked out, listeners Email in. I track Phil down in
LA and ring him. From entirely different backgrounds we seem to share
an attitude and approach towards music, except this guy is a thousand
times more adept than me. He has history which can only be described
as ‘colorful’ – ups and downs, some self-inflicted
and others visited upon him by The Fates. Phil is intrigued that there
is great interest in his playing over here in England, he wants to come
and play.
Not only that, but Yellow Jackets and Jing Chi bassist Jimmy Haslip
wants to be involved in Phil’s planned Hendrix versions.
I hear some demo’s of these and once more a kindred spirit is at
work. I have a personal penchant for doing radical cover versions, to
reinvent
them,
bring something new out of the compositions. And what Phil Brown does
to material he loves by his mentor Jimi Hendrix is breathtaking – familiar
riffs and vocal phrasing are replaced by a truly original approach not
only to singing the words but eschewing reproduction of Jimi’s
riffs and going for a fluid personal axe playing angle that brings each
song selected a fresh aura. Still driving, still mellow and still affecting
but freed from clichés. And sexy and fun ! the player is quietly
proud of the fact that very often his recordings find their way from
the recipient’s office into the car stereo’s of their female
friends. Hendrix understood how to make music sexy – just listen
to ‘Gypsy Eyes’ for example.
What People are Saying:
"Playing your music inspired me and I'd
also like to do an interview with you, either when you are playing a
concert up our way or just because you want to. Our listeners will really
dig it."
-- Mark Ostrov...Morning Commuter DJ KVMR Radio, (Nevada City, California)
". . . working with Eric Clapton for
over 25 years. . . . Phil Brown goes somewhere with his guitar tones..."Heaven" kills
me...really!"
-- Lee Dickson (London, England)
"Hi Phil -- This is such wonderful music;
thank you for sharing the gift of your talent.
-- Mick Martin (KXJZ DJ on NPR RADIO)
'Phil and Apaches! I heard your 4 Hendrix
covers on Mick Martin's. Blues Party as I was driving and literally had
to pull over and park. I haven't heard music that moved me this hard
since the 60's!
All the best!!!"
-- Russ Suey BIG fan! (Sacramento, California)
"Yeah I've checked out your stuff and I'd love to do something with you.
Maybe we can look at a late summer or fall kind of thing."
-- Rick Monroe (Hamburg, Germany)
"From the recent Yardbird's guitarist... "hi
Pete, thanks for having me on the show and by the way Phil Brown is the
coolest Hendrix interpreter I've ever heard tatty-bye for now."
-- Gypie Mayo
"If the blues is all about good people
feeling bad, Phil Brown & Apaches From Paris are about good people
feeling good enough to be Bad. VERY bad. Now, dim the lights and get
ready to cook!"
-- David Wilson (Editor and Publisher of ToneQuest Report)
" The sound dynamic of these Hendrix recordings is awesome as everyone seems
to be realizing. Then I played your I Don't Live Today... was amazed!...oh yeah
Pete Gunn the Inmates guitarist tented me to ask who was playing 'If 6..' on
the show. EVERY class player that hears the tracks knows you have IT. Be flattered,
we are all good in our way and hard to impress."
-- Pete Sargeant resident DJ of (London, England) |
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