The siblings that mane Juilliard history by attending the prestigious institution simultaneously, The 5 Browns; Desirae, Deondra, Gregory, Melody, and Ryan have returned with their most commercial album to date. On Browns ... more »In Blue, the many varied and emotional musical shades of the color are on display. From Gershwin's Jazzy Home Blues and Embraceable You, to the classical mood of a Chopin Nocturne and Debussy's Clair de lune, The 5 Browns show why they remain classical music's irresistible new champions.« less
The siblings that mane Juilliard history by attending the prestigious institution simultaneously, The 5 Browns; Desirae, Deondra, Gregory, Melody, and Ryan have returned with their most commercial album to date. On Browns In Blue, the many varied and emotional musical shades of the color are on display. From Gershwin's Jazzy Home Blues and Embraceable You, to the classical mood of a Chopin Nocturne and Debussy's Clair de lune, The 5 Browns show why they remain classical music's irresistible new champions.
"The 5 Browns are extremely talented to say the least, and they are personable as well. I met them in person in Houston several years ago, so I'm a huge fan. I even have tickets to their concert next January. Nonetheless, I did not think the pieces on their 3rd album were as varied and interesting as the 1st two. So if you're a big fan, you'll want to buy it. If you don't have any of their albums, buy the 1st and 2nd."
A Departure from Previous CDs...
G. Hudgins | Sunland, CA USA | 12/09/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Given its departure from previous releases...it took the second time to really sink in, and it is excellent. It's the kind of compilation you want to listen to from beginning to end, uninterrupted. Presumably, the Five Browns are experimenting with their success, so they present themselves differently, but at their high level, certainly. The last track is fun, expertly mixed and a great way to cap off a rewarding listening adventure."
Great feeling!
A. Williams | Viriginia | 01/07/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The music is fantastic. And it may be that I've seen them perform live at Strathmore, but I can picture the meticulous Five Browns playing with great feeling and swaying and giving it everything they have."
"Musical Shades of Emotion ... The 5 Browns ... Sony Classic
J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 12/06/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sony Classics presents "Browns In Blue" --- The Many varied and emotional musical shades of "Blue" color this album --- Highlights includes Gershwin's "Jazzy Home Blues" and "Embraceable You" --- inclusive to the classical mood of a Chopin's "Nocturne" and Debussy's "Claire de Lune" --- Makes this an outside the general genre realm which works perfectly.
The 5 Browns is a classical piano musical group consisting of five siblings --- In descending order of their age, the Browns are Desirae (28), Deondra (26), Gregory (24), Melody (23), and Ryan (21) --- All have studied the piano from three years of age, and they were the first group of five siblings to attend premiere musical conservatory Juilliard, which they attended simultaneously for five consecutive years --- They are signed with the RCA Red Seal label --- They recently made their Canadian debut at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, performing at the studios of CBC Radio Two and at the festival's Piano Gala (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Browns in Blue - (Track Listings)
Browns in Blue
1. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Introduction and 24 Variations), in A minor for piano & orchestra, Op. 43: 18th Variation [3:09]
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninoff
Performed by The 5 Browns
2. Carnival of the Animals, zoological fantasy for 2 pianos & ensemble: Aquarium [3:02]
Composed by Camille Saint-Saëns
Performed by Gil Shaham, Deondra Brown and Desirae Brown
3. L'histoire du tango, tango cycle for flute & guitar: Retrato de Alfredo Gobbi [3:03]
Composed by Astor Piazzolla
Performed by Ryan Brown [violin]
4. Suite bergamasque, for piano, L. 75: Claire de Lune [5:05]
Composed by Claude Debussy
Performed by Deondra Brown, Desirae Brown and Melody Brown
5. Aunt Hagar's Children (a.k.a. "Aunt Hagar's Blues") [3:11]
Composed by W.C. Handy
Performed by Gregory Brown
6. Suite No. 2 for 2 pianos in C major, Op. 17: Romance [6:50]
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninoff
Performed by Deondra Brown and Desirae Brown
7. Intermezzo for piano in A major, Op.118/2 [5:53]
Composed by Johannes Brahms
Performed by Melody Brown
8. Gretchen am Spinnrade (I & II), transcription for piano (after Schubert, D. 118), S. 558/8 & S. 558bis/8 (LW A42/8) [3:33]
Composed by Franz Liszt
Performed by Ryan Brown [violin]
9. Reflections on Shenandoah, for 5 pianos [6:52]
Composed by John Novacek
Performed by The 5 Browns
10. Embraceable You, song (from Girl Crazy, musical) [3:20]
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Desirae Brown
11. Nocturne for piano No. 13 in C minor, Op. 48/1, CT. 120 [6:09]
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
Performed by Gregory Brown
12. Fantasia on "Dives and Lazarus", for 5 pianos (after Ralph Vaughan Williams and Jean Sibelius) [9:12]
Composed by Greg Anderson
Performed by The 5 Browns
13. Carnival of the Animals, zoological fantasy for 2 pianos & ensemble: The Swan [2:13]
Composed by Camille Saint-Saëns
Performed by Melody Brown
14. Jeg elsker dig (I Love Thee), song transcription for piano, Op. 41/3 [3:14]
Composed by Edvard Grieg
Performed by Deondra Brown
15. An American in Paris, tone poem for orchestra: Home Blues [8:06]
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Chris Botti and The 5 Browns
16. Everybody Loves Somebody, song [3:10]
Composed by Irving Taylor
Performed by The 5 Browns, Gregg Field, Dean Martin and Paul Morin
Hats off to Sony Classics --- strongly recommend this CD to all music lovers and others who need to hear some great classical, Jazz and American Standards music --- The 5 Browns, please stand up and take a bow for this well deserved rare gem you've given us --- this is a keeper!
Total Time: 73 mins on 16 Tracks ~ Sony Classics ~ (10/02/2007)"
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1
