Search - Tom Browne :: Love Approach

A classic finally available!!

Gary A. Lara | Corte Madera, CA | 11/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This cd is smokin'! It is worth every penny. I must have waited more than a decade for this to come out on CD and it finally happened in 2001. Tom Browne is one heck of a musician. If you're looking for smooth Jazz grooves then look no further. Two of the tracks have vocals by Toni Smith and let me tell you, Toni rocks the house. By the way, two of the other tracks are mislabeled here on the web. Track number 4 is actually called "Dreams of lovin' you" and track number 8 is "Weak in the Knees." The disc and packaging are reproduced exactly how this recording was originally released on vinyl. It is a must have! Okay Tom, now let us know when you're going to make the rest of your Arista catalog available on disc. Thanks!!"

Classic jazz-funk trumpet I

Olukayode Balogun | Leeds, England | 07/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The monster disco hit "Funkin' For Jamaica (N.Y.)" is almost worth the price of this Japanese import CD on its own. Even now, you put that one on at any party and it's sure to get the place jumping. 27 years old and it still sounds as clear as a bell with air-piercing vocals by Toni Smith and a crisp production that many so-called producers can only dream of these days.



I said 'almost' though. Lucky then that there's even better on offer here, especially if soulful, funky jazz trumpet is what you're looking for. Produced by Dave Grusin & Larry Rosen and featuring people like Grusin himself, Marcus Miller, Bernard Wright, Buddy Wiilams, Boby Broom, Jorge Dalto, Carol Steele, Lesette Wilson and Bob Franceshini, this is as good as it got back in 1980.



There's not a dud track to be found but my other favourites include The cool breezy, "Her Secret Smile", with guitar licks and solo by Bobby Broom. The funky "Forever More", and "Dreams Of Lovin' You" with a great tenor sax solo from Bob Franceshini. "Nocturne" starts off with a crescendo, with piano solo by Jorge Dalto, and then becomes by a back and forth between Browne and Franceshini. And then it just slows right down into this spacey, moody tune with 'nocturnal' sounds with bass and/or synth by either Marcus Miller, Grusin, Wilson or by all three.

The dreamy "Moon Rise" has a great bass line by Marcus Miller and the beautiful "Weak In The Knees" with vocals by Victoria Sylva brings an end to the proceedings.



This album and it's 1981 follow-up, Magic are in my opinion Tom Browne's best and complement one another very well. Both are highly recommended."

Funkin' For Jamaica, and so much more

Derek Johnson | United Kingdom | 07/26/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After purchasing Don Blackman, and then progressing to 'Nard, the next logical step, for some pure fire Jazz funk from the early 80's was this 1980 release, which was Mr. Browne's sophomore. No worries here, with regard to a sophomore slump, as from what I am told, this CD surpasses his first LP Browne Sugar.

The first thing that I would say is that if you are expecting an CD, worth of the Classic' Funkin' for Jamaica' type funk, then you'll be disappointed. This classic (which has been sampled to death) defies you not to dance, and is just a feel good song (reminds me of 'Just Chillin' out, from Bernard Wright 'Nard' CD). But with time & patience, you'll find hidden gems on this CD. Tom is an unselfish musician who doesn't hog the lime light (so much so that when i was younger, I didn't know that he was a trumpet player, particularly when listening to Funkin' for Jamaica')

The gems that I adore on here are 'Her Silent Smile', and forever more, which both has a thumping Bass guitar background, which is the perfect foil to Tom's Sole trumpet. 'Dreams of Lovin you' starts smoothly enough, but then changes with the advent of a saxophone sole to an up-tempo finish ( in fact, the trumpet & sax vie for your attention at this point, reminds me of Wilton Felder). Nocturne is more of a be-bop jazz offering, which reading an interview with Mr. Browne, is what he considers himself, and what he regrets not pursuing. 'Martha' returns us back to a Jazz funk setting, with I think Toni Smith on vocals, and again reminds me of' Bread Sandwiches' from the 'Nard' CD( also it could be because Bernard Wright plays Keyboards on this CD.) 'Moon Rise' follows, and like the names of the song, this sounds beautiful, and it a perfect way to chill out at the end of the day (try listening to this watching the sky at night, haunting) The last joint on here is' Weak in the knees) which is a slow quiet stormish moment, that whilst pleasant, is the one song on this CD that I don't really like.

All in all a great CD, the only down point is the price, but with the pound to dollar exchange rate as it is as I write, makes the medicine not too hard to swallow. (If you live in the UK)

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