West Coast Coolin'
| West Coast Coolin' | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 21, 2004 | |||
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| Genres | ||||
| Length | 44:11 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Producers |
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| Norman Brown chronology | ||||
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West Coast Coolin' is a studio album by American jazz guitarist Norman Brown, released in 2004 by Warner Bros. Records.[1] The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums, No. 5 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums and No. 24 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums charts.[2]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
Woodrow Wilkins of All About Jazz wrote,
The guitarist/vocalist is a master of the laid-back groove, successfully bringing together elements of smooth jazz and contemporary R&B. On West Coast Coolin', Brown consolidates his reputation as a premier recording and performing artist with a collection of ten tracks—written and co-written by the leader—that push the idea of "chillin'" to new heights.[4]
Thom Jurek of AllMusic commented,
Brown works with a host of producers, and his familiar smooth jazz underpinnings — derived more from George Benson and Hiram Bullock than Wes Montgomery these days — are present but not prevalent on most of the set. Instead, his slick nu-soul/nu-jazz singing style — identified by a thin whispery tenor — gets front and center on more than half the album's ten cuts.[3]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Might" | Chalmers Alford, Eric Benét, Vikter Duplaix, Pino Palladino, James Poyser | 04:50 |
| 2. | "Up 'n' At 'Em" | Christopher Bolden, Norman Brown, Wirlie Morris | 04:00 |
| 3. | "West Coast Coolin'" | Christopher Bolden, Norman Brown, Wirlie Morris | 04:31 |
| 4. | "Missin' You" | Christopher Bolden, Norman Brown, Wirlie Morris | 04:16 |
| 5. | "Come Over" | Eric Benét, Vikter Duplaix, James Poyser | 04:27 |
| 6. | "What's Goin' On" | Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye | 04:39 |
| 7. | "Let's Play" | Christopher Bolden, Norman Brown, Wirlie Morris | 04:51 |
| 8. | "Right Now" | Norman Brown, Brian Culbertson, Stephen Lu | 03:56 |
| 9. | "Angel" | Malik Pendleton, James Poyser, James Yancey | 04:30 |
| 10. | "Remember the Time" | Norman Brown | 04:11 |
Personnel
Musicians and vocalists
- Norman Brown – vocals (1, 2, 4, 6–9), lead guitar (1), guitars (2–10)
- James Poyser – keyboards (1, 5, 9), drums (9)
- Vikter Duplaix – programming (1, 5)
- Wirlie Morris – keyboards (2–4, 7), programming (2, 3, 7)
- Chris Bolden – programming (2, 3, 7), drum programming (4)
- Dragan "DC" Capor – additional programming (2–4, 6, 7), digital processing (7)
- David "Kahlid" Woods – keyboards (6), drum programming (6), backing vocals (6)
- Brian Culbertson – keyboards (8), programming (8)
- Stephen Lu – keyboards (8), programming (8)
- Herman Jackson – keyboards (10)
- Chalmers Alford – rhythm guitar (1, 5), guitar (5)
- Pino Palladino – bass (1, 5)
- Alex Al – bass (2, 3, 6, 10)
- Thaddeus Tribbett – bass (9)
- Lil' John Roberts – drums (2, 3)
- Michael Bland – drums (10)
- Luis Conte – percussion (2, 3)
- Arno Lucas – percussion (6)
- Kevin Ricard – percussion (10)
- Dan Higgins – saxophones (2, 3), flute (3)
- Reggie Young – trombone (2, 3)
- Jerry Hey – flugelhorn (2–4)
- Lynne Fiddmont-Linsey – vocals (8)
Music arrangements
- Chris Bolden – arrangements (2–4, 7)
- Paul Brown – arrangements (2, 3, 6)
- Wirlie Morris – arrangements (2–4, 7)
- Jerry Hey – horn arrangements (2, 3)
- David "Kahlid" Woods – arrangements (6)
- Brian Culbertson – arrangements (8)
- Stephen Lu – arrangements (8)
- Norman Brown – arrangements (10)
- Herman Jackson – arrangements (10)
Production
- Vikter Duplaix – producer (1, 5)
- James Poyser – producer (1, 5, 9)
- Paul Brown – producer (2–4, 6, 7)
- Brian Culbertson – producer (8)
- Jay Dee – producer (9)
- Malik Pendleton – producer (9)
- Norman Brown – producer (10)
- Herman Jackson – producer (10)
- Lexy Shroyer – production coordinator (2–4, 6)
- Ellen Wakayama – creative director
- Gregory Gilmer – art direction
- Lisa Peardon – photography
- Bruce Kramer for Kramer Management – management
Technical credits
- Kevin "K.D." Davis – recording (1, 5), mixing (1, 5)
- Ryan Moys – recording (1, 5, 9)
- Chris Bolden – recording (2–4)
- Paul Brown – recording (2–4, 6, 7), mixing (2–4, 7, 10)
- Wirlie Morris – recording (2–4)
- Erik Zobler – recording (2, 3)
- Timothy Day – recording (5, 9)
- Jan Fairchild – mixing (6)
- Brian Culbertson – recording (8)
- Peter Mokran – mixing (8)
- Russell Elevado – mixing (9)
- Michael Vail Blum – recording (10)
- Dragan "DC" Capor – digital editing (2–4, 6, 7), Pro Tools technician (2–4, 6)
- Brian Hearity – second engineer (2, 3, 6)
References
- ↑ West Coast Coolin'. Warner Bros. Records. 2004.
- ↑ "Norman Brown". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- 1 2 Jurek, Thom. "Norman Brown: West Coast Coolin'". AllMusic. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ↑ Wilkins, Woodrow (January 8, 2005). "Norman Brown: West Coast Coolin' album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved November 23, 2024.