Paul West / Mark Brown

Words & Music

oa2 22041

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MUSIC REVIEW BY John Henry, Audiophile Audition

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5-STARS Some great original tunes from the versatile Seattle duo...

I've said before I'm not strongly into vocal music, but when a singer communicates a real personality and believability - even if not having a perfect voice - then I'm a fan. Mark Brown sounds to me like a cross between Bob Dorough and Dan Hicks, two of my favorites. But then comes the first ballad track and I hear a quite different voice. Turns out the two often share writing the music and lyrics, sometimes do it individually, and they take turns at performing the vocals. Paul has a distinctive voice of his own too. The two of them have been performing together in the Seattle area for a quarter of a century. And if I read the liner notes correctly, they both have professional careers outside of music, but they have a superb artistic collaboration going.

Two of the dozen songs are familiar jazz instrumentals to which they have done lyrics a la Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan - Dizzy's "Groovin' High" and John Lewis' "Afternoon in Paris." "Thumbin' a Ride" originated with a kalimba which Paul picked up in an African shop. He wrote some lyrics and then challenged Mark to come up with a tune using just the five notes of the thumb piano. "Goodbye Old Friend" and "It's You" are both tributes to friends and very touching. The brief acapella "We're So Lucky" was stimulated by Paul first hearing Ladysmith Black Mambazo and wanting to emulate that sound in our culture. Mark is also a fine trumpet player, and their sextet of sidemen is used sparingly but tastefully, making the delightful vocals the spotlit attraction here. I look forward to enjoying an evening of this fine duo in person sometime soon in either Seattle or Portland.








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