Artist Profile:
Rick Braun
If you can define the essence of cool jazz, then you can imagine the soft and sultry sounds of Rick Braun.
We recorded Rick Braun at the Baked Potato in North Hollywood with Carl Verheyen on guitar, Matt Harris on keyboards, Dave Morotta on bass, Dave Karasone on drums Brad Dutz on percussion.
A busy session musician and producer, trumpeter/flügelhornist Braun has mapped out a diverse musical career. While studying at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester Braun formed the fusion band Auracle, who released two late 70s albums recorded with Miles Davis’ producer Teo Macero. In the early 80s, Braun released a pop record in Japan before moving into songwriting and soundtrack work.
Braun co-wrote the Top 20 REO Speedwagon hit, “Here With Me”, and played lead trumpet on the television show Night Caller. He also worked as a touring and recording session musician for several mainstream pop artists including Tina Turner, War, Crowded House, Glenn Frey, Rod Stewart, Tom Petty and Natalie Cole. In 1992 he was offered a contract the small Californian label, Mesa/Bluemoon, and promoted as a smooth jazz artist.
Touring as a backup singer and soloist with Sade brought Braun to the attention of radio promoters, and his seductive blend of smooth instrumental jazz and urban-orientated R&B soon became a staple of adult contemporary stations. Beat Street was one of the strongest selling smooth jazz albums of 1995, and Braun has subsequently built on his success for Atlantic Records.
Discography:
Intimate Secrets (Mesa 1992)**, Night Walker (Bluemoon 1994)***, Christmas Present: Music Of Warmth & Celebration (Bluemoon 1994)**, Beat Street (Bluemoon 1995)****, Body And Soul (Bluemoon 1996)***, South Of Midnight (Atlantic 1998)****, Full Stride (Atlantic 1998)***, with Boney James Shake It Up (Warners 2000)***, Kisses In The Rain (Warners 2001)***.
Take a listen to the show sample, and expose yourself to the silky sounds of of Rick Braun.
