RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 20, 2014 DIGITAL AND AUGUST 3,2018 CD. CATALOG # 201403. UPC: DIGITAL 8886608621427

About the artist –

Steve Brown born in Freeport, Long Island, in 1942, began playing jazz at the age of twelve with his father Glenn, a marimba player with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra.  At Ithaca College he completed an undergraduate degree in percussion in 1964 and a graduate degree in classical guitar in 1967.

As a guitarist from 1975 to 1980 with the National Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Chuck Israels, Steve received his first critical acclaim.  He toured Spain, France, Portugal, and Turkey in 1980 and 1981 as a soloist, sideman, and clinician with Chuck Israels, Bill Dobbins, Jim McNeely, Sal Nistico, Claudio Roditi, Ben Riley, and Bill Goodwin.  Israles says of him, “He is an excellent guitarist, a beautiful improvisor, with a clearly developed style, an organized teacher, a good composer/arranger…”

Steve has led the New York Jazz Sextet on a yearly tour of Spain, playing concerts and conducting seminars through the Taller De Musicos, a school of jazz in Barcelona.  Gerry Niewood, Dave Schnitter, Ron McClure, Don Friedman, Wallace Roney, Billy Hart, Joe Hunt, Walter Bishop Jr. and Jimmy Madison have accompanied him during these approximately one-month tours.

In the United States, Steve leads his own quartet with such sidemen as Bill Goodwin, Steve Gilmore, Jim Gannon, and Bill Dobbins.  Since the release of his own albums and various records on which he appears as a sideman, Steve has become recognized as an accomplished guitarist and composer.

According to Dan Morgenstern of the Smithsonian Institute, “Steve Brown, less well known than his confreres, is an impressive discovery.”

Bill Dobbins says, “In all my professional experience as a concertizing pianist, jazz educator and recording artist, Steve is definitely one of the most tasteful and consistently musical performers I have worked with.”

The Musicians –

Steve Brown – guitarist and conga drums

Gerry Niewood – soprano, alto and tenor saxophones

Ray Brown – flugelhorn

Steve Gilmore – bass

Billy Hart – drums

Brain Murphy – vibes

Bill Goodwin – percussion

Chris Gordan – electric bass on “Hold Me”

Gerry Niewood appears through the courtesy of DMP Records

Recorded at Pyramid Sound Ithaca New York August 6 & 7 1986

Recording engineer – Alex Perialas

Produced by Steve Brown and Bill Goodwin

Photography – Bob Smith

Playground photo designed and created by Bob Leathers

This album is dedicated with love to Marie Ward Brown.

“Child’s Play” was written for my son Miles and “Bossa Barbara” was written for my lovely wife.

Originally released through Café Records in 1987 by Mike Dion

Re-released by Mike Dion

Graphics by Leif Derrickson

Tracks:

1. Child’s Play 6:48 Steve Brown – Brown Cats Productions BMI

2. Hop, Skip and a Jump 4:47 Ray Brown – Jazz Garden Publications ASCAP

3. Stompin’ at the Savoy 6:09 Edgar Sampson, Chick Webb – arranged by Ray - Brown Robbins Music ASCAP

4. Hold Me 6:54 Gerry Niewood – Con Sona Music Inc & Music as Software BMI

5. Wes’ Tune 5:04 Wes Montgomery – West Coast Music Publications BMI

6. Bossa Barbara 5:14 Steve Brown – Brown Cats Productions BMI

7. Major Brwon’s Minor Blues 5:03 Steve Brown – Brown Cats Productions BMI

8. Indian Summer 6:53 Victor Herbert, Alexander Dubin – arranged by Steve Brown – Warner Brothers Music ASCAP

https://youtu.be/QMiTFJtMxkw