Concert Review: Maurice Brown Puts The Jazz In Blue Note

Celebrating his most recent album, The Mood, Maurice Brown played the Blue Note in NYC; where only jazz devotees are allowed to praise and the best musicians are allowed to play. You have to be good to enter the Blue Note Stage, and Maurice Brown is excellent.

As he exclaimed smilingly on stage, The Mood was written with the idea of capturing the varying moods that can enter us as we course our day. From “On My Way Home” to “Serendipity”, our days are filled with thrills and chills while we try to manage a routined life. Brown captures this with sonic empathy and excitement as he tussles his trumpet like a baseball bat. I truly believe, to Brown, his instrument is his best friend. He swings, kisses, and looks upon it like, it is the one thing that taught him unconditional love. It is fascinating to watch, especially, if you do not have such a bond with either an instrument or music. When you see someone praise an entity with fervor and faith, from religion to music, you cannot help but watch. While he plays, Brown jerks his body backwards as if he were about to dive into his trumpet’s pool of rhythm and heart. He licks and vibrates his lips as if they were his arms stroking through the pool making sure he butterflies and floats beautifully. It truly is majestic to witness, especially because he is backed by seasoned musicians that he respects and dances aside to their own riffing moments.

Creatively and presently, Maurice Brown was a show to watch. His song with Talib Kweli “Stand Up” and “Moroccan Dancehall” were my particular favorites because they gave him a chance to spew spoken words on humanity’s need to “stand for something, or fall for anything”. As he burst his trumpet as if he were calling for angels, I marveled at the importance of this instruments and the arts. Music is the food of the soul, and we need artists like, Maurice Brown, to make sure we are fed. For More Information On Maurice Brown Click Here.