Chuck Flores in the Feb. addition of BUDDY the original Texas music magazine reviewed ROUGH SAX.
Excerts from his review follows.With his warm soothing tone and his lyrical phrasing, Christopher Browns sax harkens back to an earlier age, when lounges were dark, smoky, sultry and cool.
On the Metrosong CD. ROUGH SAX, producer/arranger Chip Evens allows Browns artistry to come through. Whether its the aptly named Space Jam with its moody motifs or some of the more exotic grooves like Bay of Pigs, Tango in F of the reggae tinged Angry Bob.
The spare production only accentuates the intimacy of Browns sax. And Its that smooth, seductive sax that cajoles, that entices and takes the lucky listener to a wide-open ride that recalls the musical legends like Stan Getz and Paul Desmond.
As if to bely its title ROUGH SAX is a decidedly mellow trip-----theres nothing rough about it. But the CD is never boring. Its introspective, romantic at times, sassy at other times, and even delivers the high squeals just when you want them. ROUGH SAX even manages to surprise, with relentlessness of the drum driven Rumble and the 60s-era coolness of I Heard it Before.Recognizing Browns intuitive strengths, Evans opted for the open-ended improvisational form.
In this setting Christopher Brown can paint his musical canvas without worrying about coloring outside the lines. ROUGH SAX succeeds as a result on that great decision.
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