By Fred Kellogg
The Brown Edition packed The Eastside Club Tavern December 9th, opening for Seattle’s Soul Senate. An up-and-coming Latin jazz-Funk band that blends sophisticated arrangements of classic funk and fusion tunes and well-conceived originals, they have emerged as Olympia’s premier ‘good time’ party band. Their diverse stage presence represents Olympia well as a community, and adds to their appeal. Their music, though performed with the tight professional precision, stays just far enough to the left of center to avoid the dreaded ‘smooth jazz’ label.
The sound of this eight piece band thrives on the ensemble arrangements and well executed interaction and contrasting tone of lead guitarist Tarik Bentlemsani with rhythm guitarist/vocalist Miguel Pineda. Bentlemsani has emerged as Olympia’s new guitar star; adroitly blending a wide range of playing techniques into an original style which avoids comparison. Pineda is the group’s front man, handsome, confident and full of crowd pleasing energy, never competing with Bentlemsani when he picks up his guitar.
Shaggy bassist Thomas Pell, also the groups A&R man, is a disciple of Tower of Power’s Francis ‘Rocco’ Prestia school of playing. Though he snaps and slaps on occasion, it is nice to hear another band whose bassist has embraced the subtler finger style method Prestia has made famous for years as the anchor of TOP.
The TOP comparison also fits drummer Ivan Gunderson as well, as he seems to appreciate TOP’s David Garabaldi. He never tires or drags, no matter how complex the syncopation. He locks in tight with Pell, as well as with master congero Miguel Lopez. Lopez, though the elder statesman of the band, is a perfect fit with the “kids.”
Brown Edition’s three-piece horn section, featuring husband and wife Aaron and Ninee Wolf, is a delight to the ears and eyes. Sharply-attired Aaron plays his tenor sax with a dynamic and lyrical power that belies his small frame. His pretty wife Ninee brings an intriguingly studious stage presence and a flute style reminiscent of Bobbi Humphrey when she solos. The third member of the horn section is trumpeter Brian Briggs who sets the house on fire when he solos. As a unit, the three stand out on all of the group’s tunes. This was particularly true when the group performed the intricate Chick Corea/Return to Forever composition Spain. I have never heard a local band take on the challenge of performing RTF material, but these folks made it look easy. Hopefully, Captain Senor Mouse is next.
Their set wrapped up with a rendition of Average White Bands hit, Pick up the Pieces, again admirably transcribed and performed by the horn section.
They have released their independent first CD, “The Brown Edition,” produced by Pell, featuring all original material including the instrumental Slinky and a perennial party tune, Chicken Shack. Having already performed at several large venues on the West Coast, they are off to Hawaii in February.
All in all, The Brown Edition is a band to watch, a great a party band so representative of Olympia: professional, diverse and not pretentious, great musicians and real people.
Visit The Brown Edition’s website at http://www.thebrownedition.com/
Fred Kellogg is a local bassist, human ‘beat box’ and host of KAOS 89.3fm’s “Free Jazz with Fred,” Thursdays at 9pm. (www.freejazzwithfred.com)
A well-written review. Thank you.
I haven’t seen them yet, but I’ve certainly been hearing the buzz for a long time now. The missus and I are going to see them for New Year’s Eve at the Eagles Ballroom, and I’m really looking forward to it.
(Besides, as one of the few — or perhaps only — all-ages dance events going on, and a POSSCA benefit to boot, I’m expecting it to be a fun yet civilized affair. And it’s even a costume ball, to boot! Yeah, this’ll be fun.)