Smooth jazz guitarist Paul Brown is receiving raves for his latest studio set, White Sand, which features the Number One smooth jazz single "Rhythm Method." The album also features a number of special guests, including vocalist Al Jarreau, keyboardists Jeff Lorber and David Benoit, vocalist Bobby Caldwell, saxophonists Euge Groove and Boney James, and trumpeter Rick Braun. Another special guest is R&B/pop vocalist Lina, who joins Brown for a version of the Bacharach/David classic "I Say A Little Prayer."

Smooth jazz audiences may be less familiar with Lina, a Texas-born neo-soul artist who blends the musical sensibilities of classic jazz and 1930's swing into her music, including her 2001 single "Playa No Mo'." Brown says he first heard Lina on the radio: "Lina, I had just heard her voice on the radio, and I was like, ooh, I really like the style, kind of old jazz style of Dinah Washington and Nancy Wilson and like that. And I had this track that I really wanted to have a vocal like that on."

Brown adds that he got the singer to work on his album by coincidence: "I had a real Hollywood moment. I was working on a remix with this remix guy and I was telling him how much I liked Lina's voice. And he goes, 'Oh, man, she's a good friend of mine, I'll call her right now.' So he did, he called her right on the spot and put her on the phone with me I was like, 'Hey....' She said, 'Well, I really want to sing on your record.' And it was one of those Hollywood moments and it worked out great."

Lina's most recent album is 2005's The Inner Beauty Movement.

Brown has a handful of select concert dates scheduled. To see where he's playing next, log onto paulbrownjazz.com.




More Smooth Jazz Music News