On this episode of The Art of the Story, we focus on the George Brown's posthumous album Jazz in Paris released today (April 18) via Astana Music.
WBGO's Doug Doyle chats with George's widow and music executive Hanh Pham Brown and Curtis F. Williams (Kool & The Gang Musical Director , pianist, keyboardist and album collaborator) about the new project.
Inspired by smoky jazz clubs in Paris and New York in the late '50s and '60s, the album reflects George’s deep love for jazz and the spirit of Miles Davis' Great Quintets. It was largely recorded at his LA home studio during the pandemic before his passing from cancer in 2023.
George Brown was a legendary R&B musician, best known for his drumming in the iconic band Kool & The Gang. Born in 1949 in Jersey City, NJ, Brown taught himself to play drums on a makeshift set in his New Jersey basement. His early efforts culminated in the formation of Kool & The Gang, a band that would go on to dominate the charts and influence generations of musicians. By high school, he was performing in jazz clubs six nights a week alongside future Kool & The Gang members, including Robert “Kool” Bell and Ronald Bell.
Brown's grooves became a cornerstone of the Kool & the Gang's sound, helping them become the most sampled band in hip-hop.
You can hear the entire interview about Jazz in Paris here.
