West Coast Coolin' is a studio album by American jazz guitarist Norman Brown, released in 2004 by Warner Bros. Records. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums, No. 5 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums and No. 24 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums charts.
Critical reception
Woodrow Wilkins of All About Jazz wrote, The guitarist/vocalist is a master of the laid-back groove, successfully bringing together elements of smooth jazz and contemporary R&B. On West Coast Coolin', Brown consolidates his reputation as a premier recording and performing artist with a collection of ten tracks—written and co-written by the leader—that push the idea of "chillin'" to new heights.Thom Jurek of AllMusic commented, Brown works with a host of producers, and his familiar smooth jazz underpinnings — derived more from George Benson and Hiram Bullock than Wes Montgomery these days — are present but not prevalent on most of the set. Instead, his slick nu-soul/nu-jazz singing style — identified by a thin whispery tenor — gets front and center on more than half the album's ten cuts.
Track listing
Personnel
Musicians and vocalists Norman Brown – vocals (1, 2, 4, 6–9), lead guitar (1), guitars (2–10) James Poyser – keyboards (1, 5, 9), drums (9) Vikter Duplaix – programming (1, 5) Wirlie Morris – keyboards (2–4, 7), programming (2, 3, 7) Chris Bolden – programming (2, 3, 7), drum programming (4) Dragan "DC" Capor – additional programming (2–4, 6, 7), digital processing (7) David "Kahlid" Woods – keyboards (6), drum programming (6), backing vocals (6) Brian Culbertson – keyboards (8), programming (8) Stephen Lu – keyboards (8), programming (8) Herman Jackson – keyboards (10) Chalmers Alford – rhythm guitar (1, 5), guitar (5) Pino Palladino – bass (1, 5) Alex Al – bass (2, 3, 6, 10) Thaddeus Tribbett – bass (9) Lil' John Roberts – drums (2, 3) Michael Bland – drums (10) Luis Conte – percussion (2, 3) Arno Lucas – percussion (6) Kevin Ricard – percussion (10) Dan Higgins – saxophones (2, 3), flute (3) Reggie Young – trombone (2, 3) Jerry Hey – flugelhorn (2–4) Lynne Fiddmont-Linsey – vocals (8)
Music arrangements Chris Bolden – arrangements (2–4, 7) Paul Brown – arrangements (2, 3, 6) Wirlie Morris – arrangements (2–4, 7) Jerry Hey – horn arrangements (2, 3) David "Kahlid" Woods – arrangements (6) Brian Culbertson – arrangements (8) Stephen Lu – arrangements (8) Norman Brown – arrangements (10) Herman Jackson – arrangements (10)
Production Vikter Duplaix – producer (1, 5) James Poyser – producer (1, 5, 9) Paul Brown – producer (2–4, 6, 7) Brian Culbertson – producer (8) Jay Dee – producer (9) Malik Pendleton – producer (9) Norman Brown – producer (10) Herman Jackson – producer (10) Lexy Shroyer – production coordinator (2–4, 6) Ellen Wakayama – creative director Gregory Gilmer – art direction Lisa Peardon – photography Bruce Kramer for Kramer Management – management
Technical credits Kevin "K.D." Davis – recording (1, 5), mixing (1, 5) Ryan Moys – recording (1, 5, 9) Chris Bolden – recording (2–4) Paul Brown – recording (2–4, 6, 7), mixing (2–4, 7, 10) Wirlie Morris – recording (2–4) Erik Zobler – recording (2, 3) Timothy Day – recording (5, 9) Jan Fairchild – mixing (6) Brian Culbertson – recording (8) Peter Mokran – mixing (8) Russell Elevado – mixing (9) Michael Vail Blum – recording (10) Dragan "DC" Capor – digital editing (2–4, 6, 7), Pro Tools technician (2–4, 6) Brian Hearity – second engineer (2, 3, 6)
References