Tommy LiPuma comments on Paul Brown's new CD, Foreign Exchange:

Not being a writer, I always hesitate when asked to write something for liner notes. but in this case it was very difficult to refuse, as it concerns two of my favorite people.

I first met Paul Brown when he was the second engineer to Lee Hirschberg a great engineer who recorded and mixed a lot of great records too numerous to name that came out on Warner Bros. in the 70's and 80's. Paul just sat there quietly, taking in and observing what was going on. He reminded me a lot of myself when I was coming up thru the ranks, going to recording sessions, and just sitting there quietly watching the process.

Some years later I heard a cd by Boney James that knocked me out, and of course always looking for producing talent to make records for the label that I was in charge of at that time, I did some investigating, and found out the producers name was Paul Brown. I set up a meeting with Paul, and not until we met and I told him he looked familiar, did I realize that he was the same person who was the quiet asst. for Lee Hirscberg. Paul is probably the most talented producer and engineer of music in the genre which is called much to my dismay "smooth jazz", which doesn't do it justice (at least the smooth part).

Anyway, we became fast friends, as we both had similar interests (music, wine, and food). Being the modest person he is, Paul never told me that he also was an accomplished guitar player, until he played me his first album, which of course we happily released at the Verve music group.

I first heard Marc Antoine on a small label that a friend of mine Mike Manieri, (a great musician in his own right) had started and was completely knocked out by both his playing and his writing capabilities. He reminded me a lot of Earl Kluge except he had his own style,which sounded like it was influenced by his upbringing in france and hearing the gypsy music and also Djaingo Rienhart I'm sure. Needless to say, we at Verve made a deal with mark to put out his records, one of which I produced. Among the many things apart from the music that I liked about Marc, was his invectious laugh, his devotion to his wife and family, and also his love of good food and wine (do you see a similarity here?)

This record which shows off their talents beautifully, seemed like a natural thing for them both to do, and It's sort of an homage to the George Benson/Earl Kluge album called "collaboration".

The proof is always in the pudding, so put it on your CD, ipod, or whatever your delivery system is nowadays, and enjoy two very gifted artists doing what they do best.

Order Foreign Xchange