Brown, Derek: BeatBox Sax

Living and performing in Chicago, saxophonist Derek Brown has built up a fearsome reputation not just locally, but also nationally and internationally as an immensely talented, innovative group player. However with BeatBox Sax, Brown is looking to highlight another side to his talent, for here he plays alone, a one-man band as such. 


However on first listen to this album you've little doubt that comment must be a mistake, or at least somewhat stretched, for while Brown's enigmatic sax is often played in staccato bursts (whether animated or tender), percussion, bass lines and even singing accompany what you hear. A quick dart over to youtube however, confirms it, Brown is, through slap tonguing, multiphonics, double tonguing, striking the sax with rings and even putting an egg shaker in the horn, playing all of this simultaneously and without backing tracks, loops or electronics. This is indeed a one-man band in the truest sense.

Keeping most of the selections reasonably short on BeatBox Sax, the varied examples of his work in this style come in the shape of four original pieces and a further ten, hugely eclectic, covers. Surely there can't be many albums encompassing Bach ("Cello Suite No.1" and "Air On A G String"), Herbie Hancock ("Chameleon"), Elvis Presley ("Can't Help Falling In Love"), The Police ("Every Breath You Take"), Mark Ronson ("Uptown Funk") and Justin Bieber ("Baby")? However alongside a few other wide and wonderful selections, that's exactly what Brown does as he takes the recognisable framework of these songs and shapes them to his own means. Whether he's darting, dancing, clicking or clacking his way through Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm", or somehow providing the memorable bass line to Ben E. Kings's "Stand By Me", the album sounds hugely cohesive. It's also testament to how much time and skill must have gone into not just the techniques on display here but the arrangements themselves, that such a disparate collection of songs sound like they belong together. Although the saxophonist's own compositions often outshine the covers.

Brown sings on a couple of tracks, vocals introduced as the one-man band continues to display his varied sax techniques on "Stand By Me" and "Can't Help Falling In Love". Unfortunately making the words sound a little secondary, and possibly a little unnatural, to the extent I'd have preferred them to have remained as instrumentals. Even if it is understandable just how difficult it must be to sing while playing sax and providing percussion. However, for me, that's the rub. BeatBox Sax may well be one of the most impressive, innovative albums I've heard in many a year and yet the soaring sax at the beginning of Haddaway's "What Is Love" reminds me exactly what I'm missing here, simple melodies, played in a simple way. Technique often overshadowing the results on this album.

Watching videos of Derek Brown playing in this style is a truly compelling experience, the hours of practice it must have taken to master his approach apparent to see. BeatBox Sax may well be one of the most inventive albums I've heard in years, but can I see myself listening to it again? Probably not...

Track Listing
1. Catch'em Up

2. Bach's Cello Suite No.1

3. Every Breath You Take

4. The People's Tune

5. Can't Help Falling In Love

6. What is Love

7. Chameleon

8. Human Error

9. Blueberry Jam

10. Air on the G String

11. Stand By Me

12. Uptown Funk

13. I Got Rhythm

14. Baby

Added: January 22nd 2017
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Derek Brown Sax online
Hits: 1353
Language: english

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