RICH BROWN

NYAEBA

Whirlwind Recordings

Rich Brown, solo bass project/6-string electric bass/4-string semi-acoustic fretless bass/E-bowed bass.

This is one of the most unique projects I’ve heard this year. All the musical sounds on Brown’s recording were created and played on variations of his electric basses.

The artist, Rich Brown, purchased his first six-string bass in 1999. His friends laughed about that purchase and teased him about where it would lead. Since then, his reputation as a first call bassist has put that laughter to rest.

Each tune on this album is built using multiple studio tracks, with no looping or sequencing involved.  This makes the music sound warm and organic.  The opening tune, “Ukudlala” is a Zulu word that means “to play.”  It begins with a kalimba type melody played by Brown’s bass guitar.  The percussive sound is infectious.

Perhaps the writer of his liner notes, Shae Ase Tanga said it best when she described this unusual album of world music.

“Rich Brown has long been recognized for his singular voice on the electric bass, but Nyaeba is not just an album or a collection of songs. It is a gathering; a storytelling ritual where the only voice is the electric bass. At the heart of this project is Nyaeba, a fictional West African griot.  The album title is part myth, part memory, part guide. In Brown’s hands, the bass becomes Nyaeba’s voice.”

Personally, I find the Rich Brown music to be prayer-like.  He layers the various bass expressions, creating both a melodic and rhythmic exploration into what the bass guitar can do to represent its own unique voice. Every song was composed by Brown. “The Sum of Our Tears” is a deeply personal statement addressing depression and the isolation it can sometimes inspire. Brown lets his instrument speak for him, sometimes actually sounding like a human voice, other times mimicking drums. A mix of South African and Brazilian music provides a tune named for Alice Coltrane “Turiyasangitananda” whose recorded voice introduces his musical tribute. It translates to “The Transcendental Lord’s Highest Song of Bliss.”

A composition he calls “Heart of a Lonely Woman” exemplifies the many voices that the bass instrument can emulate.  As each song unfolds, I am struck by the incredible breadth of tones that the electric bass guitar can summon to create texture, melody, nature sounds, and rhythm. Brown’s solo journey totally changes my opinion about what this instrument can accomplish. On the title tune, it breathes like a bass voice speaking in a foreign language all its own. The credit must be given to Rich Brown, a musician and composer who is breaking boundaries and creating a soundscape that inspires the world to sit up and take notice. I would also like to congratulate the artistic designer and artist who created this album cover design.  Fabulous job, Brian Hanlon and photographer, Dimitri Louis.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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