Barra Brown Quintet - Songs For A Young Heart (2013)

The sidemen’s credentials are no less impressive. Trumpeter and recent NYC transplant Tom Barber is the senior member of the group, bringing his finely honed sensibilities and instrumental prowess to the fiery young ensemble. Saxophonist Nicole Glover has been quickly rising through the ranks here in town and has picked up gigs at home and abroad with Alan Jones, Esperanza Spalding, and George Colligan. Bassist Jon Lakey has become the most ubiquitous upright player of his generation. Guitarist Adam Brock, after studying jazz intensely at the university level, has moved on to pursue a burgeoning career as a singer-songwriter. Barra was able to convince Adam to revisit jazz, and Adam brings an accessible element of rock and country influenced electric guitar work to this vibrant, dynamic collective. The compositions and group interplay create something greater than the sum of its parts: a sensitive ensemble presenting epic, sweeping compositions with finesse and subtlety. "Songs for a Young Heart" is an impressive debut, and Barra Brown's career as a bandleader is off to a roaring start.

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PJCE Records is a grassroots recording label documenting the wide variety of original music being created by Portland area jazz composers and improvisers. We aim to provide an outlet to encourage the dissemination of new music in the area as well as fostering community within the jazz and improvised music scene in Portland. We release one album per month digitally and in limited CD pressings. The albums are recorded live in one session per album, reflecting a common practice from jazz history and encouraging a rapid turnaround to document and enhance the thriving community of jazz and improvising musicians in the Portland area. The label is operated by the Portland Jazz Composers’ Ensemble and all rights to the music remain with the individual artists.

Barra Brown, drums
Thomas Barber, trumpet
Nicole Glover, tenor sax
Adam Brock, guitar, mandolin (4)
Jon Lakey, acoustic and electric bass