Ted Brown: Shades of Brown

Ted Brown, an accomplished but rarely recorded octogenarian saxophonist, has a lightly swinging sound inspired largely by Lester Young. Here, Brown plays a dozen standards in a trio setting so intimate that the “clop” of his sax pads becomes a key part of the recording. This closeness can be a liability, making a few tunes sound creaky, but on most tracks Brown seems to become one with the familiar melodies, not only breathing life into them, but literally breathing them as the air.

Originally Published May 1, 2008