Review - Rick Braun - All It Takes by Paul Ericson
August 1 , 2009 – If you like Smooth Jazz then you know Rick Braun. Let’s see there are his highly successful solo CDs, projects with Boney James (Shake It Up), or Kirk Whalum & Norman Brown (BWB), and 2007’s Richard Elliot chart topping collaboration (RnR). But did you also know he has also written songs for Rick Springfield, REO Speedwagon, Tina Turner, Glenn Frey, Natalie Cole, Tom Petty and War too?

I’ve always appreciate Braun for his stylish, romantic, highly seductive, well crafted songs and, as an ex-girlfriend of mine once commented “No one turns down the sheets like Rick Braun”.

The Allentown Pennsylvania native has honed his art well with the combination of flugelhorn and muted trumpet along with infectious melodies and stylish production for some real tasty ear candy on his new Artistry CD ‘All It Takes’. The project also gave Rick a chance to work with Producer/Keyboardist Philippe Saisse as co-producer and co-writer on several tracks resulting in a fresh worldly feel to the project.

The highlights on the disc are everywhere but here are a few of my personal favorites.

The project opens with the old Tijuana Brass feel on the hypnotic ‘Tijuana Dance”, featuring a groove that’s meticulously heavy and pulsates with a slow friendly vibe. Rick’s trademark horn work is fresh yet familiar and like the return of an old friend……a smoking opener and one of the best CD openers from Rick ever.

“Puerto Allegro Jam” features the scat vocals of Brazilian Vanessa Falabella and some sweet acoustic guitar from Marc Antione. Philippe Saisse adds his trademark keyboards to Ricks’ stellar horn work for a Brazilian/Latino Jam that will garner world wide acclaim, I especially enjoyed the use of Saisse’s electronic arsenal of ambient sounds here and of course Rick’s muted trumpet.

The title track “All It Takes” is Braun at his slow sensual best. The track written by Saisse contains some exceptional subtle orchestrations and a steamy slow bluesy horn-bass-line that has raised the creative calibre of the disc immensely. Emotion pours from the speakers on one of my favorite Rick Braun tracks ever. The funk then roars from your speakers on “Sleeveless In Seattle” with Rick also doubling on the chorus with trombonist Nick Lane. The sheer energy of the song along with the great hook is a guaranteed toe-tapper and the song was also inspired by James Pankow of the legendary group Chicago.

The disc ends with “Freddie Was Here”, Rick’s heartfelt tribute to the late Freddie Hubbard. The mesmerizing track flows seamlessly through the speakers creating a positive hope-filled vibe that remains throughout this laidback sunset accompanier. Dwight Sills adds the acoustic guitar fills while Ricks’ playing speaks to the depths of what great jazz is all about……playing from the heart. Rick Braun’s “All It Takes” will take his artistry to new levels once again, and is exactly what you would hope for and expect from a World Class Trumpeter, Composer and Producer……Magic! – by Paul Ericson