Alex Brown	Website:	www.AlexBrownMusic.com
	Genre(s):	Straight Ahead Jazz, World Fusion
	Instrument(s):	Piano, Violin
	Trademark(s):	Straight Ahead Jazz, Classic Jazz, Contemporary
	Album(s):	Montrose Towing
	Collaborations:
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Alex Brown's 2006 self-produced production, Montrose Towing, features an ensemble comprised of young jazz musicians striving to carry the torch forward for straight ahead jazz that stretches the conventional straight ahead jazz boundaries outwards into world fusion. The group takes on a number of involved arrangements, including several original compositions of Brown's own creation, that provide a medium for soloing in a traditional jazz format. The group develops a fairly conventional sound that is sparingly accented by some unusual Latin and world music flavorings that are want to raise a brow. Notably, Brown interestingly integrates Latin-styled keyboard phrasings with a Salsa flavored bounce in several compositions with good effect, Kol Han'shama and The Wrong Jacket.

Brown's original compositions including Montrose Towing, October Snow, Rhapsody in Orange, and The Wrong Jacket demonstrate a promising capability for original composition. Notably, October Snow is a fine arrangement with qualities reminiscent of the ballad artistry of Miles in his golden years. The groups boundary stretching version of the traditional arrangement, Kol Han'shama, is perhaps the most interesting piece on the CD due to its unexpected changes and clever integration of world music stylings. Brown's music would certainly benefit from more of this type of originality and creativity. Furthermore, it might be interesting to see this arrangement taken even further in the directions that Brown explored in another release of this piece.

Overall, Alex Brown and company have made a significant outing on Montrose Towing with promising signs of good things to come further down the road as these young musicians further hone and develop their skills. Hopefully, we can expect to see more exploration into other areas of world music and more focus on world fusion from Brown that has demonstrated some noteworthy aptitude for it on this production.

Ratings:

Composition: 5 / 10

Execution / Performance: 5 / 10

Improvisation: 4 / 10

Originality: 3 / 10

Relative Accessibility: 6 / 10

Lyricism: 5 / 10

Harmonization: 5 / 10

Rhythm: 3 / 10

Technical Complexity: 3 / 10

Production: 6 / 10

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