Inspired by a symphony of harmonized truths, drummer/bandleader Christopher Brown releases Sole City on PJCE Records.
PJCE Records, Portland’s most active jazz record label, is proud to announce the upcoming release of Sole City, the debut album from drummer and bandleader Christopher Brown. The album showcases Brown’s dynamic quartet, featuring some of the Pacific Northwest’s most accomplished jazz artists: John Nastos on alto sax, Greg Goebel on piano, and Garrett Baxter on bass.
Christopher Brown, a Portland native, is a highly sought-after drummer and bandleader whose work reflects a deep personal and musical journey. With Sole City, he offers listeners an intimate look into his creative world. Brown describes the album as a “territory etched in the soles of well-worn shoes,” a metaphorical landscape shaped by experiences that stretch from his hometown of Portland to the vibrant jazz scenes of New York City and beyond.
The album’s liner notes, penned by Brown, invite listeners to join him on this journey, emphasizing that Sole City is not just a collection of songs but a “journey fueled by curiosity and the pursuit of creative authenticity.” He highlights the power of collaboration among the band members, noting that the wisdom each musician brings to the recording is reflective of their own diverse experiences. This results in a record where “each note truly becomes a testament to the value of connection, the resilience of the human spirit, and the simple joy of living a life that resonates with the soul.”
Sole City features a collection of eight original compositions by Brown, along with a clever new arrangement of the standard “Body & Soul.” The featured track, “3 Up 2 Down,” is described as “Complex, Driving, Powerful, Multi-Faceted, Medium Up Swing,” embodying the album’s sophisticated and energetic spirit.
Artist: Christopher Brown
Title: Sole City
Personnel: Leader – Christopher Brown – drums; John Nastos – alto sax; Greg Goebel – piano; Garrett Baxter – bass
Track listing: Run time:
Portland Showers 6:18
GG 5:10
ELEW’s Crown 5:37
Body & Soul 8:20
Melancholy Mary 6:56
Throwback 5:03
Taking Time to Think 4:35
3 Up 2 Down 9:39
Total Run Time 52 minutes
Tracks 1-3, 5-8 Christopher Brown, Martial Music/ASCAP
Track 4 “Body & Soul”, Music by Johnny Green, Lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, and Frank Eyton, Arranged by Christopher Brown
Recorded by: Scott Stanley at Hallowed Halls, October 17th & 18th, 2023
Mixed by: Pyata Penedo
Mastered by: Pyata Penedo
Executive Producer: Ryan Meagher
Cover photo by: Christopher Brown
Art design by: Dylan Marcus McConnell
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BIO
Born and raised in Portland, OR, Christopher Brown is a musician whose artistic ethos is reflective of a life well traveled (both internally and geographically). So while the reputation of his father, Mel Brown, was the catalyst for dedicating his life to music, it was the influence of Wynton and Branford Marsalis that crystalized the artistic path that he has been dedicated to over all these years. So while that informed the direction of his internal compass, it would be his enlistment into the Marines that would help him to chart a course out East to NYC (aka the unequivocal center of the jazz universe). But after 13 years in the area, a re-enlistment in the military (Army National Guard), two music degrees, a four year teaching engagement at his alma mater (Rutgers University), and a slew of incredible performing opportunities–as well as modeling and acting opportunities–he moved back to Portland in 2012.
Upon return he immediately got to work establishing his influence on the Portland Jazz scene by assembling the quartet he currently has. And by 2017 his quartet had officially become the most visible jazz group in all of Portland, with a steady weekly cadence of 3-4 performances, which was maintained until the start of the global pandemic. And even then, it took them no more than three months to return to a similar weekly performance schedule. Since 2017, the quartet has become synonymous with the brand success of the famed 1905 jazz club, for which they helped to elevate their brand recognition to a global level of awareness. So in a market where it’s difficult to maintain groups with the same personnel, it’s arguable that the Christopher Brown Quartet succeeds as being one of the best jazz “groups” in all of Portland, which in turn gives them the powerful, polished, and identifiable sound that they’re so well known for.