Christopher Brown Quartet Record Release Party of Sole City
PJCE Records, 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.
Now that drummer/bandleader Christopher Brown has finally released his debut recording, it’s only fitting that he’d commemorate such a milestone here, as it has been here that his group has spent the better part of our existence having dialed in the sound that you’ll hear on this record. However, while his new record Sole City can be easily thought of as a love letter to his hometown of Portland, it’s not without its nod to both the gritty and sophisticated streets of the NYC Jazz scene, as it’s where the real bedrock of his musicianship and artistic vision was built. So as you attend this show, know that you’ll be helping both this world-class group of musicians and The 1905 memorialize a really special moment in time, as it promises to serve as a symbolic catalyst for the plans that Christopher and his group have in store for both Portland and the state of Oregon as a whole.
So mark your calendars for December 3rd to not only claim a copy of Sole City for yourself, but to be enveloped into the cultural fold of both a band and an ensuing movement towards changing the landscape of how Jazz musicians are viewed and integrated into the deeper folds of our city. So once again, both this performance and Sole City itself will be a masterclass in composition and improvisation that will resonate long after the last note fades.
Releases December 3, 2025. Pre-purchase the album HERE.
Christopher Brown – drums
John Nastos – alto sax
Greg Goebel – piano
Garrett Baxter – bass
Photo by Jordan Henline
