A Conversation With Norman Brown – HuffPost 6.20.12

Mike Ragogna: Norman, how are you?

Norman Brown: I’m doing great, Mike. Thank you so much for having me.

MR: It’s my pleasure. Now, when I interviewed Gerald, he mentioned that it was the label that asked you guys to get together for this project.

NB: Yeah, they did. They came to us both and said that we should do something together-they said they thought if they had a record with both of us, they thought it could potentially be something special. I had been dying for an opportunity like that, so of course I was immediately asking when we could start. (laughs)

MR: Yeah, he said he basically was dying to do it too. But this wasn’t your first time playing together, was it.

NB: That’s right. We played a lot locally around LA–this was before I was recording. It was so wonderful to play those local gigs because people actually came out to hear good music. They were the types of crowds that would be standing up and clapping for solos. It was beautiful.

MR: I’m sure you can tell the difference between a crowd that comes to hear good music and a crowd that’s coming just because that’s the scene. Does that make much of a difference to you?

NB: Absolutely, it makes a total difference. Some people come out for the event aspect of the evening, just to see a show. But some others come to be moved.

MR: Nicely said. Are you often surprised by those who come to your shows who really know and understand the significance of your work in the jazz realm?

NB: I’m not, really. You know, I grew up as a music lover as well. It’s not surprising to me, but it is truly refreshing.

MR: Can you tell us a little bit of the story behind the song, “Yes We Can”?

NB: That’s a funky little tune. I always like to create something with a lot of energy that can make you move and groove a little bit. The title for that song came along as I was finishing it, and I had that little shout chorus at the end. That little chant just became the theme of the song.

MR: Is that the way you normally write songs? What is your creative process?

NB: Inspiration, for me, can come at any time. Usually, I’m practicing or just listening to music and I’ll get inspired. It usually comes from something like that-me sitting around with my guitar or hearing a groove in my head and running to the drum machine.

MR: Norman, can you pick another song from 24/7 and give us its history?

NB: I sure can. The song, “Perfect Love,” speaks a great deal to and about me. You see, I believe that we’re all made of something called God essence, and I also believe that that material is perfect – I believe that we are all made of perfect love. That song is a means for me to get that love out so that we can all know and understand how special we are. That way we can go out and contribute that energy to this beautiful and heavenly planet that we live on.

MR: I also wanted to talk with you about your debut album, which was released on Mo Jazz…it was, right?

NB: Yes, that’s right. Mo Jazz was the jazz branch of the Motown label.

MR: You had some pretty incredible guests on that album including Boyz II Men and Stevie Wonder.

NB: Absolutely. That was a very special record for me. It was the first record that Mo Jazz launched, so they wanted to make it a big deal. We had Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men, Earth, Wind & Fire-even Gerald Albright played a solo on that record.

MR: That record was released back in 1992. What do you think is the biggest evolution for you since that first record?

NB: That’s a great question, and I would say that I’ve improved the most in my live performing and my writing. It’s one thing to write a song, but it’s another to play that song live and to give that song life in front on an audience. Learning how people digest live jazz music was a big evolution for me.

MR: This year marks the 20th Anniversary of your debut album, but it also marks the 10th anniversary of your receiving a Grammy for Just Chillin’.

NB: That’s exactly right. In 2002, I won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album and it was so surreal. I couldn’t believe it. Our manager called and told me that I was nominated and I felt like I had won already. I was over the top. Then, when I went to the Grammys, I was listening to all of these artists saying that they’d been nominated 10 times or more. So, of course, I was thinking to myself that I would have to come back, because I wasn’t going to win it this time. Then they called my name and I couldn’t believe it. (laughs)

MR: Though, some people feel you should have one for another of your records as well, right? Maybe for After The Storm?

NB: Yeah, there are some people who believe I should have won for the After The Stormrecord that I did with Mo Jazz. That record has been my most popular and best-selling record, so a lot of people felt like I should have won for that one. But I did get a Soul Train Award for that album for Best Record of the Year.

MR: Nice. Let’s get back to you and Gerald Albright. Do you guys hang out together outside of when you’re working?

NB: Well, we live in different states, so we don’t get to do that too often. But we do like to get together every now and then and share things that aren’t necessarily related to music. We do make time for that.

MR: The reason I ask is that I’ve found that the tighter the musicians are as friends, the tighter the music ends up sounding. Do you find that to be true as well?

NB: I think you’re absolutely right about that. I think a lot of this record stems from the times when we were playing together locally, side by side.

MR: Do you have any advice that you would give a new artist pursuing a career in this business?

NB: First of all, I would say to all musicians that you really have to work on your craft, try to be the best musician you can be first. Second, I would say you need to assess your passion and love for this art. The business aspect of this life will challenge that, it will. You will start to second-guess your craft, and it can make you think that it’s not as simple as picking up your axe and playing it. So have some patience with the business side of things, but prepare yourself as much as you possibly can.

MR: Another thing I wanted to ask you about was how your music became associated with The Weather Channel. Can you tell us how that happened?

NB: Well, one of my songs entitled “Lydian” was included on The Weather Channel Presents: Volume II. It’s a beautiful thing, and I’m really glad that this music can work in that capacity. I love the thought of people enjoying this at home for a romantic evening or in a time of solitude or cleaning up around the house. I even sometimes hear it when I go into the grocery store. It’s almost like Muzak.

MR: And your song “Let’s Take A Ride” was a number one jazz radio hit for a while.

NB: That’s right. That was a beautiful blessing right there. “Let’s Take A Ride” was a song that I wrote for the Stay With Me record. I had such a great time writing that one…it felt so good. The whole song, from top to bottom, came out in only about two hours. We played it live when I first went to record it. I enjoy recording live. The song just had so much energy and the melody came out so substantially that I was so excited about the song being released. I’m just glad that everyone else got excited too. (laughs)

MR: Right. And as we mentioned before, this is the 20th anniversary of the release of your first album which, in my book, makes you a wise old man. (laughs) Do you have any advice that you might be able to offer as a wise old man?

NB: Well, I would say above all, “Know Thyself.” Have a knowledge of God and the Devil. Have a firm knowledge of the times that you live in and of what has to be done. Those five pillars, in my opinion, are the things that take us far in this life.

MR: Thank you so much for sharing that. Thank you so much for sharing your time and chatting with us.

NB: Thanks for having me, Mike.

Transcribed by Evan Martin