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Black Mel Brown f/w Imprirlt interview by Mark
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assessed ofa mighty physical presence and a singular gui tar style opulent in its combination of various musical genres, Mel Brown towers over KitchenerWaterloo’s contemporary blues scene, much like he did over the audiences of Antone’s night club in Austin, Texas where he was a key member of the house band seven years ago. Mel Brown talks in contrast to that of his guitar playing, conversing quietly and softly, while his playing is fiery and adventurous. Elements of be-bop jzz, country and western and deep blues all t’use together in Brown’s playing, accompanying his raspy soulful voice. Though type-cast as a blues musi-
and Blues cian, Brown’s love 01‘ al; music in general is what makes him ;I :x&d musical entertainer, “I get a lot of ideas from jazz and country. I don’t just listen to blues, that’s just part of the circle,” he says. Those ideas have served Brown well in his career which has Ied him from his birthplace Mississippi, to working out his blues with singer Jonny Otis in California, working as a country session musician in Nashville, and eventually playing in the Antone’s night club house band in Austin Texas where Brown played with the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmy Vaughn, Carlos Santana and Ray Charles. Also around this time Brown played keyboards, an instrument he began playing before the guitar, with good friend and now departed legend, Albert Collins. “If I told you everybody l’ve
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played with since 1 left Mississippi, you’d have enough to write a book,” he says regarding the many illustrious musicians and their records Brown has played on. Schooling himself in all styles, Brown has been able to contribute to artists’ al bums as diverse and removed from each other as possible. Playing the role as “sideman,” as he calls it, Brown has played on albums by Buddy Guy, T-Bone Walker, John L,ee Hooker, Albert King, B.B. King (whom he opened up for at King’s March 31 gig at Lulu’s), Willie Nelson, Dr. Hook, Kenny Burrel and Billy Preston to name but few. He also recorded for television shows including The Steve Allen Show, The Bill Cosby Show, and the Jerry Lewis Telethon. Not confining himself to one instrument, Brown has contributed to albums playing banjo, harmonica and organ. From 1972- 1982, prior to his stint with Antone’s house band, Brown played with bIues legend Bobby “Blue” Bland, a career choice that brought him to Toronto’s Colonial Tavern in 1972, marking his first time in Canada. As he explained to The Toronto Blues Society Newsletter in 1990, moving to Canada was an answered calling. “I’ve always had a thing for Canada, even as a child I loved the name, “ he says. “When I started playing here, 1 found a lot of people I liked.” Brown played Kitchener for the first time in 1988, backing up singer Angela Strehli at the 2nd annual blues picnic held at the original Hoodoo Lounge, later known as Pop The Gator. Glen Smith, owner of Pop The Gator, arranged for Brown to relocate from Austin and offered Brown and his band, The House Wreckers, a gig as the club’s house band. Though the club is no longer open, Brown hosts blues jams every Tuesday night at the King St. bar, the Red Pepper and at the Kitchener club, The Circus Room. AIong with the regular tours to
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Ottawa, Quebec, and local areas like Orillia, Brown is happy to take it easier and enjoy a more relaxed pace indulging himself in his favourite game of golf. But as he says, his state of semi-retirement is never official. “You never know in the music business if you have to start working a lot again.” But Brown is far from resting on his well earned laurels, hoping to record an album with his band in the very near future. His previous albums have included a blues album during his stay in Austin with his then band The Silent Partners, named “If it’s a11 night, it’s all right .” During the late 60’s and early 70’s he also recorded several albums as the leader on the world Pacific jazz label, and also received the honour of being the only guitarist signed to the A.B.C. Records “Impulse” jazz label. Though truly a jazz fanatic, Brown’s primary influences are those of blues players. “I am heavily influenced by TBone Walker and B.B. King, whom
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maaaan! I consider innovators.” Seeing Brown perform, it’s apparent that King and Walker are indeed an influence. Brown uses much of the same stinging bee vibrato that is equated witlh King’s playing, and incorporates, a massive catalogue of jazz chops to his songs, suggestive of Walk.er’s style. Though Brown prides himself on being adaptable to both country and jazz settings, his current band mainly receives blues gigs. Brown’s own take on the current resurgence of the music of his birth piace is both deep and sage. “Blues right now is very in,” he says. “You hear it on commercials and so forth, but really its never been out, it’s always been there. It’s an obviouschoice to music like rap and stuff; blues is a calmer music.” Brown’s performances at times may be laid back, but to call him and his band calm would not do them justice. As Kitchener’s resident blues man continues to preach his fiery brand of music, one can only hope that full fledged retirement is not in the near future.