European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 23, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                James Morrison fast trip from Down under to the top by Ron Mckinney entertainment writer a a child growing up in Sydney Australia James Morrison always knew he would make it As a trumpeter. Little did he expect however that he would make it by the tender ageof25. But when he took the stage at the Monteux jazz festival five years ago and looked across at his playing partner he realized then that he had certainly made it. There stood dizzy Cili Espie. It was quite amazing Morrison said last week in the lobby of be Palace hotel in Monteux Switzerland. I mean Here s a Guy i had been listening to was probably one of my primary influences since i was eight years trumpeter James Morrison old. To not just meet him. But to actually be performing together. And again not just maybe Down at some local Jam session or pub in Philadelphia but at the Monteux festival. It was something. It was hard to remember Why the Guy standing next to you playing sounded so Good. No wonder. It was dizzy Cili Espie Morrison 30, plays just about every instrument. He s become so competent with so Many instruments that when he performs with the Ray Brown Trio Brown. Jokes he first has to agree not to touch the piano Bass or  Morrison has developed an International following with his play on brass instruments most notably the trumpet. Some critics suggest he is competing with Wynton Marsalis for the disputable title of world s Best trumpeter. It s All a matter of opinion Morrison said. That s one of the things about music As opposed to say the formula one championship. It s easy to Tell who s the Best the first person Over the line. But with music there will be some people that would prefer what i do Over someone else and what someone else does Over me he said. Morrison s surge to International Fame has coincided with finding his own style in the last four years. Part of his style has included the use of synthesizers which disturbed some hard line traditional critics. But Morrison in t apologizing to anyone. I Don t draw a big line Between acoustic instruments and electronic instruments he said Morrison said he was welcomed with open arms in the jazz world despite his coming from Down under. In the end it does t matter where you come from he said. All the people want to know is How you  Ray Brown flanked by rest of Ray Brown Trio Jeff Hamilton left and Benny Green. Ray Brown legend built on a solid Bass by Ron Mckinney entertainment writer a Brown is the legend. The bassist has covered the full Gamut of playing the jazz circles from marrying Ella Fitzgerald to managing Quincy. Jones. He s made More than 2,000 records played with All the names Parker Cili Espie Peterson Sinatra Vaughan Etc. And still nearly a half Century into playing the Bass Brown still closes his eyes and grimaces during a Solo. Still creating a new sound. When you see my eyes closed and grimacing., i m trying to do something hopefully that i Haven t done before. I mean if i m repeating something i be done before i Don t have to close my eyes said Brown dressed casually in a stylish sweatsuit last week in the be Palace hotel lobby. While Brown 66, has seen the players change often in the International jazz world he said the music itself has remained a constant. Things seem to evolve around jazz. The real jazz does t really change that much. I think the publicity people and possibly record companies and video people try to invent things give them different names to try to whet the pubic s tastes he said. They la have pseudo names innuendoes and some of it is Good and some of it in t actually i think the jazz music itself stays in a pretty much straight  Brown is still recording with his group the Ray Brown Trio. He is joined by pianist Benny Green and drummer Jeff Hamilton and on three recent albums has featured australian trumpeter James Morrison. The group is set to release a new album this fall but Brown implied that the song selections on an album is not important. I think in music it s not what it s How " Brown said. They be got the same pork chop Here in Switzerland As they join California. It s not going to taste any different Here unless they Cook it  Eddie Murphy s latest joke psychedelic soul by Ron Mckinney entertainment writer die Murphy s first appearance on stage in six years proved to be anything but comical. Music critics however found it laughable Murphy made his debut live performance As a musician last week at the mint Rex jazz festival with his band psychedelic soul with which he has recorded three critically abused albums. Murphy promised the concert would not be funny at a press conference a Day before the show. Unless people Start throwing things he said. They might think it s funny but i la be standing Here Ike  Murphy expressed an exaggerated pout and the press corps roared in laughter. At the concert however those people in tears were not laughing. By the third orig performing before about 2,000 fans entire sections of the audience walked out. The displeasure had nothing to do with psychedelic soul. Instead it s quite simple. When Murphy Speaks his fans expect to laugh. And there was nothing funny about his performance. In fact it was sad. Murphy simply cannot sing. But Murphy said he s not going to allow disparaging criticism or flagging record sales dissuade him from pursuing his musical interests. I Don t even trip on anything like that he said of the commercial aspects of his music. I m not making music to sell records. I make music because i love doing it. If it was about Selling records i would have stopped making music a Long time ago because i Haven t been Selling any  Murphy who said he was influenced by too Many musicians to note said he won t participate in his movie soundtracks until his music is Eddie Murphy puts on a Jiow at Monteux. Deemed credible by the Public. And although Murphy performed two sly and the family Stone cover tunes his musical director Larry Graham played Bass guitar for sly Murphy prefers his own material Over cover tunes. I prefer singing songs that i be written so i can really feel what i m singing about he said. Occasionally somebody will sing a song that relates to you and you go sing that Type of  it s been half dozen years since he performed a live comedy routine but Murphy said he does t miss doing stand up comedy. I think i would miss it if i did t have anything to Channel my Energy into1, my interest in music he said. The same Way i got off doing comedy i get off doing this. I look Forward to doing stand up comedy again but it s not like i miss  while Murphy has continued making feature movies much of his time the last two years has been spent in recording studios. That s where my focus has been he said. Murphy was on saturday night live before. Starring in such feature movies As trading places 48 hours and Beverly Hills cop. At the Academy awards presentation in 1988, Murphy made a Brave observation that Only three african americans had won acting oscars. More Blacks won oscars since after i said it and i Haven t been invited Back to the oscars again he said laughing. Murphy said that the remark though it irked film executives at the time had nothing to do with the commercial failings of his More recent movies such As Boomerang and the distinguished gentleman. He plans to begin filming Beverly Hills cop in september and then May hit the Road with his band in january. Next summer he Hopes to take a music and comedy show if he can separate the two for a worldwide tour. Pop singles 1. Can t help falling in love ub40 2.weak, 3. We oomph there it Stag team 4. That s the Way love goes Jariet Jackson 5. Knockin a boots a town 6. Show me Lova Robin s. 7. Slam Onyx 8. I la never get Over you getting Over me expose 9. I m Gonna be 500 mile the proclaimers 10. Have i told you lately Rod Stewart top albums 1. Zoo Ropa u2 2. Back to Broadway barbra Streisand 3. Janet Janet Jackson 4. Soundtrack to sleepless in Seattle various artists 5. H won t both last Billy Ray Cyrus 6. Cor Stone Temple pilots 7. Unplugged. And seated Rod Stewart 8. The chronic or. Dre 9. Soundtrack to last action hero various artists 10. Breathless Kenny q. Country singles 1. Chattahoochee Alan Jackson 2. A bad goodbye Clint Black with Wynonna 3. Money in the Bank. John Anderson 4. Well Burn that Bridge Brooks and Dunn 8. It your Call Reba Mcentire 0. When did you Stop Loving me George Strait 7. H sure i monday Mark Chesnutt 8. Tell a about it Tanya Tucker with Delber Mcclinton 9. Every Uttel thing Cariene Carter 10. Can break it to my heart Tracy Lawrence country albums 1. It wont be the let Billy Ray Cyrus 2. A lot about Len and utile bout love Alan Jackson 3. Soundtrack to Pur country George Strait 4. Some Gav All Billy Ray Cyrus 5. Tall to Why Wynonna 6. Hard Worklin Man Brooks and Dunn 7. Ufa s a Dane John Michael Montgomery 8. Thea Elma Dwight Yoakam 9. N a your Call Reba Mcentire 10, the Chasa Garth Brooks Rbt singles 1. Lately Jodeci we a two it Latag team 4.wak, control girl u for a silk 8. That Tia Way Lov goal Janet Jackson 7.kik Caln Dabo Ota a town i unit Mary j. Bilge wj100 thar h la 95 south10. Show a Lova Robin s. Adult contemporary 1.1 Don t Wanna Al ghz Tina Turner 2. By tha Tim thl night la Over Kenny q Peak Bryson 3. I la never get Over you getting Over me expose 4. Have i told you lately Rod Stewart 5. Hero David Crosby and Phil Collins 6. Fields of Gold sting 7. Donl Taka away my heaven Aaron Neville 8. Love la Vanessa Williams 9. Evan a fool can see Peter Cetera 10. Run to you Whitney Houston jazz albums 1. Invitation Joe Sample 2. By by Blackbird Keith Jarrett Trio 3. Tak a look Natalie Cole 4. Homage to Duke Dave Grusin 5. Lov songs Diane Schuur 6. So near so far Joe Henderson 7. Of Kindred souls Roy Hargrove 8. Joshua Redman Joshua Redman 9. Randa Voua Michel Camilo 10, Bloomington Branford Marsalis compiled by billboard disc notes the Rainy season More Cohn Atlantic t s the season for lushly melodic gently stated Ruef ulness witness Eric Clapton s Success with tears in heaven and the unplugged Lay a. Marc Cohn Winner of the grammy for Best new artist of 1991, taps a similar vein on his second album. There is nothing Here to really complain about. Conn s songwriting is intelligent and sensitive his craftsmanship Strong his supporting cast including Bonnie Raitt and the Crosby Nash Harmony team accomplished. Having been subjected to Michael Bolton we should be thankful for a soul influenced pop Singer of taste and nuance not to mention an ability to skirt clich6 and offer closely drawn lyrical sketches. But Conn s approach ultimately is too moderate and clean to hit Home. Milk Boehm los Angeles times waiting for you Gordon Lightfoot reprise even years have passed since Gordon Lightfoot released his last album and More like 15 since he s had a new song on the radio. Fans will celebrate the comeback of the Canadian Singer songwriter but it is off to a slow Start. Lightfoot s gift for Sweet ballads and Folky Story songs is missing Here instead the lyrics Are impressionistic More intention expressing a mood than making a Point. There Are some inspired lines but Overall the writing is too diffuse the music a Little too easy. Timothy Calll the stars and stripes Lightfoot provocative Johnny Gill motown f aretha Franklin and Otis Redding had produced an offspring he probably would have sounded a lot like Johnny Gill. He s that command ugly soulful and in his peer group there is no better Singer. He has a dynamism associated with old school 60s-style soul vocalists but makes the material seem fresh and strictly 90s. Despite the title this collection half ballads and half up Tempo in t very provocative. It does t even feature a standout Ballad. The standout track is the floor a party till you drop dance Jam that s truly infectious. All in All the album is a fairly Good Effort but considering the league that Gill seems destined to join not a great one. Connie Johnson los Angeles times invitation Joe Sample Warner Bros of do you distinguish Between Laid Back jazz and Mere background fare Well if invitation is any indication the difference is All in the details. True most of the tracks on Sample s album Are whisper quiet and elegantly tuneful just like the Best elevator music. But his material avoids the usual banalities opting for Nica s dream and Django Over Send in the clowns and feelings and his improvisations though always tastefully understated regularly nudge the arrangements away from the Melody. And though the result demands Little of the listener neither does it insult his or her intelligence. . Cons done the Baltimore Sun 18 the stars and stripes Friday july 23,1993 the stars and stripes 19