Rick Braun

How do you turn your dorm room or apartment into your own personal jazz club? Grab a cappuccino, take a seat, dim the lights and crank up your stereo. Disc of choice? Rick Braun's Kisses in the Rain. Now, close your eyes and listen to the music. \nKisses in the Rain is Braun's impressive solo debut album with Warner Brothers. The artist previously collaborated on several albums with top-name jazz musicians, including 2000's popular Shake it Up, where Braun performed with Boney James.\nWith the masterful Braun featured on trumpet, this album combines the talents of many other jazz musicians. \nSeven of the 10 tracks are co-written and produced by Braun. Track one, "Car Wash 2000," features Braun on the flugelhorn, adding a hip-hop feel to the jazzy number. With Harvey Mason on drums, the piece remains up-tempo, and energetic Nathan East on bass seems to keep the beat in the background.\nThe title track on the album, "Kisses in the Rain," features Braun on the trumpet, sounding smooth and light. Percussion plays a large part in the piece, keeping the other musicians together in terms of beat, creating a hypnotic, soothing rhythm. Peter White on acoustic guitar adds a Spanish flair to the track as well.\n"Use Me" starts off sounding more like a pop song than a jazz piece, but when Braun comes in playing both the trumpet and flugelhorn, the difference between the two genres is made clear. Marty Grebb on the baritone saxophone adds a certain sultriness to the piece. \nStandout tracks include "Your World," one of two tracks with vocals, sung here with soul by Sue Ann Carwell. "Middle of the Night" starts with what sounds like a short rain shower, adding atmosphere to the piece and enhancing Braun's trumpet solo.\nOverall, the 10 tracks on the album all deserve praise. The combination of sounds from the variety of instruments used on each piece really adds flavors never really tasted in previous jazz albums. Braun is an artist who will continue to dazzle listeners with originality and variety.