The Jazz Guitar of
Andy Brown


Press: CD Reviews: Far Away Places

DownBeat Magazine
CD Review "Far Away Places"

...they seem to have an exceptional telepathic rapport that obviates the need for complicated arrangements...van Nuis has a light, gorgeous and fairly delicate voice...Brown, a protégé of Cincinnati guitar master Kenny Poole, happens to be an uncommonly good player, with a modesty that brings to mind the fine Canadian guitarist Ed Bickert and a warmth suggestive of Joe Pass. Joined at the conjugal hip, Brown and van Nuis share a gift for melody and have plenty of rhytmic confidence. They project naturalness when phrasing, and their overall intelligence makes understatement and subtlety virtues. They also merit praise for the integrity informing their choice of songs from the past and for their personal involvement with a lyric...
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Guitar International
CD Review "Far Away Places"

Brown is always right there when Van Nuis takes an unexpected turn on the melody or twist of the time in a rubato section...Brown never gets caught up in trying to do too much... Instead he manipulates the harmony through a diverse range of textures that provides comfort for the singer, as well as interest for the audience. This is where the spirit of Joe Pass can be felt in Brown's playing. Not in his note choices or incredible chops, but in his ability to let the accompaniment breathe and react to Van Nuis. It's no wonder Brown has been making a name for himself as one of Chicago's rising young jazz guitarists...
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All About Jazz
CD Review "Far Away Places"

Always mindful of the melody, Brown manages to wrap his rich harmonic style in a unhurried feel that calls to mind the spirit of George Van Eps...Brown's dexterous playing really jumps off the disc with its crisp, steady feel that mixes walking bass lines, pulsing chord melodies and even some open string drone passages. Brown's playing throughout is filled with a vibrate fluidity that defines the album and keeps the ear interested track after track...
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Jazz Podium (Germany)
CD Review "Far Away Places"

Petra van Nuis and guitarist Andy Brown have found their own way to the magical musical dialogue, which can only partially be described as blind understanding. Andy Brown proves to be a technically accomplished guitarist with perfect timing and an incredible wealth of harmonies. He almost telepathically follows his wife's vocal lines and subtly connects playing individual notes and chords. This duo album with wonderfully relaxed music is an invitation to dream and listen...
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Midwest Record
CD Review "Far Away Places"

A vocal/guitar duo set by two long time fellow travelers shows that elegance and simpatico can go a long way. It ain't about the fireworks, it's about the purity of the performance and that's what makes this one of those great, low key wonders. When you've got it going on, you've got it going on and this duo is one of the most ripping good new duos to come along. Check it out when your adult listening ears need something new to fill them...
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Jazz Lives
Petra and Andy Reward Us

Andy could cover the fingerboard, digits a blur, if he chose to. But he knows better. So his playing unfolds beautifully in its own song, no matter what tempo or what chords. He loves melody; he can swing any band several steps closer to Heaven with his chordal strum, and he is an absolutely flawless team-player, never fixated on the limelight...
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Jersey Jazz
CD Review "Far Away Places"

One of my favorite vocalists of all time was Beverly Kenney...when I started to listen to Far Away Places by vocalist PETRA VAN NUIS and guitarist ANDY BROWN, I was reminded of Kenney, and particularly of the album that she made with the legendary guitarist Johnny Smith. As I continued to listen, I became more impressed with both van Nuis and Brown. They have selected a program that is tasty, comprised of tunes that are not overdone, and includes a few surprises...This recording will find an immediate place in my stack of must hear again and again discs...
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Jazz Guitar Society of Western Australia
CD Review "Far Away Places"

Andy Brown is a talented guitarist originally from Cincinnati who was influenced by two great guitarists from that city, Cal Collins and our late member Kenny Poole...Andy gets a chance to display his solo guitar talents on "Bim Bom" and you would swear it was two guitars playing. This is a fine duo CD of two talented youngsters who are carrying on the tradition. Andy is a fine mainstream player to watch out for in the future.
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Chicago Jazz Magazine
CD Review "Far Away Places"

Brown has such a vast repertoire of varied guitar techniques and textures at his command that his ability to choose between them and employ the correct ones with impeccable timing might be his greatest talent of all. But I suggest you pay special attention to the dynamics of his guitar performance...
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JazzChicago.net
CD Review "Far Away Places"

This world of innocence, romance and peaceful melodies is carried by van Nuis' honeyed voice and Brown's exceptional old-school guitar support (who needs a rhythm section? - check out his bass lines on Cole Porter's "From This Moment On" - there are bass players who would kill to play that well)...
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Far Away Places

For booking info or to join Andy's monthly mailing list, please contact Andy at: andybrownguitar@yahoo.com or 773-396-1180



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