Isaiah B Brunt

A Moment in Time

Isaiah B Brunt Music

Isaiah B. Brunt was born in New Zealand where he learned guitar, ukulele, and lap steel from his father. He became an Australian studio owner and record producer to assimilate enough knowledge before working on his own music. In 2010 Brunt was awarded the Sydney Blues Society’s Performer of The Year award and a spot in the 2011 International Blues Challenge’s Int’l Night. He decided to record his third album “That’s Just The Way It Goes” in New Orleans and it established him there.

Brunt is an accomplished vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter with a distinct New Orleans flair. Brunt’s music is unhurried and understated which makes it an open invitation for the Crescent City’s finest. In New Orleans they understand that everything is in support of the song.

Producer Brunt has assembled a band consisting of George Porter Jr. best known as bassist of the Meters, The Funky Meters, and The Runnin’ Pardners. Porter has worked with everybody including Allen Toussaint, Johnny Adams, and Irma Thomas. Porter has also brought with him, from The Runnin Pardner’s, Michael Lemmler on piano and Hammond B-3.

On drums is Doug Belote, a New Orleans native who has worked with Toussaint, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Cyril Neville, Fred Wesley and many others; he has a discography of over 100 albums.

Then there is Jeff Watkins on saxophone who spent twelve years as musical director of The James Brown Band. He brings with him Ian E. Smith who plays trumpet, trombone and flugelhorn. Together Watkins and Smith also contribute the horn arrangements. The backing vocals are from Sarah E. Burke.

“Still Waiting” and “Singing The Blues” feature the entire ensemble. Keyboardist Lemmler, the horn section, and Porter on bass sound as if they’ve played together before! Burke sings backup on the later. “Travel Back in Time” features both James Evans’ clarinet and Steve Glenn (Tuba Steve) on the Sousaphone.

Brunt’s vocals are especially nice on “Lost Jacket”; on “Party Late All Night” with a fabulous sax solo from Watkins; on “That Place on The Road” featuring New Orleans harp ace Smoky Greenwell; and on the film noir sounding title track “A Moment in Time” with Smith on the flugelhorn.

Brunt’s fine production makes this a fabulous album.

Richard Ludmerer