Leonard “Lowdown” Brown

Blues Is Calling Me

Music Maker Foundation

Houston-based blues and soul singer Leonard “Lowdown” Brown is making his debut at age 70. In the tradition of Music Maker Foundation artists, he is again proving that it is never too late. Brown has been performing for four decades but finally made it to the recording studio through the auspice of Music Makers. Originally born and raised as one of ten children in Arkansas, Brown has cut his teeth in Houston since the early ‘80s. When viewing his credits as an opening act, it’s clear that he’s brushed shoulders with icons such as Sister Sledge, ZZ Hill, Johnny Taylor, and Bobby Bland. His soulful and gospel chops trace to his youth but surely to the influences of the aforementioned as well.

Nine of these ten tracks are Brown originals performed by the leader who is also the lead guitarist with support from drummer and producer Ardie Dean along with Huntsville, Al guitarist “Microwave Dave Galaher, bassist Tony Grady, and keyboardists/bassist Dan Hochter. Dean and Galaher are blues veterans who have backed the likes Beverly “Guitar” Watson, Little Freddie King, Aretha Franklin, Bo Diddley, and Junior Walker.

From the opening “Juke Joint” the raspy voice and natural soul rhythms bring to mind ZZ Hill and in modern day terms, Johnny Rawls. Heck, the line “I want to hear some lowdown blues” evokes Hill’s “Down Home Blues,” one of his signature tunes. “Find a Bridge” is an up-tempo shuffle with Brown settling right into the pocket and ripping off a fluid guitar solo. The easy rolling “French Quarter Woman” is a slice of classic soul while he turns to gutty blues side on “Can’t Buy Time,” with some stinging guitar lines.  Brown turns to the slow burning blues on “Blues Makes Me Feel Good,” in one of his most impassioned vocal takes.

“Lowdown’s Blues” is a 12-bar instrumental shuffle where Brown struts out on his Fender Jazzmaster in a brisk, upbeat stroll. Then he gets down and funky for the declarative “Let Me Live Life,” ripping off more spicy riffs along the way. Returning to the slower tempo, Brown gets deep and soulful for “Take a Friend,” with another terrific vocal and faint echoes of Albert King’s “Let Me Play the Blues for You.”  The title track has a funked-up jagged rhythm as Brown sings – “I’m going wherever the blues takes me/that’s my destiny,” like a man whose traveled many roads.  He closes with the chestnut in an inventive arrangement that leans far more to gospel than the blues versions of the song, as Hocher’s organ takes us right to church.

Leonard “Lowdown” Brown may be new to recording, but his sound is as authentic as that of the masters.

• Jim Hynes

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