“Brown’s newest release ‘Pacem 2: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 1968’ is a magnificent collection of poignant social messages and sonic postcards featuring outstanding musicians including Kate Fenner, David Corley, Sarah McDermott, Suzanne Jarvie, and Tony Scherr.” “Pacem 2 is Brown’s masterpiece… The song structures are so unique and compelling and Brown’s piano playing is so sophisticated and …
“…Some of the finest songs of his extensive discography. (Pacem 1 & 2) sound like the story of Brown’s life, about his personal philosophy (pacem is Latin for peace), about the intersection of his professional and social spheres, about his varied musical and political interests — and about where he’s at right now.” — veteran music journalist and author Michael …
The Scales Project is a conversation between artists. It is a call-and-response, a provocation, and a forum for connection and communication through art about the climate crisis and ecological collapse. Artists take cues from each other’s work, posing and responding to aesthetic, moral, and personal questions that consider our relationship to the natural environment, how we have arrived where we …
“The Ropes” is lyrical, mystical, soulful and transcendent. The first time I put it on I was so compelled by its flavors and hues that I had to stop everything else I was doing, lie down on the wooden floor, and let the tones reverberate through my soul. Read the full article at Thrive Global: https://thriveglobal.com/stories/the-ropes-cd-review/
The artists responsible for the album covers for The Ropes and Scarlett Graham have a lifelong connection. Here is the story behind these two beautiful works, in the artists’ own words. ISABEL STUKATOR We know each other through Leann, of course, whom I’ve known since she was 20. So when Eddie was born, and watching her grow up, mostly on …
Spring does drive creativity, and on Wolfe Island, we are nurturing new work while watching out for those on the island at risk — making sure everybody has enough food in a time when many are isolated and others can’t work. Where we can, it feels like our best role is to try and inject some positivity into lives that …
“There’s a lot about this record that reminds me of Van Morrison, the deep spirituality and the fluid jazz notes being the foremost. Brown has a range of talents… He’s a fearless artist.”
“An album best heard in the late hours, preferably with a broken heart or a sense of ennui, PACEM is an excellent collection of songs on which to ponder.”
“Pacem is about hope, grief and love, but first and foremost it is about friendship and the obvious joy of playing together.”
“Keeper of the Flame is a delicate, thoughtful shuffler led by piano and Brown’s sincere vocals that focuses on following your inner light.”
“…the album quickly captured my heart. Pacem warms you on cold winter days with music that feels like a warm fire. It is also music that overflows with feeling and talent.” (via Google Translate)
“As one of Canada’s consummate musicians over the past three decades, Hugh Christopher Brown (better known to many as Chris Brown through his partnership with vocalist Kate Fenner and their former band Bourbon Tabernacle Choir) has always tapped into the spiritual healing power of song…It’s the kind of soul music few artists outside of, say, Van Morrison, ever attempt…”
“Hugh Christopher “Chris” Brown has a tendency to find music — actually, he would say that it finds him — in the most unexpected places: while at a funeral, sitting in a Toronto lawyer’s kitchen, or even from behind bars.”
“This is Brown’s first proper solo recording in years, and to make it he drew extensively from the community he’s cultivated on Wolfe Island, where he moved from New York City in the last decade… It’s the most musically diverse collection Brown has ever put out, and it’s a welcome return from a songwriter who has a lot to give.” …
“Pacem is one of those albums that works on the listener from the inside out. The more I listen, the more I am astonished by its depth and intricacy. The album begins with a Chant of St. Ignatius extolling the divinity of all things and ends with a lyrical, plaintive folk song. Between these two pieces are masterfully constructed songs, …
“A cathartic, vulnerable piece of work, Pacem brings feelings of serenity and introspection to the listener.”
Ahead of its release, Brown is setting “Keeper of the Flame” loose into the world. The windswept love song features classic, longing Dobro set against rollicking percussion. The folk-pop artist describes the heartstring-tugging tune as “very simply about someone who makes me want to live and taught me how to love in a whole new way.”
Every week, inmates at Kingston, Ontario penitentiary converted the prison chapel into a recording studio. Under the guidance of veteran musician Hugh Christopher Brown, they recorded an album, raised money for charity and redefined themselves. CBC Radio’s Tapestry is a weekly exploration of spirituality, religion and the search for meaning, hosted by Mary Hynes.
“I decided to write Chris an email explaining that I had heard his song “Superior” at Esalen earlier that day and was transfixed by it, would love to hear more about what he is doing and possibly write something about his beautiful music.”
