Rick Braun at Yoshi's Oakland

Conventional music industry wisdom has long dictated that self-titled albums are, by design and intention, introductory artistic statements reserved for an artist’s first release. While slyly admitting he’s a little late to the party, Rick Braun boldly bucks this traditional trend with his stellar latest set, a stylistically eclectic, ultra-soulful/funky and exotica tinged collection celebrating 30 years since Intimate Secrets launched him to contemporary jazz stardom and made him one of the genre’s most influential artists and producers.
After hinting at fresh directions to come with the title of his 2018 album Crossroads, the versatile trumpeter and flugelhornist marks a fresh new chapter in his career with Rick Braun, the first full-on Smooth Jazz project released on his indie label Brauntosoarus Music. The project – Braun’s 19th as a leader - was executive produced by Roy McClurg, who has also served in this capacity on recordings by Mindi Abair, Darryl Williams and Michael Lington....

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Conventional music industry wisdom has long dictated that self-titled albums are, by design and intention, introductory artistic statements reserved for an artist’s first release. While slyly admitting he’s a little late to the party, Rick Braun boldly bucks this traditional trend with his stellar latest set, a stylistically eclectic, ultra-soulful/funky and exotica tinged collection celebrating 30 years since Intimate Secrets launched him to contemporary jazz stardom and made him one of the genre’s most influential artists and producers.
After hinting at fresh directions to come with the title of his 2018 album Crossroads, the versatile trumpeter and flugelhornist marks a fresh new chapter in his career with Rick Braun, the first full-on Smooth Jazz project released on his indie label Brauntosoarus Music. The project – Braun’s 19th as a leader - was executive produced by Roy McClurg, who has also served in this capacity on recordings by Mindi Abair, Darryl Williams and Michael Lington.
After amassing over 20 #1 Smooth Jazz hits, producing #1s for fellow genre greats David Benoit, Marc Antoine and the late Jeff Golub, creating two of the genre’s most impactful dual albums ever (Shake It Up with Boney James, RnR with Richard Elliot) and recording three hit albums as part of the all-star trio BWB (with Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown), Rick Braun reveals the exciting truth that the multi-faceted performer is in full creative overdrive and from his unique perspective, just getting started.

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