Forty years (!) after Tom Browne blasted into our groove consciousness with his #1 Billboard R&B smash “Funkin’ for Jamaica” and the sassy Top 5er “Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move),” the versatile trumpeter is still funkin, still grippin’ and still creating vibes that make you wanna “Shake” – the perfect title for the high octane, brass fired jam that opens Come What May, his most welcome return to the urban jazz fold a decade since his previous release.
Browne smoothed the path for the release of the EP (seven tracks plus two radio edits) with two singles whose vibes reflect the dual tones (from sensual and romantic to sizzling, exuberant and danceable) of the full project. “Mi Amor,” featuring synth Rhodes and some of guest vocalist Joyce San Mateo’s dreamiest and intimate expressions, is a gentle, lyrical and richly atmospheric late night ballad with sweet old school sensibilities. Browne’s playfully strutting twist on Heatwave’s “Groove Line” takes us back to his disco era origins, but with a fresh contemporary spin.
Other highlights include the seductive mid-tempo “Just Work,” the moody mad cool sparkle of “Vibin’ With You” (featuring some of Browne’s most creative horn improvisations) and a crunch-funk romp through “Angels We Have Heard on High” that demands listening not just during the holidays but all funkin’ year long.
The unique inspirational album art, complete with a pink ribbon, reflects Browne’s intention for the collection as a loving, celebratory tribute to his wife Martha’s successful battle against breast cancer.
Listen to Come What May here: https://open.spotify.com/album/05kwXieNkV9CSZfnsmpmGc?si=ajtnhdgOQzGkBrbgGc4e-Q&nd=1