Angela Carole Brown

Artist Information

Biography

Have you ever had a genuinely mystical phenomenon happen to you?

The very first song that Angela Carole Brown ever wrote, THE SLOW CLUB, which ultimately became the title cut of her acclaimed jazz CD, is about a nightclub in Paris. At the time she wrote it she'd never been to the city of lights. The story in the song is fiction. The club itself is fiction. And in the song she describes in great detail what the mood and look and walls and smell are like in this place. A few years after writing it and performing it around town, she was singing it at a club one night, and a French woman came up to her afterwards. This was the exchange:

"I enjoyed your song very much. It makes me think back with fond memory of my days at the Slow Club."

"I beg your pardon? Your days at the Slow Club? But this song is fiction."

"Oh, no. The Slow Club in Paris, France, oui?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I think you may be thinking of someplace else. There isn't really a Slow Club. It's just a made-up place for a made-up song. I think I would know, since I wrote it. I just sort of have this fixation for that city, for some reason."

"And mademoiselle, I believe I would know. I'm the one who's been to this place you sing about. On the Rue du Rivoli, right down the way from the Louvre. I would say that is some pretty powerful fixation."

Angela's jaw was dropped for the next two years, as she sang this song around town, told this story, and relished in her, and her song's, spooky allure. Until she finally made it to Paris for the first time several years later, and looked up the Slow Club in her tourist guide book. And there it was, with a Rue du Rivoli address, as promised. The first chance she got, Angela went there and walked in, unprepared for an even newer set of phenomena. Every single detail she speaks of in the song was personified before her eyes, from the winding staircase that takes one down into it, to the smoky, blue ambience that invited secret rendezvous on the stairs.

She stood there and grinned from ear to ecstatic ear at the wonders of her life, and decided that she must've been that Slow Club chanteuse in another lifetime, simply recalling pockets of memory from a long-dormant nether-plane.

Thus began Angela's journey as a writer, and carrying with her at all times the wonders that art simply begets.

Now to date, Los Angeles native Angela Carole Brown has been a veteran of the L.A. music scene for two decades as a vocalist, recording artist, and songwriter. She has recorded voice-overs, movie cues, jingles, and CDs for herself and other artists, her most recent being Josh Groban's hit single "You Raise Me Up" on his "Closer" CD for Warner Bros. Records; for "South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker; and for the independent film "Funny Money," starring Chevy Chase. She has worked theatre, clubs, concert halls, television, and radio, in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

She is also a writer and an award-winning poet (Heritage Magazine Award), who last year brought us her debut novel, TRADING FOURS, which released on Infinity Publishing, and about which she has been interviewed on KPFK's Arts in Review and KUCI's Blacklisted, favorably reviewed by Ontario author and book reviewer Matt St. Amand, and given honorable mention in Music Connection Magazine and by the National League of Women as an example of Women in Fiction.

Angela has released two very different albums of original music on her own Rue de la Harpe Records label: with her group The Global Folk, she has released the post-modern folk experimentation, RESTING ON THE ROCK, which utilizes instruments from around the world, and which just found its way to #5 on American Idol Underground; and with her group The Slow Club Quartet, she has released the aforementioned jazz recording, THE SLOW CLUB, which was nominated for a Just Plain Folks Music Award.

Angela began her career, however, as an actress, after graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and landing work with various Los Angeles theatre companies, performing the repertoires of Shakespeare, Williams, Brecht, Shaw, and Puccini, to name a few. 

Her singing career began by joining various bar bands; and in 1984, won the grand prize in the first-ever (to become annual) Stardom Pursuit singing contest sponsored by the old legendary Rose Tattoo Cabaret in Los Angeles.

In 1989, her debut CD, "Angela," produced by David Garfield for Teichiku Records, rose to #2 on Japan’s pop charts, leading her to be featured on Tokyo's NHK variety television show "Music Dream Collection."

In 1994, she authored, composed, and starred Off-Broadway in her critically lauded one-woman show, "The Purple Sleep Café," at Primary Stages' 45th Street Theatre in New York City.

In 1995, she released a CD of jazz standards, "Standard Procedure," on Sand Canyon Records, with pianist Dana Bronson and bassist Jim DeJulio, longtime collaborators with her from the Four Seasons Beverly Hills.

In 1996, she created the role of larger-than-life vixen The Fabulous Miss Thing for the exquisitely radical Elvis Schoenberg's Orchestre Surréal, a wild, genre-bending orchestral show. Her involvement with the twenty-seven piece orchestra included work as performer, contributing writer, and art director.

From 1996-2003, Angela was "Miss Thing" to select Los Angeles audiences, through the release of two CDs, "Air Surréal" and "It's Alive!," for which she created the artwork that serve as their covers; a slot on Music Connection's Best Unsigned Acts List, and as L.A. Weekly's "Music Pick of the Week" in 2000. Her final performance with the orchestra was their John Anson Ford Amphitheatre debut, a show that ended up winning the L.A. Music Award for "Best Rock Opera of the Year."

Besides her own folk and jazz projects, Angela is presently the lead singer (and art director) in guitarist/composer Linda Taylor's project Threshold, which just released its debut CD "Sum Blues."

Angela speaks to us most uniquely, however, through her canon of original folk and jazz songs, and as a woman of letters.

Instrumentation

ANGELA CAROLE BROWN, Vocalist, Songwriter, Solo Artist, and Bandleader of two ensembles:
THE GLOBAL FOLK (Post-modern Folk) - Ken Rosser, Lead Guitar; Linda Taylor, Rhythm Guitar; Ross Wright, Bass; Paul Angers, Drums and Percussion
THE SLOW CLUB QUARTET (Jazz) - Ed Czach, Piano; Don Kasper, Bass; Craig Pilo, Drums
(Band size varies by budget, location and event)

Discography

Angela Carole Brown's THE SLOW CLUB (Rue de la Harpe Records, 2005) lead vocalist, sole composer, and producer
Angela Carole Brown's RESTING ON THE ROCK (Rue de la Harpe Records, 2004) lead vocalist, sole composer, and producer
Angela Carole Brown, Dana Bronson & Jim Dejulio's STANDARD PROCEDURE (Sand Canyon Records, 1996) lead vocalist
Angela Carole Brown's ANGELA (Teichiku Records, Japan,1989 ) lead vocalist (including her 1989 hit single THE NATURAL CHOICE, which reached #2 on Japan's Billboard charts)


GUEST APPEARANCES on jazz, fusion, R&B, rock, political satire, orchestral, sacred, educational, singer/songwriter projects, and compilations, including:

JIMMIE DOES WHAT JIMMIE LYKES! Jimmie Lykes; back-up vocalist, 2007
SUM BLUES; Threshold; lead vocalist, 2006
STANDARDS; Angela Carole Brown & Sam Sorensen; lead vocalist, 2006
JAZZ FLUTE JAMS; Maurice Gainen; back-up vocalist, 2006
STONE COLD PLAYER; Stevo Theard; featured vocalist, 2006
SUMMER SOLSTICE; Artist Compilation; featured vocalist and contributing composer, 2005
Josh Groban's hit single, YOU RAISE ME UP (CLOSER, Warner Bros.) choir member, 2004
IT'S ALIVE! Elvis Schoenberg’s Orchestre Surréal; lead vocalist, 2003
RUN AWAY; Mel Elias; featured vocalist, 2002  
MONTE CARLO; Lancer Jazz Choir; choir member, 2002   
THE BILLIONAIRES ARE IN THE HOUSE; Billionaires for Bush; featured vocalist, 2002
NEVER MIND THE RABBLE; Billionaires for Bush; featured vocalist, 2001
TWO BOPS & A BLUES; Lancer Jazz Choir; featured vocalist and in the choir, 2001
WINDOWS; Blaine John Chaney; back-up vocalist, 2001
PULSE; Linda Taylor; featured vocalist, 2001
SINGLISH: THE HERITAGE COLLECTION; Artist Compilation; featured vocalist, 2001  
THIRSTY; Lauren Adams; back-up vocalist, 2001
FROM THE HEART OF A JEWISH SOUL; Jack Bielan & Friends; choir member, 2000
ONLY AUTUMN SEES; Ellen Smith; back-up vocalist, 1999
AIR SURREAL; Elvis Schoenberg’s Orchestre Surréal; lead vocalist and contributing composer, 1998
WHO ARE YOU? Bill Cantos; choir member, 1997
MORE AS BEFORE; Kris Berry; featured vocalist, 1997
BOND; Christoph Bull; featured vocalist, 1997
IN NATIVE; Soul Bossa Trio; featured vocalist, 1996
CONNECTED TO THE UNEXPECTED; Misha Segal; featured vocalist and contributing lyricist, 1996
GIVE AND GATHER; Clay Jenkins; featured vocalist, 1995
ZERO GRAVITY; Steve Bach; back-up vocalist, 1985


For additional information, audio and video samples, a calendar of events, and to purchase copies of Angela's CDs or her novel, please visit the link below.

Audio

• Out of Breath
  Listen   Download
• An Old Black Man Someday
  Listen   Download
• Rest Your Head
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Out of Breath
• An Old Black Man Someday
• Rest Your Head

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• The Slow Club [+ Show ]
  

  "Talented vocalist Angela Carole Brown's recent release is the moody and playful epic The Slow Club,..."Talented vocalist Angela Carole Brown's recent release is the moody and playful epic The Slow Club, from Rue De La Harpe Records. Properly supporting this set we have Ed Czach on piano, Jonathan Pintoff on bass, and Craig Pilo on drums creating various moods that capture the multi-facets of Angela Carole Brown. Angela Carole Brown's tone at times is hauntingly similar to the likes of Diana Ross, but technically proficient like an Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Dianne Reeves, and Jon Hendricks. Angela's vocal style is also very personal and so full of raw emotion that at times it's kind of spooky in a weird way. One thing is for sure: this dynamic singer cannot be pigeon-holed as one type of vocalist. As you will hear on The Slow Club, Angela displays various styles of jazz like Be-Bop, Latin Jazz, Swing, Vocalese and song interpretations that concentrate more on emotion, rather than form, like a Nina Simone. Jazz lovers will be entertained by Angela's highly charged original compositions; not afraid to get down and dirty, Brown has fun with the Latin Jazz flavored "Sixty-Three" and the swinging tale about "A Kid And Her Dog", while Craig Pilo delivers a vigorous drum solo. On "Out Of Breath", to witness the exchange between Angela and pianist Ed Czach is like experiencing one of jazz's great moments in the making. "Rest Your Head" brings the tempo down to sentimental purr. A excellent choice for the Quiet Storm format. Angela Carole Brown's The Slow Club is an outstanding and long overdue recording of great jazz music."
  - Maurice Evans

• The Slow Club [+ Show ]
  

  Act like you’ve been there. Angela Carole Brown, vocalist, writer, and composer, did and scripted th...Act like you’ve been there. Angela Carole Brown, vocalist, writer, and composer, did and scripted these lyrics to be fictitious in venue never realizing that many memories did cross its doorway, for The Slow Club’s home was in reality Paris. So the story unfolds but what is so stunning is how in music Ms Brown allows the listener to escape down this moody alley way grasping for that elixir of slow gin. The Slow Club released in 2005 by Rue de la Harpe Records is a full set of pure Brown originals molded to her moods and technique. Ms Brown known for her dark and morose presentation brings to the forefront her diverse and innovative approach to writing and performing. Out of the gate Presently Thinking kicks off with a strong keyboard prelude only to segue into the sultry moods of Ms. Brown. A very nice piece to start the journey. Significant are the talents of Billy Childs [piano], and Craig Pilo [drums] through the project. On the second cut Sixty Three the recipe of contrast between Kevin Ricard [percussion] and Bob Sheppard [woodwinds] is unique and a real trip. Sharp tones and easy to relate too. Most all the arrangements are so listener friendly and mate with the vocals nicely. The main influence Craig Pilo [drums] and Ms. Brown shake the house with cut Van Gogh‘s Ear. However prior to that piece, a solo performance by the woman herself, allows all to witness the true talent absorbed within her by many years of embracing music. Cantankerous may be an effort about ones self. One will never know but the style and delivery is so very special. Angela Carole Brown is amazing and should be experienced…
  - Karl Stober

• On Resting on the Rock [+ Show ]
  

  I plan to use RESTING ON THE ROCK in my classes and know it will be an inspiration to others. The mu...I plan to use RESTING ON THE ROCK in my classes and know it will be an inspiration to others. The music and the poetry and her voice are all so close in purpose. I can only see this integrity as an achievement of her soul. She couldn't have drawn to her such close allies in Ken and Ross and Paul and Skins, and the others, unless she were coming from such an undiluted purity. The journeys through darkness are full of heart and fearless."
  – Lily Knight

• On The Slow Club [+ Show ]
  

  In our age of reality TV hype and focus group music marketing, the vocal prowess of Angela Carole Br...In our age of reality TV hype and focus group music marketing, the vocal prowess of Angela Carole Brown (ACB) wafts into my living room like an invigorating aroma. On her recent recording, THE SLOW CLUB, Los Angeles based ACB shows a remarkable breadth and depth of artistic vision, beginning with an arresting abstract acrylic painting on the disc's front cover...What sets her apart from her peers is her obvious ability to interpret a lyric. Her mannered diction and narrative skills are heard to great effect on Van Gogh's Ear a post-modern tale of artistic license and fate. In fact, the manner in which all her lyrics are written is unusual and captivating, referencing anything from Shakespeare to Dylan Thomas.
  – John Stevenson

• On The Slow Club & Resting on the Rock [+ Show ]
  

  "Actress, songwriter, and singer Angela Carole Brown has many talents, but in order to discover thes..."Actress, songwriter, and singer Angela Carole Brown has many talents, but in order to discover these you've had to live in Los Angeles. Until now. Thanks to RESTING ON THE ROCK and THE SLOW CLUB, the rest of the world gets a chance to acquaint itself with her, and it's well worth the trouble to look up these records on the web. As far as the material is concerned, here is a well-balanced collection of esteemed original songs."
  – Douglas Norstrom

• Beverly Hills Nitespots [+ Show ]
  

  “…also necessary to complete the scenario are a baby grand and a cool, sophisticated jazz singer. An...“…also necessary to complete the scenario are a baby grand and a cool, sophisticated jazz singer. Angela Carole Brown is just such a creature, with a rich voice that makes everything from Elton John to Edith Piaf sound just like Gershwin. Perched on a stool, she looks like an exotic falcon, with her head neatly framed in a cloche of black curls and the wide collar of her taffeta wrap dress nestled around her shoulders like wings. She exudes the kind of preternatural class that is uncommon in Los Angeles, where peacocks are more than ruler of the roost.”
  – Hillary Johnson
  

• Interview with Angela Carole Brown [+ Show ]
  

  "In her one-woman show, THE PURPLE SLEEP CAFÉ, Angela Carole Brown gives us some extraordinary lesso..."In her one-woman show, THE PURPLE SLEEP CAFÉ, Angela Carole Brown gives us some extraordinary lessons in what it’s like growing up as an artist, that if you grow up as a person who must rely upon, perhaps live within, the confines of the imagination, you grow up in a very particular kind of way, scary, sometimes. There is a moment in the play where Angela addresses the Muse, and it’s a gorgeous, gorgeous moment of theatre.”
  – Clayton Riley

• The Purple Sleep Cafe [+ Show ]
  

  “Angela Carole Brown, who has already established her credentials as a superlative singer, astonishe...“Angela Carole Brown, who has already established her credentials as a superlative singer, astonishes as a writer and actress in THE PURPLE SLEEP CAFÉ. This gal is clearly a mega-watt talent. The petite, elfin singer evokes at first the innocent loveliness of Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, but as she begins to sing she underscores the fact that while most singers simply sing songs, great singers employ their voices as instruments and their songs as vehicles to create tone poems of undeniable emotional impact."
  – Jason McCloskey
  

Setlist

As a solo artist, Angela has a repertoire of over 250 cover songs in the area of jazz, pop, dance, blues, & R&B standards, as well as multiple foreign languages. She has charts for rhythm section, can fit easily into any band situation, and is equipped for corporate events, private functions, hotels, and showcase rooms.

She also has 2 original projects up and running, which are both available for showcase rooms, clubs, concerts, and festivals:

The Global Folk, Angela's post-modern folk ensemble, performs primarily original music, and is contained with 2 sets worth of originals, but can also augment an entire evening with unique arrangements of rock, blues, and folk covers.

The Slow Club Quartet, Angela's original jazz ensemble, is equipped for anywhere from a concert-length set to an entire evening, augmenting their original music with jazz covers and standards, playing vibrant, soul-filled swing, Latin jazz, blues, and ballads, with equal ease.

for additional information on either group, please visit ANGELACAROLEBROWN.COM

Basic Requirements

Calendar