October 2024 – A CONTEMPORARY SPIN ON SMOOTH JAZZ FROM A TRIUMVIRATE OF MUSICAL POWERHOUSES

BPM, “Beats Per Minute,” is a nod to this group’s swing and grooving energy. It also happens to be their first names.

B for Brian Bromberg, Grammy-nominated and hit-making bassist.
P for Paul Brown, two-time Grammy-winning guitarist and producer.
M for Michael Paulo, show-stopping and chart-topping saxophone sensation.

Collectively these three have been first call for such iconic artists as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin, Sting, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Stan Getz, and Sarah Vaughan, among countless others.

They joined forces after a trio gig in Punta Mita, Mexico, where they came away with that feeling like old pals having a wide-ranging conversation through their music. Their debut release in September “Seriously” is full of festive romps, Latin coolness, barn-burning jazz/soul and a little mystical moodiness.

Brown’s vision for the recording was simple, “To make the record we all have wanted to record after 30 plus years of making records. We have no constraints or have anything to prove. The music is just solid and from the heart.”

Paul Brown’s funky licks

“I’ve been making music my whole life. It’s my go to when things are rough. I never even thought about doing anything else. I wouldn’t even know where to start,” confesses Paul Brown. The avid golfer and wine collector has dominated the Contemporary Jazz charts as both an artist and producer for several decades. Born in Los Angeles to musician parents who sang with Mel Tormé, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, among others, Brown started playing drums at age five and picked up his first guitar two years later. He has amassed 75 #1 Contemporary Jazz radio hits and engineered for R&B divas Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross and has produced for everyone including Luther Vandross, Al Jarreau and George Benson. Paul Brown’s latest solo recording is The Promised Land. More on his website…

Brian Bromberg’s slap-happy bass

A consummate musician, Brian Bromberg’s motto is “Good enough is never good enough. Always strive to be the best you can be in music and in your life.” Born in Tucson, Arizona, the versatile bassist, and producer has recorded the diverse repertoire of Jaco Pastorius, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Jimi Hendrix. Bassist Scott LaFaro is the subject of Bromberg’s most recent recording LaFaro. Hailing from a family of musicians and artists, Bromberg gravitated towards the drums as a toddler and by the time he was a teen he was working professionally. At only 18 years old Brian’s first big break came in 1979 when bassist Marc Johnson recommended Bromberg for a gig with tenor titan Stan Getz. The prolific bassist has recorded on over 150 albums as a sideman and has either recorded and or toured with such luminaries as Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Shirley Horn, Lionel Hampton, George Duke, Lalo Schifrin, Dianne Reeves, Kenny Barron, and Michel Legrand. He also toured with such heavyweights as Freddie Hubbard and Eddie Harris. Bromberg is a self-professed wine connoisseur and is passionate about professional drag racing, animals, nature, and astronomy. More on his website…

Michael Paulo’s swinging tenor

“I was very religious when I was young but when the spirit of music came calling, the stage became my church,” shares saxophonist Michael Paulo. Hailing from a musical home in Hawaii, Michael’s house was filled with music as Michael, his siblings and parents were all musicians. His most recent release, Here Is Happiness, is dedicated to his late father and legendary Hawaiian pianist Rene Paulo. Revered for his serious chops and unrivaled stage presence, Michael Paulo has been first call for everyone from Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock and Patti Austin to David Benoit, Bobby Caldwell, and Peter White. Paulo is featured on the much talked about Miles Davis session Rubberband, which was released for the first time in 2020. A Jazz impresario, Paulo created and produces the long running Temecula Wine, and Music Festival, which has supported military veterans and organizations like the Shriner’s Hospital for Children through the years. He also produces music concert series in Hawaii as well as the California concerts Grooves at the Westin, Live from La Costa, and Rhythm on the Vine. More on his website…

Paulo shares the same vision to emotionally connect with their audience stating, “Music is about how you make people feel and communicating emotion. When you accomplish that you have fulfilled your purpose. Paul Brown concludes, “We’re all kind of in the same place in our lives where we only want to do special things that make us happy and that leave us satisfied. It’s not about money or fame. Pure musicality.”

Brian Bromberg reveals why BPM is a match made in heaven, “I bring the bagels, Paul brings the wine, and Michael brings his golf clubs and dancing shoes! We all really do bring something different to the table.” With the release of BPM’s Seriously, Brian Bromberg, Paul Brown and Michael Paulo are ready to hit the road and spread the good news.

Bromberg concludes, “If BPM has the ability, even on a small scale to make people happy, to make them move or make them sing, then we are playing a very little part in trying to bring people from all walks of life and stories together. That to me is an honor.”

Next on their tour, Brian, Paul and Michael visit Middle C Jazz Thursday, November 14th for a packed house of music and groove. TICKETS.

This story contains excerpts from the following articles. Click for the full reviews.

“Fans of contemporary jazz will love this album, Seriously: it’s a captivating listen.” -VIVASCENE

“…Calling themselves BPM, you’d expect the guys to swing and that’s just what they do… Classy, slick, professional, polished smooth jazz…” -SOULANDJAZZANDFUNK

“…High chunks of funk on this bicep flexing session.”-JAZZ WEEKLY

“…Veteran genre superstars, bassist Brian Bromberg, guitarist Paul Brown and saxophonist Michael Paulo have a blast joining forces on SERIOUSLY, the funky and infectious, stylistically freewheeling, slickly cool yet improvisational fun debut as BPM.”- SMOOTHJAZZ.COM