Guitar Greats Marc Antoine & Paul Brown Join Forces for "Foreign Exchange"

March 6, 2009 - PRLog -- In 2008, the Peak Records label mates joined forces on Paul Brown’s Guitar Night, a dynamic 30-date tour of both the East and West Coast.  These highly acclaimed live performances led two-time GRAMMY® Award winner Brown, who was in the early stages of producing a follow-up album to his smash 2007 disc "White Sand," to ask Antoine to play on one of his new songs. This initial session sparked a dynamic, beautifully complementary creative flow that quickly developed into a fruitful new partnership. In turn, this gave rise to the magical give and take of a true musical FOREIGN EXCHANGE.

Produced by Brown, co-produced by Antoine and featuring guest performances by some of the genre’s most acclaimed artists (including Jessy J and keyboardists Philippe Saisse and Gregg Karukas), the collection brings out the best in both guitarists as they explore their longtime passions for a wide variety of influences, including pop, jazz, old school R&B, soul-jazz, Brazilian and Latin music.

The FOREIGN EXCHANGE begins with the seductive blend of both guitars on the perfectly titled “Feel The Love” before the two amp up for a thumping funk groove and sweet sensual atmospheres on “Wine Night.” No Antoine project is complete without a nod to the joyful spirit of Rio, and Brown’s crisp electric melody intertwines beautifully with Antoine’s acoustic harmonies on the balmy samba “Flight of the Concords.” Antoine plays bass and drums in addition to his guitar on the title track and the CDs first single, which also features the Jerry Hey horns.

The two pay homage to recently departed legendary session drummer Earl Palmer with  “Brother Earl.”  Spiced with Philippe Saisse’s wistful synth flute, “On The Down Low” artfully blends Antoine’s Brazilian touch with Brown’s Wes Montgomery inspired melody and licks. “What About Bob” is an ode to a colorful character who was Antoine’s neighbor in Laurel Canyon when he and Brown worked together 20 years ago and the disc concludes with the film score lush “Sweetness,” the ode to the “Bridges of Paris” and a brief dual guitar coda “Au Voir” that wraps things beautifully.    

Both Brown and Antoine have been on a major roll these past few years. Brown had the unique experience in 2006 of scoring #1 Radio & Records chart hits as both an artist and producer. Since his 1994 debut "Classical Soul" earned him a “Best New Artist Of The Year” award, Antoine  has scored a number of major airplay hits. Antoine and Brown will be keeping their irresistible FOREIGN EXCHANGE going on the road in 2009, performing many shows as a duo with their band and inviting artists like Craig Chaquico and Bobby Caldwell to join them on other dates.

“We have both enjoyed successful careers as solo artists, but I believe FOREIGN EXCHANGE was a labor of love that took our artistry to the next level,” says Antoine. “We put our hearts and souls into the music and feel very strongly that our fans are going to be as excited about these songs as we are.” Brown adds,

We’ve all heard the term “foreign exchange” as it applies to money changing hands and students studying in other countries. Now it’s time to get your passport ready, groove and rejoice as Marc Antoine and Paul Brown show you the true meaning of the term!