There can be no plan B
Ross Brown “There can be no Plan B”
On Saturday January 4, I enjoyed the start of a new year with a unique concert at the Backstage Listening Room of the Key West Theater – Ross Brown showcased his original music. He performed thirteen of his original recordings with Jeff Dalton on bass, Randy Morrow on drums, and good friend from Philadelphia, Chris Aschman on horn and steel drum.
Ross’s grandfather Charlie was a really good guitarist who played old school country, Chet Atkins, and spiritual songs. 
His father Bill played guitar and had a blues band, Kosmic Blue, while Ross was growing up. He also had a rehearsal space with recording equipment. Many of Ross’ original songs were recorded on eight track reel-to-reel tapes in his father’s space and are still available. He recorded his first song “Quest For Validity” in that studio at age 16. It was the first song he performed in his Saturday showcase concert.
His mother Gail exposed Ross to a number of jazz artists like Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Tower of Power, and others. She played music all the time while he was growing up and is still his biggest fan. Ross grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He went to Drexel University in Philadelphia, graduating in 1999 with a degree in computer science. He began working in the corporate world making a very good living as the Internet was just taking off. He was not enjoying himself and felt unfulfilled. Music was hs first love.
Brown had traveled extensively in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Far East. At one time, he considered relocating to Costa Rica. He even drove his car, a Ford Escort Wagon (he named “the little dragon”), from Philadelphia to Costa Rica, to perform with bands Tour de Funk and Macana. It was difficult to make money – the roads and travel were difficult, four-wheel drive required – but he loved the Latin vibe. He learned Spanish and, more importantly, learned to appreciate Latin music and culture.
Ross feels he spent too much of his adult life working on Plan B and not on Plan A. He studied computer science as an option to fall back on if he failed at his first love which was always music. While studying yoga in Costa Rica in 2013, his teacher explained if you want Plan A to succeed, there can be no plan “B”. Ross had always wanted to be a musician that was his Plan A. He had to commit.
While back in Philadelphia, Ross recorded two albums, mostly Jazz Fusion instrumentals, he called Fuzilla. He loves jazz and loves to write jazzy instrumental music featuring the melody and rhythms – it’s the way he listens to music. He hears mostly the rhythm and bass rather than vocals and lyrics.
One of his songs, titled “The Aliens Are Getting Angry”, revolves around the mythical concept that the aliens that helped build the pyramids were keeping an eye on Earth. They aren’t very happy with the way we were destroying the planet and the angry melody is a reflection.
A friend who played the oboe joined him in a Philadelphia park, on serene relaxing hill overlooking the water. Her beautiful melodic oboe sound led to an enchanting rhythmic song titled “Lemon Hill” after the location they enjoyed together.
Another song, “Talhia” has gathered the most streaming plays from Argentina, of all places. It is was inspired by a dog, of the same name, that mistakenly followed him and a friend into a small Costa Rican town one day. Talhia couldn’t get on the bus to the beach and became lost and unable to find her way home. After a significant search Ross and friends found Talhia and returned her home. The rhythm of this songs feels like Talhia trotting around town trying to find her way home.
Ross was the only musician that attempted two of his very complex original instrumental compositions at the January 2020 Sunday Ramble. He performed his original “Doom Blap”, “Talhia”, and a third song, with vocals, “Something About You”. 
He switched playing between both the congas and guitar. Some of Key West’s best musicians were backing him up, the rhythms were strong, energetic, and convincing. The audience loved it and gave Ross a standing ovation.
At Saturday’s showcase, Ross switched guitars from his Gibson Les Paul to a Fender Stratocaster to play “Doom Blap”. He feels the Les Paul has a thicker rich full sound and the Stratocaster has a thin “spanky” tone for the funky rhythm of the song.
Ross Brown would love to publish his large recorded body of original songs and get his music widely distributed. For those that experienced his amazing 13-song set at the Key West Theater, we all hope he can release those and many more soon.
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