Shelby Brown, Detroit Sax Man, to Play at Nighttown Saturday With Cleveland Native Alvin Frazier

Shelby Brown, a contemporary jazz saxophonist from Detroit, had ulterior motives when he persuaded Cleveland musician Alvin Frazier to join his 30-day tour of Asia in 2008.

Brown already appreciated the diverse musical talents that Frazier brought to live performances.

“As a musician, he’s superb,” Brown said by telephone from Detroit Wednesday, while he was preparing for his upcoming show with Frazier at . “He sings, he plays multiple instruments, and he’s a songwriter.”

Before the two men met, a mutual friend suggested Brown listen to some of the original music on Frazier’s website. The sax man fell in love with Frazier’s I’m in Love Again.

“I’ve got to have this song on my record,” he told himself. “I used the tour I was going on as bait to get Alvin to let me use that song.”

While they toured Japan, South Korea and Singapore, Brown wrote songs for his new CD, The Meaning of Life. Before the pair headed home, not only had he convinced Frazier to let him use the song he wanted so passionately, Frazier offered to perform it and record it.

“I drove in and recorded that song in Cleveland,” Brown said. “Alvin engineered it. Alvin is an extraordinary human being. You don’t meet too many genuine people these days. He is one of those people you can depend on.”

Brown, who recorded the rest of The Meaning of Life in Detroit, tends to write music that “feels good to the spirit” and “will move people whether it’s slow or fast.”

 His goal is to produce music that warms the heart and relaxes the senses.

“I’d like to have a song in your car CD player that causes you to miss your exit,” he said.

But there will be a lot of energy when Brown and Frazier take the Nighttown stage on Saturday. Brown also likes to share some of his life experiences with audience members. 

“They can expect to feel some warmth from me, some encouragement, some motivation,” Brown said.

Brown's passion other than performing is passing down his love of music to youngsters. He has helped create the Music Diversion Program, an organization devoted to helping families who cannot afford instruments for their children and starting arts education programs in public schools without them. 

He said he'd like to be successful enough to walk into a concert in any city, see 40 kids out there and say, “Here. Have some instruments.”

Brown and Walker will perform I’m in Love Again at the show, which starts at 8 p.m. at Nighttown, 12387 Cedar Road. Admission is $15.