Detroit groove jazz guitarist dee Brown released his fifth album, Deep Secrets, on September 3 via Innervision Records, just days before the single “Tie The Knot,” featuring soul trumpeter Lin Rountree, headed to playlists. Though the cover resembles a captivating mystery novel, the secrets Brown explores aren’t fictional—they’re spiritual. Inspired by scripture and rooted in faith, the project blends R&B, jazz, soul, and gospel into a reflective, uplifting collection.
Brown began crafting the music a few years ago, and after the loss of his mother, to whom the album is dedicated, he found himself turning to the Bible for guidance and creative direction. The Detroit native quotes Corinthians as the cornerstone of the album: “For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.” When the pandemic struck, the recording process shifted to remote collaborations, with musicians sending their parts from home studios to Brown and GRAMMY-nominated producer Valdez Brantley, who handled piano, keyboards, strings, and programming. Billboard chart-topper Blake Aaron, multi-GRAMMY nominee Darren Rahn, and Nate Harasim also contributed production and mixing support.
The album’s first preview, “Smooth Talk,” climbed into the Billboard Top 30 last fall. Brown explains that the song’s inspiration came from Romans 16 and its warning about people who use “smooth talk and glowing words” to deceive. Michael Parlett’s fiery sax solo closes the track with soulful intensity. A second taste of the album arrived with “The Prize,” a warm, sunlit groove built on the idea of running life’s race with purpose—another nod to Corinthians.
“Love You Too,” released as a single last March, features bassist Darryl Williams and drummer Tony Moore laying down a deep, driving rhythm, earning the song more than 100,000 YouTube views. “Tie The Knot,” the next single, pairs Brown’s cool, melodic guitar lines with Rountree’s smooth and expressive trumpet, creating a charismatic musical conversation.
Throughout Deep Secrets, Brown explores everything from spiritual discipline and passion (“Controlled Passion”) to purpose and awakening (“Wake Up”) to the joy of family, as heard in “Pretty Girl (Skyler),” written for his first grandchild. The album also includes a powerful rendition of the gospel standard “Praise Is What I Do,” featuring vocalist Gerard Brooks, a full gospel choir, Merlon Devine on soprano sax, and an orchestral swell that sets the stage for Brown’s guitar to deliver a sermon of its own.
Since debuting with No Time To Waste in 2007 and later joining Innervision Records for Brown Sugar Honey-Coated Love, Brown has consistently delivered charting singles and memorable live performances. He has shared the stage with luminaries including Aretha Franklin, Al Jarreau, Jeffrey Osborne, Bob James, Spyro Gyra, Gerald Albright, Brian Culbertson, Najee, Paul Taylor, Paul Brown, Alexander Zonjic, and many others. With Deep Secrets, he brings together his musical influences, his spiritual grounding, and his signature groove into one deeply personal work.
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