From the sounds of his native Bay Area to the musical traditions of Harlem, drummer, singer, and songwriter Eric Brown is all about groove. Playing drums with a range of great artists from Rachelle Ferrell and Lalah Hathaway to Sheila E., and now leading his own stellar band, Eric is always in the pocket—and turns up the heat when it’s time to “give the drummer some”—while bringing new colors and a warm vibe to the music. U MATTER, the new record from Eric Brown, comprises 11 R&B/soul tracks featuring Eric on vocals and drums, alongside a stellar group of musicians and singers whose fine performances augment his compositions. Stepping out from behind the kit, Eric delivers a broad palette of songs—from the dense, orchestrated “Shine” and the stripped-down title track to the striking “We Get Along” (with Grammy-winning bassist Paul Nowinski) and the complex “Still,” to “Go” (featuring Sara Devine on vocals and an epic guitar solo by Sherrod Barnes), “Far Away From Home,” the slow jam “Hidden Treasure,” “My Way,” the introspective “What Surrounds Me,” the airy, heartfelt “Letter,” and the church- inflected funky closer, “Dance.” The album is distributed by Spoonfed Entertainment/The Orchard and produced by Eric Brown and Gabe Kirchheimer.