ONE NOTE AT A TIME  By Andy Jones
Page 2  Continuation

   He played regular gigs there for several years with the Chris Braun Trio,
but had to quit again briefly when he was diagnosed with catatonic seizures.
Once again, though he persevered and started a new band the Jazz Roots Trio
in 2003.
   "I stopped playing because of the seizures and I got into playing organ
and then Jazz Roots came along and I put my energy into that," Braun said.
   The Jazz Roots Trio (steady members of the group include Braun and
pianist Ken Roy Berry) plays every Tuesday night at The Seafood Peddler
in San Rafael, CA and Braun also teaches drum lessons and practices for
hours everyday.
   He also spends time with his schizophrenic 56-year-old brother, a task that can
be demanding and rewarding.  Braun spends time working as an advocate on his
brother's behalf, simultaneously working to help him navigate the system and
seeking change.
   "I love my brother.  I've been fighting the mental health system in Marin County,"
Braun said.
   Braun has on several occasions voiced concerns over access and facilities at
Marin County Mental Health Board meetings and has recently helped his brother
settle into a new halfway house. 
   "I think he's going to like it,"  Braun said.  "It's near the store where he goes
every morning to get his coffee.  Every two days I take my brother to McDonald's
for coffee and from all those years of being by himself, he's developed an incredible
and beautiful life."
   While helping his brother, Braun openly admits that his own internal life isn't
quite where he'd like it to be.
   "My brain isn't perfect, it's not all there.  I have false memory and I see things
incorrectly sometimes," Braun said.  "Dennis Irwin called me up, he's the bass
player for Scofield, and he calls me every time he's in town.  He said I should come
back to New York, but I told them I had to fix this first.  That's what you have to do
to recover.
   "But day by day I feel like I become more stable," Braun said.  Adding that his
regular sessions with Dr. Wong combined with visits to a psychologist are improving
his mind and his drumming.
   "I apply it all to my drumming.  I use acupuncture points when I hold the sticks
and they're lighter and there's more air around me and my fingers really move
with that energy," Braun said.  "It's a constant learning process.  I practice hours
and hours, 5 or 6 hours a day, and that's what it takes.  You can't expect to get
anywhere without practice."
   Braun said he hopes that other people can find hope in his story.
   "There are a lot of people out there, not only disabled people, but people who
are hurt inside, who've had experiences that hurt them emotionally," Braun said.
"But there is hope.  It all comes down to discipline.  It's a gift like air or water,
but you have to know when to stop.  It's a slow process but I've committed
myself to it."
   For now the process is continuing weekly at the Seafood Peddler, every
Tuesday and at various other gigs around the area, including a September 2
performance as part of the Corte Madera Town Center's Summer Music Series.
   "People have special gifts, everybody does.  Mine is playing the drums,"
Braun said.  "People need to look inside to find out what their gift is."