CNY Jazz Orchestra: Swing to the Lord: An American Vespers
Title: Swing to the Lord: An American Vespers
Artist: CNY Jazz Orchestra
Label: CD Baby
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 683405580942
Genre: Jazz
Playing jazz in a church setting has been the single most revelatory experience in my career as a professional musician. Why? Unsurprisingly, given the underpinnings of jazz in blues and gospel, a significant part of the great body of secular jazz composition and the Great American Songbook was written with intrinsic spiritual intent, though produced for secular audiences and settings. So why is this kind of experience so unique and powerful? Jazz musicians frequently, one might say mostly, perform in surroundings where full attention is not being paid to their product. At our vespers, this disconnect disappears. Artists and audiences are bound together, sharing the essence, the joy, the journey of surprise and search for unspoken understanding that our art demands of us from moment to moment, every time we perform. Attention is complete and utterly focused, every soul in attendance feeling this vibe fully, kindled by the rapturous flame of the holy spirit emanating from the words and music. When I mentioned this phenomenon to a friend, a minister, he chuckled, saying to me, "My boy, you are describing the state of grace." May you, the listener, enjoy the content of this album in the spirit in which it is intended. This is not a Jazz Mass or Ellingtonian Suite, but a diverse collection of secular jazz, hymns, readings, and vocal tunes arranged in the usual format of our vespers events - not services, not concerts, but something in between these lines, a special place where a state of grace may be easily be achieved. As one of the readings on the album observes, "Friends, in plenty of time, our vision may find that to praise with pizzazz is doing church...with jazz." Many thanks to all those who made this effort possible - Reverend Pete Shidemantle, gracious host of the series and a great speaker and musician himself, Aminy Audi and Bill & Nancy Byrne, who generously financed the project, the congregation singers, the mind, pen and virtuosity of Barry Blumenthal (his incredibly spot-on free improv behind Pete's readings has always been totally instinctive, unrehearsed and impromptu), all the fine musicians of the quartet, Ronnie Leigh, whose intimate vocal wisdom puts an indelible signature on the project, Kara Shidemantle and Cookie Coogan, Ron Keck of Subcat studios and his impeccable ear, and all of the faithful congregants of Pebble Hill Presbyterian. A final bow to the pioneering jazz minister and pianist Bill Carter, whose concert at Pebble Hill (using our musicians as his combo) started it all, over twelve years ago, giving birth to our Vespers Series.
Tracks:
1.1 Dear Lord
1.2 Obviously
1.3 Catch the Wind
1.4 St. Mom
1.5 Hymn: Spirit of God (Feat. Kara Shildemantle)
1.6 Reading: Doing Church
1.7 Song for My Father (Feat. Ronnie Leigh)
1.8 Peace (Feat. Ronnie Leigh)
1.9 You Can Punch My Lips
1.10 Hymn: Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit (Feat. the Pebble Hill Congregation Singers ; Cookie Coogan)
1.11 Majestic Whisper
1.12 Comes Love
1.13 Father Joe
Audio Sample:
All soundclips are provided by Tidal and are for illustrative purposes only. For some releases, the tracks listed may not accurately represent the tracks on the physical release.
Artist: CNY Jazz Orchestra
Label: CD Baby
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 683405580942
Genre: Jazz
Playing jazz in a church setting has been the single most revelatory experience in my career as a professional musician. Why? Unsurprisingly, given the underpinnings of jazz in blues and gospel, a significant part of the great body of secular jazz composition and the Great American Songbook was written with intrinsic spiritual intent, though produced for secular audiences and settings. So why is this kind of experience so unique and powerful? Jazz musicians frequently, one might say mostly, perform in surroundings where full attention is not being paid to their product. At our vespers, this disconnect disappears. Artists and audiences are bound together, sharing the essence, the joy, the journey of surprise and search for unspoken understanding that our art demands of us from moment to moment, every time we perform. Attention is complete and utterly focused, every soul in attendance feeling this vibe fully, kindled by the rapturous flame of the holy spirit emanating from the words and music. When I mentioned this phenomenon to a friend, a minister, he chuckled, saying to me, "My boy, you are describing the state of grace." May you, the listener, enjoy the content of this album in the spirit in which it is intended. This is not a Jazz Mass or Ellingtonian Suite, but a diverse collection of secular jazz, hymns, readings, and vocal tunes arranged in the usual format of our vespers events - not services, not concerts, but something in between these lines, a special place where a state of grace may be easily be achieved. As one of the readings on the album observes, "Friends, in plenty of time, our vision may find that to praise with pizzazz is doing church...with jazz." Many thanks to all those who made this effort possible - Reverend Pete Shidemantle, gracious host of the series and a great speaker and musician himself, Aminy Audi and Bill & Nancy Byrne, who generously financed the project, the congregation singers, the mind, pen and virtuosity of Barry Blumenthal (his incredibly spot-on free improv behind Pete's readings has always been totally instinctive, unrehearsed and impromptu), all the fine musicians of the quartet, Ronnie Leigh, whose intimate vocal wisdom puts an indelible signature on the project, Kara Shidemantle and Cookie Coogan, Ron Keck of Subcat studios and his impeccable ear, and all of the faithful congregants of Pebble Hill Presbyterian. A final bow to the pioneering jazz minister and pianist Bill Carter, whose concert at Pebble Hill (using our musicians as his combo) started it all, over twelve years ago, giving birth to our Vespers Series.
Tracks:
1.1 Dear Lord
1.2 Obviously
1.3 Catch the Wind
1.4 St. Mom
1.5 Hymn: Spirit of God (Feat. Kara Shildemantle)
1.6 Reading: Doing Church
1.7 Song for My Father (Feat. Ronnie Leigh)
1.8 Peace (Feat. Ronnie Leigh)
1.9 You Can Punch My Lips
1.10 Hymn: Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit (Feat. the Pebble Hill Congregation Singers ; Cookie Coogan)
1.11 Majestic Whisper
1.12 Comes Love
1.13 Father Joe
Audio Sample:
All soundclips are provided by Tidal and are for illustrative purposes only. For some releases, the tracks listed may not accurately represent the tracks on the physical release.
