La Rumba is a Lovesome Thing - Tribute to Billy Strayhorn
It's hard to measure in mere words the worth of an artist like Billy Strayhorn (1915 - 67). The music he gave to the world speaks so clearly and with such incredible musical imagination; so let me at least try to put into words what this project has meant to me. Taking on a Strayhorn tribute record is a pretty big mountain to climb; Billy's enormous importance to American music as a composer and profound integrity as a human being set the bar very high indeed as a model to aspire to. His body of work does not particularly need "reimagining"; the way he imagined it is, even this many decades on, about as good as it gets. I can only offer my restless mind as the motive for this 'Latin side of' tribute; and my curiosity, in wondering what the Ellington band might have sounded like had they all been born en la Havana.
For this CD is also a tribute to the profound influence Latin America has had on me. The music of Brazil, Puerto Rico, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, and particularly Cuba, has mesmerized me over the last fifteen to twenty years. I feel I have still barely scratched the surface in understanding the beautiful intricacies of these magnificent musical cultures.
The musicians on this album are all part of a New York City musical family. The core members of the group, known on previous releases as the Paul Carlon Octet, have been working together for, in most cases, ten years or more. In vocalist Christelle Durandy I have found the perfect foil for the colors and energy of the band.
As to the special guests: Chembo Corniel and I met playing in Harvie S's band; I am lucky to have his experience and deep feel here. And equally lucky to have Benjamin Lapidus on board. I've learned an awful lot playing in Ben's group Sonido Isleño for the last ten years, so he was a natural fit for this project. Pedrito Martinez and I met around 1999 when we were both part of Juan Pablo Torres' concert at the Town Hall, Cuba Without Frontiers; we continued working together several years later in the Ileana Santamaría Orchestra.
And the expertise of Obanilu Ire, who came on board on Christelle's recommendation, turned out to be a perfect fit as well. In the two years that have passed since I decided that a Strayhorn record would be this group's next recording project, we have gone through a very organic process of workshopping, rehearsing, and performing these songs live, adapting them to fit the unique personalities involved. I've spent many hours as well editing and rewriting them as they developed and as various aspects revealed themselves more fully.
Music comes from the heart, and it is our great pleasure to share how we feel about Billy, from our hearts to yours, on this album. It is also my personal privilege to be recording and performing with such big-hearted human beings. Many thanks to Ben, Beaver, Chembo, Mark, Anton, Mike, Christelle, Pedrito, John, Dave, Alex, Obanilu, and Ryan. A very special thanks also to my wife Lavita for all her love and support.
Read more: http://www.zohomusic.com/cds_detail.php?cds_id=124
