Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Carmen Lundy: Jazz And The New Songbook

162

Carmen Lundy: Jazz And The New Songbook

By

Sign in to view read count
Carmen Lundy: Jazz And The New  Songbook
Unlike many singers, Carmen Lundy does not recycle standards on her latest album, which was captured live at the Madrid Theater in Los Angeles. Instead, the program of new material she wrote (or co-wrote) makes for an unexpected listening experience.

Backed by an eighteen-piece ensemble, Lundy showcases her songs, many of which she premiered here. One immediately arresting track is "Afrasia!, the lyrics of which basically say the word "God in several languages (Hebrew, Hindi, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and others), and whose backing vocals lend a certain spontaneity. Also welcome to the ear is "Wild Child, which expresses an urge to discover one's inner infant.

Lundy's backing ensemble, which includes the LA String Quartet, has a grandiose sound, and the arrangements (also written by Lundy) suit the songs wonderfully. During her residence at Iridium in late February, she was backed by a very tight six-piece band that included two bass players (acoustic and electric).

Lundy stuck mostly to material from the live album, opening with "In Love Again, the smaller band improvising more freely. She also played some newly composed material, dedicating "Heart of Gold to the memory of the late Ray Barretto. The song had a Latinesque feel and lots of space for Cuban percussionist Mayra Casales to show off her skills.

It is hard to understand why Lundy chose to use two basses. (On the record, there is a third, played by Nathan East, who has worked with virtually everyone in the business.) The sound was not more profound, and the only noticeable difference was the increased freedom the bassists had during individual solos.

Jazz and The New Songbook is quite enjoyable, and Lundy's decision not to perform any standards ("There are plenty of them in my previous albums, she said during the Iridium concert) was a daring but wise one. The addition of, say, Gershwin or Cole Porter might have shifted the attention away from her original material.

Track Listing

In Love Again; One More River To Cross; Something To Believe In; Better Days; Where'd It Go; Wild Child; Afrasia!; Happy New Year; Lon Journey Home; You're Not In Love; Old Friend; (I Dream) In Living Color; Firefly; Vu ja De; Good Morning Kiss.

Personnel

Carmen Lundy: vocals; Robert Glasper: piano; Billy Childs:piano; Curtis Lundy: piano; Nathan East: bass; Kenny Davis: bass; Phil Upchurch: bass; Victor Lewis: guitar; Marvin Smith: drums; Mayra Casales: percussion; Steve Turre: trombone, conch shells; Bobby Watson: tenor sax; Mark Shim: alto sax; Krystal Williams: background vocals; Michelina Wright: violin; Albert Romero: violin; Catherine Lamb: viola; Rachel Arnold: cello.

Album information

Title: Jazz And The New Songbook | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Afrasia

Comments

Tags

Concerts


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.