New CD, Braden-Rapp: The Strayhorn Project at Blues Alley

There's a brand new CD out featuring Don Braden on saxophone and flute, Mark Rapp on trumpet, GRAMMY nominated Gerald Clayton on piano, Sachal Vasandani on vocals, Rene Hart on bass and Greg Gonzalez on drums. The record is the brainchild of celebrated producer Billy Terrell and is comprised of modern, contemporary arrangements from the Billy Strayhorn songbook. The band is built upon the artist roster of Gail Boyd, entertainment lawyer turned manager and mainstay in the world of jazz for over 30 years. Being acutely aware of consumer tendencies in our modern age, The Strayhorn Project was released digitally on iTunes, Amazon.com and the label's site premiummusicsolutions.com first with a physical offering coming in January 2010.

George W. Carrol of The Musician's Ombudsman is one of the first to review this new record saying “This CD project is a true successful experiment in the art of re-composing the composition. The harmonic and rhythmic deception in both 'Satin Doll' and 'Chelsea Bridge' is in a word fortuitous and striking... The Strayhorn Project comes to fruition very deliberately and impressively with exciting digressions into the world of harmony and melody. I must address as well the musical dialogue between these fine players creating an overall tonal scheme of both subtlety and imagination."

On December 14th, the group will have their debut appearance in celebration of the digital release at the famed Blues Alley Jazz Club in Washington, D.C. For details, tickets, music, pictures and to learn more about Braden-Rapp: The Strayhorn Project, please visit bradenrapp.com