|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| ICYMI: Ermelinda Cuellar - What A Difference A Day Made The project was conceived at the height of the pandemic. With venues closed, Cuellar wanted to create work for her underemployed bandmates. They began recording in December 2020, but COVID hit close to home. Percussionist Anibal Ambert came to the recording session with what he thought was a cold after a negative Covid test. A few days later, he was re-tested and found to have Covid. His condition worsened rapidly, and five days later, he died. Heartbroken, Cuellar found it challenging to listen to the project or find the strength to finish it. However, she and the band knew Anibal would have wanted them to push on and put their collective work out into the world. Ermelinda learned resilience and how to make the best of situations from a young age. Her Peruvian parents secured work as live-in servants for a rich woman. It was here that she first heard live bands and beautiful recordings at the events in the Houston mansion. Unfortunately, due to racism and attitudes toward immigrants, the family's treatment worsened, and the family had to leave their living situation. However, the music she heard inspired her to pursue a career as a vocalist. Largely self-taught at jazz, she holds a degree from Opera Performance from the prestigious Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. What a Difference a Day Made is the vibrant, thrilling, new album from Houston-based vocalist Ermelinda Cuellar. Two originals join re-imagined jazz standards and Spanish songs. It is a celebration of life and love through Latin music and straight-ahead jazz. The band playfully weaves a tapestry of textures and grooves for listeners to delight in and explore. After losing her band member to COVID five days after the recording, Cuellar bravely pushed on to complete this project. What a Difference a Day Made marks American vocalist Ermelinda Cuellar's first widely-distributed release. Born to Peruvian parents in Texas, Cuellar is well-known to Houston audiences as one of the busiest musicians playing jazz and Latin music in the region. Her background, bandstand experience, and training in opera result in vocals with clear intonation, rhythmically precise improvisations, and passionate story-telling in English and Spanish. Listeners remark that her vocal quality is reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald. The authentic Latin grooves provided by some of Texas' top musicians provide a heartbeat for this album that she hopes will "lighten your soul." Ermelinda graduated from the Moores School of music with a degree in Opera Performance and worked professionally in opera and musical theatre for many years before focusing her direction on jazz. Upon hearing it, She felt the same feeling of enchantment and wonder that she did as a child and realized she wanted to go down this path and explore finding her own unique sound. Many different artists and musical styles influence her vocals, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall, Sarah Vaughan, Kurt Elling, Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, Blossom Dearie, Susana Baca, Omara Portuondo, etc. Her background, bandstand experience, and training in opera result in vocals with clear intonation, rhythmically precise improvisations, and passionate storytelling in English and Spanish. She has performed at the Trinity Jazz Festival in Houston, TX, in January 2019 as one of "The Jewels of Jazz." They opened for jazz pianist Helen Sung. Then she was invited back in January 2020; she was part of "The Bluebonnet Blossoms" group, which opened for jazz vocalist Roseanna Vitro. In addition, Cuellar has performed at many venues in Houston, including Cezannes, The Glade Art Center, CPAM (Center for Performing Arts and Medicine), The River Oaks Country Club, Artisans Restaurant, Plane and Level, The Boom Boom Room, MKT Bar, McCormick and Schmick's and a variety of different venues and private events in and around Houston. TRACKS AND TIMES & COMPOSER: 1. Man with a Horn 3:16 (De Lange/Lake/Jenney) 2. Sabor a Mi 5:08 (Carrillo) 3. Al Mal Tiempo Buena Cara (original) 5:34 (Cuellar) 4. I Could Have Danced All Night 4:02 (Lerner/Lowe) 5. Midnight Sun 5:47 (Burke/Hampton/Mercer) 6. Angelitos Negros 4:15 (Renteria/Blanco) 7. What a Difference a Day Made 4:51(Adams/Grever) 8. Duerme Niño (original) 4:30 (Cuellar) 9. Who's Crying Now 5:16 (Cain/Perry) 10. Historia De Un Amor 4:55 (Almaran) 11. Alone Together 4:32 (Dietz/Schwartz) PLAYERS & INSTRUMENTS: Ermelinda Cuellar - Vocals Gilbert Sedeño - Piano Greg Petito - Guitar Anthony Caceres - Bass Andre Hayward - Trombone Marlon Simon - Drums & Percussion (In memory of) Anibal Ambert - Percussion Artist: Ermelinda Cuellar CD Title: What a Difference a Day Made Street Date: March 11, 2022 Add Date: March 14, 2022 Label Name: Self-Released Website: www.ermelindacuellar.com write your comments about the article :: © 2022 Jazz News :: home page |