|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| Gloria Reuben New Jazz Album : Perchance to Dream -- Three chances to see Gloria Reuben perform songs from her new Jazz album, Perchance to Dream. Gloria is performing at the Metropolitan Room 34 W. 22nd Street, New York NY 10010, (212) 206-0440, on Thursday, April 9, at 7:00pm, Friday, April 17 and Thursday, April 30, at 9:30pm. Perchance to Dream, (MCGJ 1041) the debut jazz album from Gloria Reuben is a collection of standards with a fresh approach that highlights her storytelling and intimate singing style. Every track on Perchance to Dream has been given a unique treatment. The album kicks off with a jazz waltz version of the Irving Berlin standard, Change Partners followed by a powerful original tune, one of two on the album, "Poor Girl" with lyrics from the poem Poor Girl by the late Dr. Maya Angelou and music by Jay Ashby. Next is a mambo performance of "Close Enough For Love" and a playful Samba rendition of "Pure Imagination." The second original composition is a beautiful ballad entitled "When I Close My Eyes" written specifically for Gloria by K. Lawrence Dunham and Carol Robbins. "How Am I to Know" has a Bossa Nova feel and the classic ballad, "Save Your Love for Me" has been given a contemporary adaptation. The album includes a swinging "You Better Love Me" and a sexy jazz rock version of "Sharing The Night With The Blues". The record ends with an acoustic depiction of "Here's To Life, " just as powerful as any production ever done. "The record has a wonderful mix of styles and emotions. I especially like the fresh new arrangement of 'Save Your Love For Me'!" Legendary songstress and NEA Jazz Master, Nancy Wilson As an actress, singer and social activist, Reuben has amassed impressive credentials in television, film, theater and music. Many will remember Reuben as the HIV+ health care professional "Jeanie Boulet" on the hit NBC series ER, a role that garnered her two Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nomination. Since then, she has had multiple regular starring roles in a variety of other television series, including Raising The Bar and Falling Skies and film appearances including Elizabeth Keckley, in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln and starring opposite Samuel L. Jackson in Reasonable Doubt. She is also an avid supporter of The Climate Reality Project, a non-profit organization that spreads awareness of, and solutions for the global climate change crisis and supports the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Reuben, born in Toronto, Ontario, started classical piano lessons at the age of five and later studied music technique and theory, ballet and jazz at the Canadian Royal Conservatory. Reuben's music career includes being a backup singer for Tina Turner in 2000, which led her to record her first solo album and now her first jazz record. write your comments about the article :: © 2015 Jazz News :: home page |