|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| Holiday Alert: June Bisantz, 7 Shades of Snow (Arabesque Records) Arabesque Records is proud to present June Bisantz "7 Shades of Snow" Featuring the Jon Burr Sextet A holiday recording had long been in Bisantz' creative plans. A lover of the holidays with their focus on love and celebration, she understands the holiday season is also a time of reckoning - with the year just past and the new one just ahead. Her search for material led her to a collection of holiday/winter songs written by American composers Connie Pearce and Arnold Miller in 1960-61 for cool-jazz singer June Christy. "smooth, seductive, infections….simply so catching that the album will leave you wanting to hear more." -Jazziz "a revelation - caressing and velvety, but electrically alive." -People Magazine "entrancing - deep and opulently hued, with an alto tonality that adds to the sensuality of the lyrics and connects the listener to the journey." -Sound in Review 7 Shades of Snow is proof of music's power to transcend all barriers. Begun in the winter of 2020 at the height of pandemic restrictions, this project was conceived, arranged, and recorded remotely in seven separate studios with musicians who had never met - but are now forever connected through this musical adventure. Digital technology combined with the talent and generous spirit of Jon Burr and his jazz sextet made 7 Shades of Snow a reality in spite of widespread lockdowns. A holiday recording had long been in Bisantz' creative plans. A lover of the holidays with their focus on love and celebration, she understands the holiday season is also a time of reckoning - with the year just past and the new one just ahead. Her search for material led her to a collection of holiday/winter songs written by American composers Connie Pearce and Arnold Miller in 1960-61 for cool-jazz singer June Christy. Already a June Christy fan, Bisantz quickly became enamored of these sophisticated and unusual songs and their cool-jazz vibe. Witty, ironic, and introspective, these songs are most of all honest about the range of feelings we experience during the holiday season. Bisantz and Christy share a vocal range as well a first name, and they sing these songs in the same key. The six songs on 7 Shades of Snow speak not just to the holidays - but to the winter season as well - the poignance of New Year's Eve (Sorry to See You Go), the long wait for spring (Winter's Got Spring Up Its Sleeve) and the beauty of snow itself as a canvas for all the colors of the rainbow (7 Shades of Snow). Bassist Jon Burr's inspired arrangements form the musical foundation of the project. With his acclaimed jazz sextet, he produced the instrumental tracks, recorded and delivered remotely, and encouraged Bisantz to create a sound studio in her home to record the vocal tracks. Reflecting on the process, Bisantz says "Creating this body of work has been an unexpected ray of light in the midst of a dark time for the world. Through this project I have discovered an entirely new way of making music." What began in the isolation of Covid-19, has resulted in this exuberant collaboration, connecting artists across seemingly insurmountable barriers Bisantz' current release on the Arabesque label is a collection of unusual, upbeat holiday/winter songs written by Arnold Miller and Connie Pearce for June Christy in 1961. The EP combines a cool-jazz vibe with soulful introspection about the complex emotions evoked by the winter holidays. Vocalist and visual artist JUNE BISANTZ has co-written and produced several collections of original vocal jazz, all of which have received national recognition. She has toured internationally and performed and recorded with distinguished jazz musicians including Steve Swallow, Paul Brown, Mike Stern, Steve Davis, Lew Soloff, Jerry Neiwood, & Will Lee. Reviews and articles about her work have appeared in publications including People Magazine, USA Today, Downbeat, Jazziz Magazine, Jazz Podium, Germany, JazzRu, Russia, Jazz USA and the New York Times. Her work has been released on the Pausa and Nova labels, Los Angeles; Alpha Records, Japan and most recently, Arabesque Records, NY. Bisantz' critically acclaimed 2019 release, LOVE'S TANGO, co-written with pianist/composer Alex Nakhimovsky, earned a 2019 Global Music Award for excellence in lyrics and songwriting. TRACKS, TIMES & COMPOSER: 1 - The Merriest 2:30 Arnold Miller & Connie Pearce 2 - Ring a Merry Bell 3:21 Arnold Miller & Connie Pearce 3 - Hang Them On The Tree. 3:23 Arnold Miller & Connie Pearce 4 - 7 Shades of Snow 3:10. Arnold Miller & Connie Pearce 5 - Sorry To See You Go 2:18. Arnold Miller & Connie Pearce 6 - Winter's Got Spring Up Its Sleeve 2:56 Arnold Miller & Connie Pearce PLAYERS & INSTRUMENTS: June Bisantz: vocals John Burr: bass Mike Eckroth: piano James Chirillo: (Char-ill-o): guitar Brandon Lee: trumpet Marc Pfaneuf (Fan-oof): saxophone Alvester Garnett: drums Artist June Bisantz Release: 7 Shades of Snow Add Date: November 8, 2021 Street Date: October 1, 2021 Label: Arabesque Records Label Website: arabesquerecords.com Artist Website: junebisantz.com. write your comments about the article :: © 2021 Jazz News :: home page |