Darden Purcell, Love's Got Me In a Lazy Mood (Origin/OA2 Records)

contents

jazz

Darden Purcell's Origin Records debut 'Love's Got Me in a Lazy Mood' is a rich and swinging affair, featuring vibraphonist extraordinaire, Joe Locke! With inventive arrangements that harken back to the classic sounds of the 1950s-60s, the musicians embark on a journey of Great American Songbook standards, Latin-influenced repertoire and an original composition that tips its hat to the Hard-Bop era. Joining Purcell on this date is guitarist/arranger, Shawn Purcell, pianist, Todd Simon, bassist, Jeff Reed and drummer, Todd Harrison. Purcell's warm, lyrical, and swinging vocals, combined with this all-star band is certain to delight the ears and hearts of jazz fans everywhere.

Darden Purcell, a Washington D.C. based jazz vocalist, is an active featured soloist with symphony orchestras, big bands and small ensembles, band leader and vocal instructor. Ms. Purcell has shared the stage with many top jazz artists including Maria Schneider, Eric Alexander, Terell Stafford, Jim Pugh, Chip McNeill, Dana Hall, Alan Baylock, Glenn Wilson, Stockton Helbing, Byron Stripling, Bobby Floyd, Joel Spencer, Darmon Meader, Lisanne Lyons, Jim Carroll, Charlie Young, Chris Vadala, Matt Niess, Joe McCarthy, the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, US Navy Commodores, The Airmen of Note, US Army Blues, Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra and the American Festival Pops Orchestra (Tony Maiello) to name a few. Dr. Purcell is the Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice instructor and Director of the Downbeat award-winning Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble at George Mason University.

She has performed at concert halls and clubs nationally and internationally, including Club Bonafide (NYC), Blues Alley (Washington DC), Pops for Champagne (Chicago), The Jazz Kitchen (Indianapolis), The Blue Wisp (Cincinnati, The Kitchen Cafe (Dallas), The Bop Stop (Cleveland), Con Alma (Pittsburgh), JazzB (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Sandler Center (VA Beach Symphony) Meyerhoff Center (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra), Wolf Trap for the Performing Arts (National Symphony Orchestra with Ben Folds) and The Kennedy Center (back-up vocals for Mr. George Benson, Sara Bareilles and Caroline Shaw).

Ms. Purcell is a former Washington DC Air Force Band vocalist, with the groups High Flight and the Airmen of Note, performing in Germany, Italy, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Purcell performed back-up vocals for nationally renowned recording artists, Chaka Khan, BeBe Winans, Bryan White, Lari White, Freda Payne, Sherrie Payne, Melba Moore and Rita Coolidge as well as a televised performance behind Darlene Love on "The Late Show with David Letterman."

In addition to her active performing schedule, Dr. Purcell is a sought-after jazz educator. Her students have won honors at collegiate festivals, military band positions, and Downbeat Student Music Awards. The Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble has shared the stage with the Manhattan Transfer, the New York Voices, and ACCENT. They were awarded "Outstanding Ensemble" at the Kansas City Jazz Summit, were a featured collegiate ensemble at the 2018 JEN conference and in 2023, won a DownBeat Student Music Award for "Outstanding Performance - Undergraduate College Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble."

Darden has presented internationally at the Institute for Jazz Research "Jazz Voices" conference in Graz, Austria and through a George Mason University Global Education grant, she performed at Projeto GURI and JazzB in Sao Paulo Brazil. Purcell received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Jazz Performance at Virginia Tech, a Master of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Performance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Darden's CDs, Easy Living and Where the Blue Begins, produced by Stockton Helbing with arrangements by Shawn Purcell, can be purchased at iTunes and BandCamp.

Darden Purcell's latest project "Love's Got Me in a lazy Mood" is a rich and swinging affair, with powerful, impeccably performed arrangements that (IMHO) often evoke the memory of great arrangers like George Shearing and Marty Paich. Some serious musicianship from all the players. Darden has a lovely sense of 'history' in her sound - it's clear she's listened to all the greats, while giving these songs her own stamp. I love the Latin-influenced repertoire as well. Music full of joy - a pleasure.- Peter Eldridge, Vocalist, Pianist, Composer, Arranger and founding member of the New York Voices

This accomplished jazz singer is the real deal - Darden's warm, lyrical, and swinging vocals highlight the gorgeous top -notch arrangements on her latest offering - with lovely interplay throughout the album between veteran vibist Joe Locke and Darden's husband, guitarist and arranger Shawn Purcell. A swinging class act that is not to be missed!- Jeanie Bryson, Jazz Vocalist and Telarc Recording Artist

Vocalist Darden Purcell's newest recording, 'Love's Got Me In A Lazy Mood' is simply amazing! Darden presents fresh and innovative interpretations of jazz standards and timeless classics with a relaxed style, elegance, and sophistication. She gives us some wonderful surprises singing 'Estrada Branca' in Portuguese and writing the lyrics on 'Chatterbox'. You'll also love the incredible and inventive arrangements by guitarist and husband, Shawn Purcell.- Steve Allee, Jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and producer
Tracks, Times, Composer:
1. Willow Weep for Me – 6:37 (Ann Ronell)
2. Love's Got Me in a Lazy Mood – 6:24 (Edward Miller and Johnny Mercer)
3. Come Back to Me – 5:41 (Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner)
4. It's a Most Unusual Day – 5:48 (Harold Adamson and Jimmy McHugh)
5. I Concentrate on You – 4:57 (Cole Porter)
6. A Cottage for Sale – 5:35 (Willard Robison and Larry Conley)
7. Estrada Branca (This Happy Madness) – 5:55 (Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes; English Lyrics: Gene Lees)
8. Chatterbox – 7:24 (Shawn Purcell and Darden Purcell)*
9. Estate – 7:09 (Bruno Martino and Bruno Brighetti; English Lyrics: Joel Siegel)
10. Taking a Chance on Love – 6:32 (Vernon Duke, John Latouche and Ted Fetter)
11. You've Changed – 5:21 (Bill Carey and Carl Fischer)
* Arrangements: Shawn Purcell

Players, Instrument:
Darden Purcell – voice
Joe Locke (Pronounced "Lock") – vibraphone (1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 11)
Shawn Purcell – electric and nylon string guitars
Todd Simon – piano (except 8)
Jeff Reed – acoustic bass
Todd Harrison – drums and cymbals

write your comments about the article :: © 2023 Jazz News :: home page