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| Acclaimed Jazz Vocalist & Composer ELLIE MARTIN'S "MORNING GLORIES" Celebrates Her Children ELLIE MARTIN's new album MORNING GLORIES is a remarkable exploration of family and nature, communicated through the perspective of a 39-year-old singer, songwriter, and mother. A self-proclaimed "Vocal Jazz Nerd, " Martin holds a degree in voice from McGill University, a Master's in Vocal Jazz Performance from the University of Toledo and a Doctorate in Jazz Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. She has returned to the University of Toledo to teach the vocal jazz ensemble, and she also teaches voice at the Toledo School of the Arts. Her graduate studies on the life and work of NEA Jazz Master Jon Hendricks connected her with the members of Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices and—by extension—the supergroup Moss. Yet, in speaking with Martin, it is clear that she is especially passionate about her two young children. Their unending sense of discovery and exploration were the primary inspiration for the dozen original songs on the new album's playlist. While the lyrics are narrated through Martin's adult voice, they reflect the wonder of a toddler's world. The album's opening track "Love and Light" illustrates the dual viewpoints: "Tiny feet that pitter patter ever so sweet/ with rain pourin' down while you chase each drop. / A bucket of love, a slide in the mud/ A daredevil hug/ You find the biggest puddle. / Splash everyone and laugh at order/ Having fun is rule number one." Martin's personal triumph as a cancer survivor has only enhanced her appreciation for the visions of her children, the wonders of nature, and the joy of life itself. The songs on MORNING GLORIES explore these themes in depth. The title track uses morning glories as a powerful visual for children—both beautiful and fragile, yet chaotic and unpredictable, like vines sprawling in every direction. "Spring's Around the Corner" comments on the phenomenon of re-birth, which is experienced by new parents. Martin composed the song as an homage to Blossom Dearie (and specifically her signature song, "They Say It's Spring"). "Little Flowers" is also a tribute, this time to songwriter and poet Gabriel Kahane and his classic 2018 album Book of Travelers. "Lonely in a Crowd" relates the now-common problem of adults who are so enamored by social media and technology that they miss the simple joys of life, and "Shattered Shadow" is a lament for sleep-deprived mothers. "Asking Us to Change" is a passionate plea for the current generation to protect the environment for ourselves and our children. Martin drew inspiration for "Woman in the Frame" from the enigmatic Arnolfini Portrait, painted in 1434 by the Dutch artist Jan van Eyck. The piece was written in the wake of the reversal of Roe v.Wade, as Martin reflected on the troubling realization that her daughters now face a world with fewer bodily rights than she had as a child. The song grapples with the question: Are we slipping back to a time reminiscent of the medieval era, where a woman's value is often framed by her ability to bear children? "Dancer in the Dark" reflects Martin's relationship with her aging father and her hope that they can find deeper connection in the years that remain. After becoming a mother, Martin became profoundly aware of both the beginning and the end of life—the vulnerability we all share when entering this world and the inevitability of our limited time within it. The album closes with "Everything Must Come Down, " a meditation on mortality and the finite nature of existence. In this piece, Martin imagines time as a character, a quiet companion present in every life, often overlooked but always there, reminding us to embrace the moments we are given before they slip away. To create this stunning collection of songs, Martin worked closely with her friend and mentor, pianist/vocalist PETER ELDRIDGE. Eldridge also anchors the album's rhythm section, playing piano and adding background and duet vocals (Eldridge's unique vocal harmonies are a highlight of the lullaby "Unraveling"). Saxophonist ANDREW BISHOP and trumpeter BEN WOLKINS provide horn obbligati on selected tracks, while guitarist KEITH GANZ provides exemplary solos on three songs. As he did on Martin's previous album Verdant, KURT KRAHNKE holds the bass chair with distinction, and Martin's husband OLMAN PIEDRA provides a wide range of percussive sounds. On two tracks, recorded while Piedra was performing on the road, ROB AVSHARIAN fills in on drums. One song on MORNING GLORIES deserves special attention. "Pays de Désir" (English title: "Land of Enchantment") is sung entirely in French and is split over two tracks. Martin attended a French immersion school for four years as part of her elementary education and then spoke French when she was an undergraduate student in Montréal. The introduction to the song reflects the classical music that Martin sang at McGill University, while the main section of the song is set to an Afro-Caribbean beat that Martin first heard on a recording by Cécile McLorin Salvant. Martin's friend and fellow vocalist Kate McGarry suggested that the classical section should play as a separate track with a segue to the faster, active beat. Martin's French lyrics, inspired by the collaborations of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, are presented here in Martin's own translation (the lyrics do not appear in the album's artwork): It's at almost the end of the world, my dream / My hands trembling while waiting A hope of love that shines in the stars / In a country far away from here, I saw you and my heart quickly began to beat / The dream of your lips flooded me Let's escape daily life and let love carry us away / Let's live life for joy and peace – And our hearts to be filled with happiness / Your eyes as blue as the sea, freed me from my sorrow Your words of love, a poetry that surrounds me / Open your heart and hold me in your arms Hold me, sing for me with your deep voice / I invite you to the land of desire, a fantasy of pleasure. Set to a collection of exquisitely crafted melodies, Ellie Martin's message of hope, passion, discovery and love carries through every track of MORNING GLORIES. If there are CD players still around two decades from now, I hope that Martin's children will revisit this recording to experience their mother's profound music. # # # MORNING GLORIES will be released on May 11, 2025 and will be available on all streaming platforms. Physical CDs will be available at Bandcamp. write your comments about the article :: © 2025 Jazz News :: home page |