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PURCHASE CODE NOIR

“These songs encompass the musical and artistic influences from the African diaspora and its influence on jazz and other musical genres – the bossa nova, the blues, swing, funk, the exploration into the avant-garde,” says Carmen.

“Yet they also encompass the many emotions that are prevalent in this country right now. We are going through tough times with a country that is sorely divided and many of these tracks reflect the feelings that we as human beings are going through on an individual level. CODE NOIR actually refers to the first law ever written by a person in power of a sovereign nation/empire – the King of France Louis XIV – the first law to disallow and make illegal the integration of the African race into white European society.” Having written or co-written all twelve tracks on the album, Carmen envelops her listeners from the start with the questioning opening song, “Another Chance” – a thought-provoking title truly pertinent in the world today. “Live Out Loud” encourages us to do just that while “Black And Blues” is about our present affairs, “the legacy of the black experience in America,” says Carmen. “The unplanned fallout and result of legislating and legalizing systemic racism.” She adds, “The electric guitar in the song illustrates its contribution to all things defining American culture through song.”

On another heartfelt level the glories of love at first – and second – sight are explored on “Second Sight” while “The Island, The Sea and You,” a song Carmen wrote while on a trip to Hawaii, is an ode to the love of Lundy’s life. The infectious “Have A Little Faith” explores the rhythms born of the African experience and originating from the African continent which the singer has always loved – and as an African American, has always identified with – while the lyrics of “Whatever It Takes” implore us to be strong in the face of this imperfect world.

The tracks “I Got Your Number,” “I Keep Falling” and “You Came Into My Life” are keen observations on the state of the modern-day romantic relationship in all its various stages. The CD closes with the inspired “Kumbaya,” originally spoken as ‘Come By Here’ in the south, “perhaps in the Gullah language of slaves from Angola brought to the Carolinas, to my understanding,” says Carmen. “It’s a song to my family. A plea to humanity.”

Masterfully accompanying Carmen on the new album is Patrice Rushen on piano who once again joins Carmen on this outing, Ben Williams on acoustic and electric bass, Jeff Parker on electric guitar, Kendrick Scott on drums and percussion and Elisabeth Oei on background vocals. In addition to vocals, Lundy also plays keyboards and guitar and arranged all the songs.

Track Listing

1. Another Chance * (3:44)
2. Live Out Loud (4:35)
3. Black And Blues (3:47)
4. Whatever It Takes (4:23)
5. Afterglow (4:46)
6. Second Sight (3:36)
7. The Island, The Sea, And You (4:31)
8. I Keep Falling (5:25)
9. I Got Your Number * (5:01)
10. You Came Into My Life (4:51)
11. Have A Little Faith (2:48)
12. Kumbaya (4:38)

Personnel:

Carmen Lundy – vocals, keyboards, guitar, string programming, background vocals
Patrice Rushen – piano
Ben Williams – acoustic bass, electric bass
Kendrick Scott – drums, percussion
Jeff Parker – electric guitar
Elisabeth Oei – background vocals

All songs composed and arranged by Carmen Lundy, C. Lundy Publishing/ASCAP except * by Carmen Lundy and Julie Raynor (Castle Dream Music/BMI).

Produced by Elisabeth Oei and Carmen Lundy
Recorded and Mixed by Don Murray at Stagg Street Studios, Van Nuys, CA
Mixed at Afrasia Studios, Woodland Hills, CA
Mastered by Sangwook Sunny Nam at Jacob’s Well Mastering, NH

Released on Afrasia Records

PURCHASE SOUL TO SOUL

Featuring the stellar talents of guest artists Patrice Rushen, Geri Allen, Randy Brecker, Mayra Casales, Simphiwe Dana, Bennie Maupin, Carol Robbins, Ada Rovatti, and Warren Wolf along with Carmen’s core rhythm section members Darryl Hall and Jamison Ross , “Soul To Soul” invites the listener on an intriguing journey. The moods and moments of “Soul To Soul” are genre-bending and traverse many borders, both literally and figuratively.

Track Listing

1. Kindred Spirits (5:22)
2. Life Is A Song In Me (6:15)
3. Soul To Soul (6:39)
4. When Will They Learn (7:11)
5. Daybreak (5:13)
6. Between Darkness and Dawn (4:09)
7. Grace (6:35)
8. Grateful Pt. 1 (4:36)
9. Grateful Pt. 2 (4:44)
10. Everything I Need (6:32)
11. Don’t You Know How I Feel (4:34)
12. Sardegna (5:37)
13. What’s Your Story, Morning Glory (4:28)

Personnel

Carmen Lundy – vocals, piano, Rhodes, keyboards, guitar, drums, percussion, string arrangements and programming
Patrice Rushen – piano, Rhodes, keyboards
Geri Allen – piano, Rhodes
Darryl Hall – acoustic bass, electric bass
Jamison Ross – drums, percussion
Mayra Casales – percussion, congas
Carol Robbins – harp
Warren Wolf – vibes
Randy Brecker – trumpet, ugelhorn
Ada Rovatti – tenor sax
Bennie Maupin – tenor sax, soprano sax Simphiwe Dana – vocals

Background Vocals – Carmen Lundy, Patrice Rushen, Jamison Ross, Mayra Casales, Darryl Hall, Elisabeth Oei

All songs composed and arranged by Carmen Lundy, C. Lundy Publishing/ASCAP except * by Marilyn Redfield, ** by Mary Lou Williams, *** by Carmen Lundy and Julie Raynor (Castle Dream Music/ASCAP), **** by Carmen Lundy and Deborah Ash (Compashe Music/ASCAP), by Carmen Lundy and Simphiwe Dana

Produced by Elisabeth Oei, Carmen Lundy
Recorded and Mixed by Don Murray at Firehouse Recording Studios, Pasadena, CA and Mixed at Afrasia Studios, Woodland Hills, CA
Mastered by Doug Sax at Mastering Lab, Ojai, CA CD Cover Photo by Victor Dlamini

PURCHASE CHANGES

Her core band of stellar musicians – Anthony Wonsey on piano, Kenny Davis on bass, and Jamison Ross on drums – and special guest artists Oscar Castro-Neves on guitar, Nolan Shaheed on trumpet and flugelhorn, and George Bohanon on trombone, round out this superb collection of new songs. Recorded and mixed by the incomparable Don Murray and mastered by the legendary Doug Sax, this album is sure to win over old and new fans alike.

TRACK LISTING:

1. The Night Is Young
2. So Beautiful
3. Love Thy Neighbor
4. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
5. Sleeping Alone
6. Too Late For Love
7. Dance The Dance
8. To Be Loved By You
9. Where Love Surrounds Us

PERSONNEL:

Carmen Lundy – vocals, harp, string and horn arrangements
Anthony Wonsey – piano, Fender Rhodes
Kenny Davis – bass, electric bass
Jamison Ross – drums, percussion
Oscar Castro-Neves – guitar
Nolan Shaheed – trumpet, flugelhorn
George Bohanon – trombone

Recorded June 13 and 14, 2011 at Castle Oaks Recording Studio, Calabasas, CA. Mixed at G Studios, Laurel Canyon, CA. Mastered by Doug Sax with Robert Hadley at The Mastering Lab, Ojai, CA.

© 2012 Afrasia Productions, Inc.

Track Listing

1. Night and Day
2. Everything Must Change
3. Easy To Love
4. My Old Flame
5. Do Nothing ‘Til You Hear From Me
6. Lullaby of Birdland
7. More Than You Know
8. Willow Weep For Me
9. My Shining Hour
10. Everytime We Say Goodbye.

PERSONNEL

Carmen Lundy: Vocals
Kenny Kirkland: Piano
Alex Blake: Bass & Electric Bass
Curtis Lundy: Bass
Victor Lewis: Drums
Rodney Jones: Guitar
Ricky Ford: Tenor Saxophone

Track List:

1. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
2. Better Days*
3. My Favorite Things
4. Firefly*
5. Forgive Me*
6. These Things You Are To Me*
7. Triste
8. I Don’t Want To Love Without You**
9. Old Friend*
10. Here’s To You*
11. My Ship
12. ‘Round Midnight

Personnel:

Cedar Walton – Piano
John Clayton – Bass
Nathan East – Electric Bass
Ralph Penland – Drums
Earnie Watts – TenorSax
Gary Herbig – Soprano Sax and Flute

*Written By Carmen Lundy ** Written By Carmen Lundy and Julie Raynor
Produced by Akira Taguchi Orchestra Arrangements by Jeremy Lubbock All other songs arranged by Carmen Lundy except Triste which was arranged by John Clayton
Label: JVC
Released: April 24, 1995

Track List:

1. Time Is Love*
2. Dindi
3. The Lamp Is Low 4. Perfect Stranger**
4. Good Morning Kiss ***
5. Show Me That You Love Me**
6. Love For Sale 8. Quiet Times*
7. Dindi (Alternate take)
8. Perfect Stranger (Alternate take)
9. Good Morning Kiss (Alternate take)

Personnel

Carmen Lundy – vocals
Harry Whitaker – Piano
Curtis Lundy, Ben Brown – Bass
Victor Lewis – Drums
Mayra Casales – Percussion
Bobby Watson – Alto Sax
Rene McLean – Tenor Sax
Steve Turre – Trombone
Jon Faddis – Trumpet
Earl Gardner – Trumpet

Produced by Carmen Lundy Executive Producer: Jack Tamen
Co-Producers: Peter O’Brien S.J. and Harry Whitaker
Horn Arrangements by Bobby Watson
Label: CLR (Limited Edition) Originally Released on Blackhawk
Released: September, 1985

Track List

1. All Day, All Night – 6:20
2. This is the End of a Love Affair – 3:58
3. Now That He’s Gone – 5:28
4. Better Luck Next Time – 4:38
5. Send Me Somebody to Love – 4:47
6. (I Dream) In Living Color – 10:49
7. Is It Love – 8:41
8. One More River to Cross – 6:44
9. Seventh Heaven – 3:26 (Dedicated to Kenny Kirkland)

Personnel:

Onaje Allan Gumbs, Piano – 3,7,8
Anthony Wonsey, Piano or Fender Rhodes – 1,2*,4,5,6,8*,9
Curtis Lundy, Bass
Ralph Peterson Jr., Drums
Mayra Casales, Percussion – 1,5,6
Bobby Watson Alto Sax
Mark Shim, Tenor and Soprano Sax
Kevin Louis, Trumpet and Flugelhorn

Produced by Curtis Lundy Engineered by Billy Szawlowski
All compositions by Carmen Lundy
Label: Justin Time
Released Sept. 25, 2001

Track List

1. In Love Again -by Carmen Lundy (arr: Curtis Lundy)
2. Something To Believe In* -by Carmen Lundy and Rich Meitin
3. Windmills Of Your Mind* -by M. Legrand, A. & M. Bergman
4. Happiness Is -by Carmen Lundy and Elisabeth Oei
5. Wild Child* -by Carmen Lundy, Julie Raynor, Elisabeth Oei
6. I Loves You Porgy -by G.Gershwin, I. Gershwin, D. Heyward
7. Vu Ja De -by Carmen Lundy
8. A Gift Of Love -by Carmen Lundy
9. It Might As Well Be Spring -by Rodgers and Hammerstein
10. Moody’s Mood For Love – by J.Moody and E. Jefferson

Personnel

Carmen Lundy – vocals
Anthony Wonsey – Piano and Fender Rhodes
Curtis Lundy – Bass
Victor Lewis – Drums
Mayra Casales– Percussion
Regina Carter – Violin (Appears courtesy of VERVE Records)
Mark Shim – tenor and soprano sax
Elisabeth Oei, Mayra Casales, Carmen Lundy – Background Vocals

Produced by Curtis Lundy and Elisabeth Oei*
All songs arranged by Carmen Lundy except where noted
Label: Justin Time
Released October 21, 2003