JAZZ HAS A NEW SONGBOOK

Sounds of Timeless Jazz, Paula Edelstein: September 12, 2006

http://www.soundsoftimelessjazz.com/concertinfo.html

JAZZ HAS A NEW SONGBOOK By Paula Edelstein

Innovative, exuberant and now controversial (in a great way), Carmen Lundy has, in her 30-year career, found both popular appeal and intellectual appreciation for her emotional intensity and musical sophistication. Her invaluable catalogue of songs has been documented on nine previous CDs and her latest release, JAZZ AND THE NEW SONGBOOK – LIVE AT THE MADRID, covers songs she has written and performed as a leader with some of the greatest musicians of her generation. Lundy’s concert at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles covered what seemed to be the history of jazz. She adeptly balanced jazz’s early influences of African and European rhythmic continuity with the subtle combination of individual themes, sonorities and her one-of-a-kind brand of expressionism.

Executive Produced by Elisabeth Oei for Afrasia Productions, the show left an indelible impression on the audience. Through both acts, Ms. Lundy lent her amazing multi-range voice to 17 songs at the world premiere of JAZZ and the THE NEW SONGBOOK. Her approach to instrumental technique was ravished by the audience, her phrasing impeccable. “Afrasia,” “Something Happened,” “Come Home,” and “Gossip,” were just a few of the new songs that impeccably showcased Ms. Lundy’s versatile, distinct style. The melodic sounds, harmony, colors and textures of her accompanying orchestra and singers were accurate expressionistic devices placed at just the right time, tempo and section of the program.

These 15 musicians have shaped the sounds of jazz with equal precision and energy in their own concerts and tonight, their style of playing defined the future of jazz. Regina Carter’s classical training and familiarity with Lundy’s works had a strong influence on tonight’s performance. Her arrangement of “Never Gonna Let You Go” was brilliant as was her beautiful playing on “Seventh Heaven.” Terri Lynne Carrington held down the rhythm logic gracefully as did the great Mayra Casales on percussion. Background vocalist, Krystal Davis Willliams, provided the perfect harmonic foil to Carmen Lundy’s great voice as did the gorgeous strings of harpist Lori Andrews. At times, you could hear a pin drop as Lundy delivered such beautiful ballads as “Come Home,” and “Something Happened.”

Curtis Lundy who wrote “Love Transforms,” was awesome on acoustic bass as was Robert Hurst. Phil Upchurch’s “Six To Four” got raves as he tore up the stage with Robert, Sekou, Mayra and Terri Lyne balancing the rhythmic section. When it came time to define the place jazz holds in musical history, Bobby Watson rose to the occasion on “Time Will Tell.” The alto saxophonist’s program highlighted the dual function of his role and was a viable force in tonight’s program.

Carmen Lundy has clearly presented the solution to what’s ahead for her society of singers. That is: Make sure you have that WOW factor and can WAIL! Not only does she have an extraordinarily high WOW factor, but she is a highly prolific composer/arranger, the artist extraordinaire. She is an original and has won a vast new audience with her JAZZ and the NEW SONGBOOK ARTISTS. Learn more about Carmen Lundy at www.carmenlundy.com