Interview with Lebanese Jazz vocalist Randa Ghossoub

Moon Breeze
Recorded in Montreal at the RCA Victor Studios. Randa is accompanied by a distinguished trio: World well-known pianist Cyrus Chestnut as well as from the Montreal jazz scene, acclaimed double bass player Michel Donato and drummer Jim Hillman.

The album includes 12 tracks - linguistically divided between french, english, arabic and spanish. Reviews of all times standards as well as some movie songs. Just to discover!
Randa Ghossoub web site

BEIRUT: Like so many Lebanese musicians, jazz vocalist Randa Ghossoub resides between borders.
Moving between Canada, the U.S. and Lebanon, Ghossoub has in the last decade released three records – “Pillow Talk” (2002), “I Belong” (2007) and, now, her new record “Moon Breeze,” which brought her back to Beirut briefly for the CD launch.
Sung in French, Arabic, English and Spanish, “Moon Breeze” sees Ghossoub collaborate with the critically acclaimed American pianist Cyrus Chestnut, contrabassist Michel Donato and drummer Jim Hillman. The versatile vocalist sat with The Daily Star to discuss her new work and past career.
Q: Is “Moon Breeze” different from your previous albums?
A: I would say that “Pillow Talk” and “Moon Breeze” are more alike. The first one was pure jazz with one track in French … to honor my francophone ties with Montreal. As for the second album, “I Belong,” I met an English producer who thought that with my multiple cultures it was more appropriate to do world music. This album wasn’t especially jazzy.
On my last album, I decided to go back to my jazz roots, with a linguistic diversity … Some people like it when I sing in French, Arabic or English. This time, we added Spanish. But it’s the same tranquil and relaxed atmosphere as in “Pillow Talk.”
Q: Did you program the album’s numbers yourself?
A: In the beginning, yes. But when we’re recording, things change. Sometimes, the musicians don’t feel like playing specific tracks … For Cyrus [Chestnut], “Moon Breeze” was the opportunity for him to discover a francophone world. It was very challenging for him.
For example, we ended up adding Charles Aznavour’s “Quand Tu dors pres de Moi,” because Cyrus absolutely loved it when he heard me whistle the song.
It is team work. It’s my choices, but by the end of the day, everyone has to put up in the recording sessions. It’s important to make everyone happy. We are using a language altogether, which is music.
Q: How did you meet the musicians?
A: I met Cyrus by accident. Step by step, we started to work together. To me it was recognition to collaborate with him.
A while ago, I was in Beirut for a concert with Freddy Cole – Nat King Cole’s brother – and a friend of mine [and jazz club owner] asked me to come sing with Cyrus …
When people found out I was going to sing with him, the place was packed! … We were improvising since we had no repertoire.
[Lebanese percussionist] Rony Barrak was with us too … As for Michel Donato, he is considered as the best double bass player in Montreal … I contacted Michel and … he said, “Sure I’m in!” Same thing happened with Jim Hillman.
Q: Did you compose the numbers?
A: No ... But I wanted a track honoring my country, Lebanon. That’s how the idea of “Mount Harissa” came to mind – jazzy instruments with thoughtful lyrics. The great poet Henry Zgheib wrote a poem for me, for “Mount Harissa.” We made the East and the West meet through jazz.
Q: Did you have any difficulties for this album?
A: Not really. Everything went smoothly … People say that my album is valium. I have a calm voice and it’s nice to put some quietness in a world of chaos. And this is my aim.
Q: Are audiences as enthusiastic in Lebanon as they are in Canada?
A: In Lebanon, if you don’t touch to Arabic icons or popular music, it’s fine. I sing jazz, which is a very different genre. Montreal is a massive jazz platform. Therefore, people are much more familiar with it … I am not a North American jazz singer. My roots are Lebanese. So I guess that’s what makes the difference. Especially that I am singing in many languages … As for Lebanon, I don’t know. So far, so good!
Q: Why did you add Spanish songs?
A: It happened by accident as well, [she laughs]. During one of my performances in Montreal, I had a Chilean guitar player and a Columbian percussionist … One of them told me that I should sing in Spanish. So, we rehearsed two songs that we kept in case there was a second curtain call from the audience. There was one, we sang in Spanish and it was a huge success!
I always loved the song “Un ano de amor.” My grandmother had tape recording of Luz Casal’s version … People told me they like my voice when I sing in Spanish … For me, Spanish is passion and romance. So, maybe unconsciously, my voice fluctuates between these two feelings.
Randa Ghossoub’s “Moon Breeze” is available in all Virgin Megastores.



(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)