Vocalist Ranee Lee Re-Imagines
Jazz and Soul Classics on What's Going On -
Available September 9 on Justin Time Records
Brooklyn-born, Montreal-based vocalist and songwriter Ranee Lee, one of Canada's most treasured jazz vocalists, an award-winning actress, author and jazz educator, releases her 13th recording on Justin-Time Records, entitled What's Going On. Following A Celebration in Time, with piano giant Oliver Jones and receiving a Juno award for Ranee Lee Lives Upstairs, Lee
returns with a set of re-imagined jazz, soul and reggae classics, as
well as several original compositions. She is accompanied by Richard Ring on guitar, Taurey Butler and Chad Linsley on piano, Morgan Moore and Dave Watts on acoustic bass, Dave Laing on drums and Chet Doxas on tenor saxophone.
Four of the tunes on What's Going On feature the Birds On A Wire String Quartet, with masterful arrangements by Andy Ballantyne. "Working
with strings has always been an otherworldly experience for me," says
Lee. The addition of the strings imbues the music with "a brilliant and
ethereal presence, an elegant sensuousness that lifts me even further
and transports me," she reflects, noting how the strings inspire her to
phrase differently, enveloping herself in their currents.
The
choice of material for the album stems from Lee's love of interpreting
lyrics. "I feel differently about the mood of a particular song and
perform it differently based on the arrangement." Chosen for its
resonant, still-relevant social commentary, Marvin Gaye's "What's Going
On" opens the album with a fresh arrangement. "In 1970, when this song
was brought to the world's attention, it caught mine on many levels,"
recalls Lee. "It was important to me then, as it is now. Communicating
the moving lyrics of this beautifully crafted song to my audience
confirms the need to be continually vigilant, and support the positive
and authentic relationships we should have with one another."
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Photo Credit: Pierre Arsenault
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Lee connected with "Where Do You Start?" as a love song that "tells the
entire story." Her soulful, heartfelt vocals enhance Alan and Marilyn
Bergman's lyrics and Johnny Mandel's tender melody, while Chad Linsley
and the string quartet add layered poignancy. The Coleman Hawkins / Thelonious Monk
standard "I Mean You" is treated with verve and infused with a Latin
groove as Lee delivers Jon Hendricks' lyrics with a sense of
playfulness. Emotionally stimulating, "A Lazy Afternoon" creates a
cinematic effect, tapping all the senses. Bob Marley's beloved anthem
"One Love" draws on Lee's own heritage; her mother, Inez Monica Johnson,
was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Lee performs the song with three of her
grandchildren, embracing the message of universal love and respect by
all people for all people, regardless of race, creed or color.
Lee
contributes three originals to the recording. "Writing originals helps
me to further my journey of interpretation," she reveals. "I often
choose or write a song from a personal perspective, likely the influence
of an event in my life, or the association of a story with a message,
or because it is challenging to perform." Arranged by Taurey Butler,
"Echoes of the Heart" is an up-tempo swing featuring vigorous interplay.
"It Will Be What It Will Be" offers words of encouragement for our
youth, reflecting the complexity of erroneous decisions and their
potentially devastating outcome, and the empowerment that comes with
taking positive control and receiving supportive advice. "Silent Tears"
was inspired by the difficulties experienced by those suffering from
clinical depression, underscoring the importance of recognizing the
signs and assisting a loved one.
"White
Gardenia," a poetic reflection on finding, then losing love, with
lyrics by Roger Peace (author of a musical play of the same title
starring Lee as Billie Holiday, to be staged in March 2015) coupled with
Butler's elegant melody, is enhanced by the strings and, of course, by
Lee's haunting delivery. Closing the album is Leon Russell's timeless "A
Song For You," which Lee dedicates to her family. Beautifully arranged
for strings and featuring longtime collaborator and husband Richard Ring
on guitar, the tune showcases her depth and sincerity, her powerful and
dynamic vocals. Having drawn comparisons to Billie Holiday, Sarah
Vaughan and Dinah Washington, Lee clearly has a sound all her own --
evidenced, once again, on this new recording.
Ranee Lee · What's Going On
Justin Time Records · Release Date: September 9, 2014
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DL Media · 610-667-0501
Matthew Jurasek · matthew@dlmediamusic.com
Greg Angiolillo · greg@dlmediamusic.com
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