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."
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's What's Going On is scheduled for release on Justin
Time Records on: September
9, 2014
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