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Jacqui Sutton: Notes From The Frontier: A Musical Journey
BySutton finds the old in the new, the new in the old, and the joy in blurring lines that some refuse to blur. Her debutBillie & Dolly (Toy Blue Typewriter, 2010)honed in on two different figures from opposite sides of the fence, honoring Dolly Parton and Billie Holiday in unique fashion. Now, with Notes From The Frontier, she's broadening her gaze and taking a panoramic look at America.
Her aptly named styleFrontier Jazzis synthesized through the marriage of bluegrass, musical theater, classical influences, jazz and more, but isn't purely based in any one of those categories; if record stores still existed, they'd have a hell of a time trying to file this one. A rootsy take on Gershwin's "Summertime" isn't Broadway, Appalachia, soul or jazz, but a combination of all four, while "Nature Boy" is Carnegie Hall classicism, Nat King Cole and Argentinean tango rolled into one. "Lady Of The Harbor" cuts to the core of the American spirit, with Emma Lazarus' famed "New Colossus" lines floating above a heavenly mixture of Irish flute, keyboard, melodion, trombone, cello, bass, percussion, banjo and guitar. An odd patriotic stirring comes to the surface on "Where The Music Comes From," which is underscored by fife and drum classicism with a modern twist. All of this music speaks to Sutton's sophisticated tastes and all-seeing eye, but she ultimately sounds best when working in neo-soul-meets-folk mode ("Summertime" and "Weary Angel") or gentle, countrified environs ("Blue Mountain"). Her true spirit roams free on this material and connects to the heart and mind in myriad ways.
Notes From The Frontier is melting pot music with a heavy emphasis on the heartland, as seen through modernistic eyes. This is music taken from the branches that sprouted from the tree trunk that grew from the roots of the American people.
Track Listing
Summertime; Lady Of The Harbor; Hummingbird/Blue Rondo A La Turk; Jenny Rebecca; Freed; One And Only; Nature Boy; Dear Friend; Where The Music Comes From; Weary Angel; Blue Mountain; Better Than Anything.
Personnel
Jacqui Sutton
vocalsJacqui Sutton: vocals; Paul Chester: guitar, banjo; Anthony Sapp: bass; Ilya Janos: percussion; Eddie Lewis: trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet; Henry Darragh: keyboards, trombone, melodion; Lyndon Hughes: drums, vocals; Cindy Scott: vocals; Aralee Dorough: flute; Bob Chadwick: Irish flute; Max Dyer: cello.
Album information
Title: Notes From The Frontier: A Musical Journey | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Self Produced