* All proceeds to Médecins Sans Frontières *
Early in 2020 like many colleagues, I found myself left high and dry for creative output as the pandemic took a hold. I took a leap of faith into recording virtually as the only foreseeable option, which was a daunting prospect. “No previous experience” but up for learning.
Having played some great UK concerts as a guest with the Swiss trio Vein over a previous couple of years I was so disappointed at the inevitable cancellation of our short tour in UK and Ireland at the end of 2020.
For quite some time a couple of the young members of my Neon Orchestra , particularly Tom Walsh had broached the idea of a virtual recording of some of my big band music. As always young musicians were already finding a way to experiment with this option. So I thought ok maybe I could combine Vein with an ensemble of players from here, and Jim Hart in the Alsace recording virtually. Vein had already issued such a recording ‘ The Chamber Music Effect’ which sounded lovely.
This collection is the result. Great! A Lockdown Project to work on which involved writing some new compositions and arrangements whilst learning a little about recording virtually without the live interaction we all so love. I'd already heard some excellent large ensemble recordings as in Billy Marrows ‘Genmaicha’ with the Patchwork Orchestra which inspired me to want to get involved in the possibilities and not be beaten by the demoralising circumstances that we all faced. No live Music-making!
I set out to make an albums worth of music, culminating in 6 varied pieces.
'Chu Chu' (originating from my trio NEON), 'Between Moons' (a commission from composer John Taylor from my 65th Birthday tour), and 'Shadow Painting' from my 70th tour in 2019 plus three new pieces; 'Love for Sale' (the Cole Porter classic) blended with 'Resolution' ( John Coltrane) into one long arrangement that was premiered on a Royal Academy socially distanced Big Band online concert, itself another new experience in a great new theatre but with no audience. Then an arrangement of 'One Day I'll Fly Away' ( Joe Sample & Will Jennings from The Crusaders) I just always liked this tune sung by Randy Crawford.
Finally a brand new composition 'Mon Ami' which reflects this project at a time when we were all thinking about our friends and personal and musical relationships, not to mention what does the future hold in store for us all!
Stan Sulzmann
1. Love For Sale/Resolution
2. Chu Chu
3. Mon Ami
4. Shadow Painting
5. Between Moons
6. One Day I'll Fly Away
Stan Sulzmann - tenor sax
VEIN:
Michael Arbenz - piano
Florian Arbenz - drums
Thomas Laehns - bass
Trumpets - Tom Walsh, James Copus, George Hogg, Nick Smart
Trombones - Mark Nightingale, Olli Martin, Harry Maund
Saxes - Matt Sulzmann, Sam Glaser, Tom Barford, James Allsopp
Alex Munk - guitar
Jim Hart - vibraphone
Phil Todd - flute (5)
Produced by Jim Hart
Mixed and Mastered by Alex Bonney
Executive Producer - Stan Sulzmann
Project Consultant - Elaine Crouch
