The New York Times Raves….twice in a week.

The New York Times gives enthusiastic reviews of Rebecca Martin’s new album “When I Was Long Ago”, and  in support of her next live performance in New York City on Thursday, December 16th 2010.  Showtimes are 7:30pm and 9:30pm at the JAZZ STANDARD. For tickets, visit this LINK.‎

“The jazz singer Rebecca Martin can sing slow swing with a supreme sense of centering around the pulse, re-designing melodies and making her voice crinkle at emotional points. And when the drumming goes away completely, she grows stronger…the musicians give her molasses swing and empathy and lots of empty space, and she takes care of the rest.”

Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

“On her gorgeously intimate new album ‘When I Was Long Ago’ the singer Rebecca Martin addresses a program of jazz standards as if sifting through treasured momentos”.

Nate Chinen, New York Times

Tickets On Sale Now! Rebecca Martin, Larry Grenadier and Bill McHenry at the Jazz Standard on December 16th.

Rebecca Martin will celebrate the release of her “exquisite” (NPRs Weekend All Things Considered) new album When I Was Long Ago (Sunnyside Records) on Thursday, December 16 at the Jazz Standard, 116 East 27th Street, New York, NY. Sets are at 7:30 and 9:30, and tickets are $20.00. Reservations can be made at 212-576-2232 or via Ticketweb.com

Martin will be accompanied by bassist Larry Grenadier (Brad Mehldau Trio, Pat Metheny) and saxophonist Bill McHenry (Guillermo Klein, Paul Motian), who are also featured on the album.

When she set out to record her new album of standards, Martin resolved to seek out each songs original vocal read and to unearth their original arrangements and lost verses.

The resulting collection of eleven songs is most extraordinary, absolutely delightful and thoroughly unforgettable, (All About Jazz) and a perfect showcase for Martins warm, unguarded voice (New York Times).

In his four-star review of When I Was Long Ago in renowned French magazine Telerama, critic Michel Contat writes that Martin raises the bar with this album, and praises her voice, which he pronounces as expressive as Joni Mitchells.

For more information about Rebecca Martin, please contact Regina Joskow [regina@missingpiecegroup.com] at the Missing Piece Group, (862)234-0801 or Patrice Fehlen [patrice@septembergurl.com] at September Gurl PR (718)768-3859.

Michel Contat Gives ‘When I Was Long Ago’ Four Stars in Telerama, France

“When I Was Long Ago” was given a four star review by the important writer Michel Contat in Telerama Magazine  today.

You can read it by following this LINK

Rebecca Martin Honors Her “Elders” on Latest Release “When I Was Long Ago”


New Collection of Standards Shines a Light on Original Arrangements, Lost Verses

When acclaimed singer-songwriter Rebecca Martin set out to make an album of standards, she resolved to seek out each song’s original vocal read, which proved to be quite a challenge, but one well worth taking on. “As a songwriter and singer, I found that many of the beloved old classics have been changed a great deal…Verses, lyrics and arrangements have been deleted or changed, in some cases quite dramatically.” She reflects “Going back to the earliest vocal read to hear what might have been the author’s original intention was a real education,” and she urges other musicians to “think of these songs as ‘elders’ instead of ‘standards’ to remove the heroic connotation and allow there to be space for the songs to simply be.”

The resulting collection of eleven songs, When I Was Long Ago, is  “most extraordinary, absolutely delightful and thoroughly unforgettable” (All About Jazz), and a perfect showcase for Martin’s “warm, unguarded voice” (New York Times).  Martin says, “It’s an honor to sing a song that spans 75-plus years. I think of this as an ancestral project. Working with this intention brought new meaning to these old songs.”

Spare, haunting accompaniment is provided by bassist Larry Grenadier (the Brad Mehldau Trio, Pat Metheny) and saxophonist Bill McHenry (Guillermo Klein, Paul Motian) on classics such as “Lush Life,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Willow Weep for Me” and “But Not For Me” as well as some lesser-known gems such as “Cheer Up Charlie,” “No Moon at All” and “Kentucky Babe.”

For an in-depth discussion of the songs on When I Was Long Ago, please go to http://bit.ly/dyQSgO.

Martin’s journey began in Rumford Point, Maine. In the early 1990s, she moved to New York to pursue a career in music. She and Jesse Harris formed the group Once Blue (EMI Records). Though no one knew it at the time, the signing turned out to be quite prescient, as the band also included guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, bassist Ben Street and drummer Kenny Wollesen, all of whom soon became among the most sought-after and highly-regarded musicians in the jazz world. After Once Blue disbanded, Martin embarked on a solo career that has yielded six critically lauded solo albums of original compositions and standards, and a collaboration with Paul Motian that inspired the The Guardian to proclaim that Martin “may even upstage Norah Jones and Madeleine Peyroux.

The release of When I Was Long Ago places her squarely in the company of the great interpreters of song she reveres. As the Portland Press Herald summed it up, “There’s so much more on this disc of classic material, which may soon be thought of as a classic itself. It is that good.”

When I Was Long Ago (Sunnyside, August 31, 2010)

For All We Know (1934) J. Fred Coots/Sam Lewis

But Not For Me (1930) George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin

Lush Life (1938) Billy Strayhorn

No Moon At All (1948) Redd Evans/David Mann

Cheer Up Charlie (1971) Anthony Newley/Leslie Bricusse/Walter Scharf

Low Key Lightly (Lucky In Love) (1959) Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn

Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (1931) Harry Barris/Ted Koehler/Billy Moll

Someone to Watch Over Me (1926) George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin

I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (1939) Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart

Willow Weep For Me (1932) Ann Ronell

For more information about Rebecca Martin, please contact Regina Joskow at Missing Piece Group (862.234.0801) regina@missingpiecegroup.com or Bret Sjerven at Sunnyside Records (646-519-3560) bret@sunnysiderecords.com

About the Songs…

When I first began to think about making a record of standards, it was clear that searching for the original vocal read would be an important aspect of my effort. As a songwriter and a singer I have found that many of the beloved old classics have been changed a great deal whether intentional or not. Verses, lyrics and arrangements have been deleted or changed and in some cases quite dramatically. Going back to the earliest vocal read to hear what might have been the author’s original intention was a real education. I encourage all musicians to do it. 

I thought of these songs as “elders” instead of “standards” to remove the heroic connotation and to allow there to be space for the song to simply be.

 

Click on this LINK to purchase “When I Was Long Ago” by Rebecca Martin 

Follow along by listening on ITUNES

 

  • For All We Know (1934)  J. Fred Coots/Sam Lewis

The first vocal read was apparently performed  by Morton Downey (known as the “Irish Thrush”) on his popular radio show in 1932. It was quite impossible to find. As is true with each song that has one, the verse is generally what attracts me to want to sing it. No matter how timeless or beautiful a lyric is as a whole, these short odd measured bits of music and words really pack a punch and set the tone for the song.  I don’t know why so many musicians chose to remove them. Bill, Larry and I had done several takes before deciding on one as a final. After listening back, Bill asked to retake his opening solo.. The live room at the Clubhouse Recording Studio in Rhinebeck has a very comfortable couch, so I stayed behind in the room as he and Larry did a take. From the opening note, I knew it was going to be special and before I knew it, I was up on my feet singing.  You can hear some hesitation with Larry and Bill, as they weren’t certain if I had planned to sing the entire tune. I did, and not only was it the take, it also became the first track on the record.

  • But Not For Me (1930) G. Gershwin/I. Gershwin

Ginger Rogers introduced this tune during the first performance of Girl Crazy on Oct. 14th, 1930.  But it was Doris Day whose version inspired me the most.  I have found that her vocal reads are generally the clearest and perhaps the truest as far as verses and melodies are concerned. Peggy Lee and June Christie are similar in that way. Very few liberties are taken that stray from the melody. As a songwriter, I appreciate that the most.

  • Lush Life (1938 ) Billy Strayhorn

Strayhorn began to write this tune in 1933 as a teenager and then went on to fine tune it for many years. It wasn’t until 1948 that he debuted the “Lush Life” lyrics with the singer Kay Davis as part of the difficult to find recording of a November 13th, 1948 Duke Ellington Concert Series at Carnegie Hall.  In it, Strayhorn and Davis perform as a duo which is a fantastic bit of history to have on record. A later and stellar performance of “Lush Life” was done by Ella Fitzgerald with Oscar Peterson in 1957.  It no doubt inspired me in bringing these lovely words into the forefront.

LISTEN: Billy Strayhorn and Kay Davis, 1948   Lush Life

  • No Moon At All (1948) R. Evans/D.A. Mann

I fell in love with this tune when I heard a live recording that the drummer Jeff Ballard captured of his group The Brad Mehldau Trio back in 2004-05. It is a magical performance complimented by an absolute perfect tempo. As a gift, he made a copy of the numerous CD’s for Larry – and voila!  The soundtrack of my life for many years. Searching for the original vocal read of this tune was a challenge. I found very little written about its origins. After a lot of listening, the version sung by Jeri Southern was my favorite. She did a great rendition, and again – the tempo was just killer. This song really lends itself to that, as to my ears, it’s an extremely sensual tune.

  • Charlie Sings… (2010)

Larry and I have one beautiful son, Charlie James Grenadier.   His timing was impeccable on the day that we were recording, as he arrived at the studio just as we were in the midst of tracking ‘Cheer Up Charlie’. Of course, he loved the song and wanted to sing along with us, but became shy and distracted by everything buzzing around him.  We ended up getting very little on tape.  Still, I love having it.

  • Cheer Up Charlie (1971) A. Newley/L. Bricusse/W. Scharf

Diana Sowle, who plays Mrs. Bucket in the 1971 film “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” sings the original vocal read of this tune. The song is as touching as it is clever.  I’m happy to have it in my repertoire.

 

  • Low Key Lightly  (Lucky In Love) (1959) D. Ellington/B. Strayhorn.    Lyrics by Rebecca Martin (2010)

In 2009, the drummer Jeff Ballard wrote to me from Spain wondering if I knew of any lyrics written for the tune ‘Low Key Lightly’ by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.  Looking about, I found several instrumental versions but nothing with lyrics.   In “Anatomy of a Murder” the song runs throughout as its theme. I decided to take a stab at it, even though writing in this way is really a challenge for me. The result was a lyric that I felt was inspired and balanced enough to record and include on this album.

  • Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (1931) H. Barris/T. Koehler/B. Moll

Bing Crosby introduced this tune in 1931.  The verse, which is little known today, was intact as was the delightful arrangement that includes a carefree whistling solo. Sarah Vaughn’s version from the Divine One was my introduction to the tune back in 1988 when I was given it as a gift. The verse was not included here. Though we tracked this tune with the trio initially, I decided to go about it as a duo. It was a real challenge to make this tune my own, but I am satisfied that we did.

LISTEN: Bing Crosby sings “Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams”   WRAP YOUR TROUBLES IN DREAMS

  • Someone To Watch Over Me (1926)  G. Gershwin/I. Gershwin

This is yet another excellent example as to why it is essential to attempt to go back to hear the earliest vocal read of any old tune. Blossom Dearie did a version that is my personal favorite.  I think that if you were to ask anyone the tempo of this tune, they’d call it a ballad.  What a surprise to hear Gertrude Lawrence, who performed the first vocal read in 1926 (what lucky gal!). The quirky up-tempo swing version was refreshing for me to hear. Though subtle, I made a decision to do it as a walking ballad, giving the song a slight lift.  I love a ballad, don’t get me wrong. People behave like them after all.

LISTEN: Gertrude Lawrence sings “Someone To Watch Over Me” (Coming Soon)

  • I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (1939) R. Rodgers/L.Hart

This tune was written for the musical “Too Many Girls” and introduced by Richard Kollmar and Marcy Westcott. I wasn’t successful at finding it, though it’s quite easy to get your hands on the film version from 1940 with Lucille Ball (though overdubbed by Trudy Erwin). I came to it through Paul Motian back in 2006 when we were performing together at the Village Vanguard. He gave me a great list of tunes to learn for our live performances. I found a version that I loved by Peggy Lee off of her 1956 recording ‘Black Coffee’ and I was off and running.

  • Willow Weep For Me (1932) A. Ronell

Long ago, my father-in-law Albert Grenadier (who was a  trumpet player) gave me a list of songs he wished I would sing. One of them was “Willow Weep For Me”. For years I would sing it, and wondered often if it had a verse. Everyone I spoke to was certain it did not. I wasn’t ever able to find a version that had one. Muzzy Marcellino (vocalist and whistler) introduced the tune back in 1932, which I have not yet been successful at finding. So it was literally the eleventh hour that Larry discovered a lead sheet in the attic that low and behold, shared its verse. As I recall, it was about two days before our record session, it was a quick study for us both. I am pleased to include it here, as I don’t think there is one recording out there (that is accessible at least) that has it.

“When I Was Long Ago” to be Released In France on September 28th, 2010

“When I Was Long Ago”  will be released on Naive records  in France on September 28th.

NPR: Your Favorite ‘Great Unknowns’ in Jazz

Check out this piece on Rebecca Martin’s latest release by NPR by following  this LINK.

Rebecca Martin Record Release Concert on Tuesday, August 31st in New York City

Come celebrate the release of Rebecca Martin’s latest recording ‘When I Was Long Ago’ at the Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 2) on Tuesday, August 31st 2010. She will be accompanied by Larry Grenadier (Bass) and Bill McHenry (Tenor Saxophone).

This special event will be ‘donation only’ at the door to accommodate and to thank fans during these hard economic times.

Records will be available that night for sale, or pre-order yours now by visiting this LINK.

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
7:00pm Doors
8:00pm Showtime

The Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 2)

RECORD RELEASE  “When I Was Long Ago” (Sunnyside Records)
Featuring Rebecca, Larry Grenadier and Bill McHenry