Every journey begins with a single step! And every step brings you closer to your destiny, but one's destiny could be considered a predetermined course of events.
With every step of my twenty-five year journey with Justin Time Records, the course has offered many directions and enormous opportunities, resulting in lifelong friendships, mutual respect, recognition and rewards beyond my wildest dreams.
I've been privileged to record on ten occasions with notable musicians, many becoming favorites. With this new release, there are ten more songs that continue in various ways to illustrate the road map of my thoughts, my dreams, my life, and my career.
In choosing the material for "Lives UPSTAIRS" I was inspired by the various shapes of love. I wanted to link standards like "Beautiful Love," "I Just Found Out About Love" and "Dearly Beloved," with the heartrending compositions of James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" and Pat Metheny's moving "A Crooked Road." "A Time For Love", and "I Love You Porgy" are understandable favorites, and "In Love In Vain" poses the question. My own blues composition, "The Storm," relates to the waiting for love. But by including Miles Davis Four," the lyrics of Jon Hendricks say it all: "Meaning only wonderful, wonderful LOVE that'll make it four!" Bearing witness to one's own calling, and to have discovered love, support and encouragement along the way from others, whose paths constantly interact, affect and intersect with your own is a highway of countless gratifying experiences.
In particular, I express my deep and sincere gratitude to Jim West and the team at Justin Time Records, whose meticulous devotion to the recording industry parallels their integrity and continuously play a vital role in my voyage. To our engineer, Bill Szawlowski, whose attention, diligence and sensitivity, along with the incredible contribution of Frank Marino, captured and preserved the atmosphere that was so electrifying during our live performances at Joel Giberovitch's UPSTAIRS jazz bar in Montreal. Joel helped make it all possible by providing a perfect ambience to enjoy the company of a warm and exuberant audience, and the implicit opportunity to share the stage with the brilliance of John Sadowy on piano, Morgan Moore on bass, drummer Dave Laing, and my husband Richard Ring on guitar.
Lastly, thanks to my family who inspire every breath I take, and every step I make. And, Thanks to you! I suppose it was just meant to be! |
