Fade To Black is Carmen Lundy’s 16th album and one of her most personal to date. Grammy® Nominated for Fade to Black as well as her previous album Modern Ancestors, these 11 original songs, written and arranged by Carmen Lundy, were conceived during the challenging months of the pandemic and reflect this time of great loss, sorrow, healing, and hope for a brighter, more inclusive future for us all. Tackling the difficult social issues of our time while also musing on the joys of love and relationships, this stunning set of songs takes us on an emotional journey that culminates in the extraordinary hymn-like ballad titled “Rest In Peace”.
Carmen Lundy explains, “I approached the writing of this work from being in this moment in time – not necessarily looking back, but observant of the times we live in NOW. Traditional Jazz composition involves understanding its evolution and the spirit of improvisation. In this complete oeuvre, I wanted to explore different approaches to harmonic progressions, extended forms, and subtle rhythmic concepts while providing plenty of space for the lyrics and melodies to sing and tell stories without necessarily feeling the need to represent preconceived ideas about vocal jazz, harmonies and rhythms.”
This project was funded in part by a New Jazz Works grant from Chamber Music America (CMA).
All songs written and arranged by Carmen Lundy (Carmen Lundy Publishing/BMI). Carmen Lundy: vocals, keyboards, guitar, percussion, horn arrangements, backing vocals. Julius Rodriguez: piano. Matthew Whitaker: organ, keyboards, string arrangements, programming. Kenny Davis: acoustic bass, electric bass. Curtis Lundy: acoustic bass. Terreon Gully: drums. Andrew Renfroe: guitar. Wallace Roney Jr.: trumpet. Giveton Gelin: trumpet. Camille Thurman: tenor saxophone. Morgan Guerin: tenor saxophone.
Recorded and Mixed by Don Murray at Stagg Street Studios and Afrasia Studios, LA, CA May 13-14, 2022. Mastered by Eric Boulanger at The Bakery Mastering Lab, LA, CA.
MODERN ANCESTORS – Two words with significantly different connotations that come together and remind us that not only do opposites attract, but that we are all products of those who came before us; our Ancestors can be honored and reinterpreted, continually present and very much a part of who we are and what influences us today. Such is the common thread running through Jazz vocalist and composer Carmen Lundy’s brilliant new album, Modern Ancestors. Featuring 10 self-penned and arranged tracks and a stellar band consisting of Julius Rodriguez on piano, brother Curtis Lundy on acoustic upright bass, Kenny Davis on electric and acoustic bass, Mayra Casales on percussion, Terreon Gully and Kassa Overall on drums and Andrew Renfroe on guitar.
Never one to limit her creative journeys, Lundy explores the realms of Jazz, Blues, Brazilian Samba and Pop with a multitude of messages that reflect not only the complexities of her own mindset, but the disparity of the world at large. Poignant, heartfelt, joyous, shocked, saddened and impassioned are just a few of the emotions conveyed by this wonderfully evocative singer on CODE NOIR in a highly personal musical voyage.
“Soul To Soul,” a passionate new song cycle from vocalist, songwriter, producer and musician Carmen Lundy is Lundy’s 14th album, and the next chapter in her critically-acclaimed career as both a musical artist and a visual artist; a return to her roots but also an exploration of these roots — and the journey that those roots can take you on. The release of “Soul To Soul” will be accompanied by tour dates both in the U.S. and overseas.
Featuring the stellar talents of guest artists Patrice Rushen, Geri Allen, Randy Brecker, Mayra Casales, Simphiwe Dana, Bennie Maupin, Carol Robbins, Ada Rovatti, and Warren Wolf along with Carmen’s core rhythm section members Darryl Hall and Jamison Ross , “Soul To Soul” invites the listener on an intriguing journey. The moods and moments of “Soul To Soul” are genre-bending and traverse many borders, both literally and figuratively.
Changes, Carmen Lundy’s 12th CD release and one of her finest ever, features 8 new originals composed and arranged by Carmen Lundy, and one lone but standout classic, “A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square”.
Her core band of stellar musicians – Anthony Wonsey on piano, Kenny Davis on bass, and Jamison Ross on drums – and special guest artists Oscar Castro-Neves on guitar, Nolan Shaheed on trumpet and flugelhorn, and George Bohanon on trombone, round out this superb collection of new songs. Recorded and mixed by the incomparable Don Murray and mastered by the legendary Doug Sax, this album is sure to win over old and new fans alike.
