Deborah Shulman - The Shakespeare Project (2019)

Shakespeare set to jazz vocals?! ...and it is BRILLIANT! The vocals are exquisite and the band is LA-top notch...featuring wonderful treatments from Jeff Colella with: Deborah Shulman, VOCALS; Jeff Colella, Piano; Larry Koonse, Guitar; Abraham Laboriel, Chris Colangelo, Bass; Bob Sheppard, Flute, Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone & Bass Clarinet; Kendall Kay, Joe La Barbera, Drums From Vocalist Deborah Shulman (from the notes): In 1987, my friend Lance Roberts directed a staged version of Cleo Laine and John Dankworth's iconic recording of WORD SONGS. Released in 1978, Laine and Dankworth had previously recorded many of the same songs for SHAKESPEARE AND ALL THAT JAZZ in 1964. Armed with my strong theatre background (including Shakespeare), I was not so much intimidated by the poetry, but certainly understood the complexities of joining the poetry with the music; the goal, to convey the meaning and essence of the words through the music. With my 2012 release Lost in the Stars, the gifted arranger/composer Jeff Colella worked with me to meld classical music, theatre, and jazz. This journey has been filed with many blessings; from reconnecting with the great bassist Abraham Laboriel (who, much to my delight, agreed to join this party), to working with our great Los Angeles musicians Larry Koonse (Guitar), Kendall Kay (Drums), Chris Colangelo and Bob Sheppard (Saxophone/Reeds), and Bob McChesney (Trombone).