Digital - You & I
Genre: Jazz
Release Date: November 2021
A very intimate and personal performance of select jazz standards. Inspired by an appreciation of artists such as Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Horn etc., Bill and Darlene weave their own love story into the fabric of this recording. Each song is stamped with their own magic.
“A simple and elegant cabaret set of piano and vocal on a set that’s mostly a trip down memory lane but a trip nonetheless. Pure emotion throughout, they bring all the tools they need to give you a full-on listening experience that sizzles deceptively. Well done.”
As those who’ve seen them live can attest, the interpretations don’t just showcase their passion for lush harmony and intricate melody, but also their deep knowledge of the stories behind the lyrics.
Recorded in their home studio during the 2020/21 lockdown, the album displays two musicians with both skill and sensitivity; Bill’s mastery as an accompanist shines through whilst Darlene’s classy phrasing tells the stories.
Further to the story, the cover of You & I features the “Unconditional Love” art piece of Vancouver renowned artist, Joe Average. As Bill and Darlene state in their credits – “isn’t that what we all want”.
You & I will be released digitally and in CD format on November 19th, 2021 and as a limited edition of vinyl in 2022.
Tracks
I Wish I’d Met You – music by Johnny Mandel; lyrics by Frank Underwood and Richard Rodney Bennett (Novello and Co Ltd, Marissa Music, Ascap)
The Nearness of You – Hoagy Carmichael and Ned Washington (Sony ATV Harmony, Ascap)
It Had to Be You – Isham Jones and Gus Kahn, Public Domain (Warner Bros Inc)
You and I – Stevie Wonder (Black Bull Music Inc, Jobete Music Inc)
An Older Man Is Like An Elegant Wine – by Lee Wing (Frank-Music Corp)
Don’t Know How To Love You – Darlene Cooper and Bill Sample (Bill Sample Music, Darlene Cooper Music (Socan)
Impossible Love – Bill Sample and Darlene Cooper (Bill Sample Music, Darlene Cooper Music (Socan)
Here’s to Life – Artie Butler, Phyllis Molinary; arr. by Johnny Mandel (Artie Butler Music, Ascap, Dominant Jeans Music, BMI)
Save Your Love for Me – by Buddy Johnson (Music Sales Corporation)
The Way You Look – Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields (Universal Polygram International Pub. Inc; Happy Aspen Music LLC)
Lush Life – by Bill Strayhorn, Public Domain (Bill Strayhorn Songs Inc, Reservoir Media Music, Ascap)
I’ll Be Seeing You – Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal (Williamson Music Co; Redwood Music Ltd)
Credits:
The Musicians:
Darlene Cooper - vocal
Bill Sample – piano & keyboards
Produced by: Bill Sample
Recorded and edited by: Bill Sample
Mixed and mastered by: Miles Foxx-Hill
Graphic design by: Mike Priebe
Manufactured by: DMA Discs
Cover image Unconditional Love Copyright 2021 Joe Average.
This image was reproduced with the permission of the artist. www.joeaverage.ca
Photos inside CD by: Dani Willets
Please note that the mp3 album is approximately 144 mb in size and may take a while to download, depending on your connection. You will also need a .zip utility to unzip it. Thanks!