JAZZ CD UPDATE #2

Dear Friends,

I just wanted to provide you with some important updates, photos from the studio, and–finally–the final song list!  We have spent many, many hours in pre-production and in the studio to give you a CD that I hope will stand the test of time and become one of your favorites.

Kitty and percussionist Troy Davis
Kitty and percussionist Troy Davis
Misha (our recording engineer), Troy Davis (our drummer, saying something really important?), and Bobby Campo (our trumpet player and one of the groomsmen in my wedding almost 20 years ago!)
Misha (our recording engineer), Troy Davis (our drummer, saying something really important?), and Bobby Campo (our trumpet player and one of the groomsmen in my wedding almost 20 years ago!)
Misha and my genius producer/arranger/pianist Mike Esneault
Misha and my genius producer/arranger/pianist Mike Esneault
Panoramic view of the studio
Panoramic view of the studio
Kitty with 5 of the 10 musicians: Drummer Troy Davis, trumpeter Bobby Campo, producer/arranger/pianist Mike Esneault, sax and clarinet player Clarence Johnson, and bass player Roland Guerin (who took the black and white photos, too).
Kitty with 5 of the 10 musicians: Drummer Troy Davis, trumpeter Bobby Campo, producer/arranger/pianist Mike Esneault, sax and clarinet player Clarence Johnson, and bass player Roland Guerin (who took the black and white photos, too).

Not pictured are my hubby Mel Rogers (clarinet), Steve Mazakowski (guitar), Don Vappie (guitar and banjo), Hannah Yim (violin) and Rex Gregory (flute).  They are each world-class musicians, and I can’t believe that I got to sing with them!

 

While it was my sincere hope to have the final CD in your hands last month, we decided during our final mixing session that a full live string section on about half of the songs would put it OVER THE TOP.  Unfortunately, my producer is so booked that it won’t be ready in time for Christmas. Ouch.

For those of you who were planning on this being your go-to Christmas gift, I know, I know–and I’m really, really sorry!  I had to make the call between either having this ready in time for Christmas sales or making an album that is the best I can possibly make it.

So, I hope you aren’t too disappointed and that you’ll find it worth the wait.  How would you feel about it being an awesome Valentine’s gift instead?

Our plan is to record the strings on January 2nd and–since it has so many love songs on it–to have it ready in plenty of time for St. Valentine’s Day!  Speaking of love songs, drum roll please…

OUR FINAL SONG LIST

1) My Funny Valentine (This is what I want to call the CD, but my producer wants Blue Skies.  What do you think?)
2) Blue Skies
3) My One and Only Love
4) La Mer
5) A Kiss to Build a Dream On
6) Summertime
7) S’Wonderful
8) I’ve Got a Crush on You
9) Basin Street Blues
10) One Day (You Will Be Mine)
11) Someone to Watch Over Me

I’m so grateful to each and every one of you for the support and love you’ve sent my way.  Let me know which of the songs you like best for a CD title, and I’ll keep you posted on all developments on my end.  My photographer (Johnny Chauvin) took off for Italy before he had a chance to process my photos for the CD cover, but we’ll get to work on that and the t-shirts as soon as we get the graphic design wrapped up.

Gratefully yours,

Kitty

My stylist (Kristie Gagliano) took this photo with her iPhone during my photo shoot for the CD cover. I think the background is pretty cool!
My stylist (Kristie Gagliano) took this photo with her iPhone during my photo shoot for the CD cover. I think the background is pretty cool!
Kristie shooting Johnny shooting Kitty
Kristie shooting Johnny shooting Kitty