December 1st, Wednesday, 7-8 PM
Palio Bar
151 West 51st Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 399-9400
(between 6th and 7th avenue Arcade of Equitable building)
“…the most elegant bar in midtown”
– Zagat
Valerie Joyce – vocals Andy Ezrin – piano Tim Lefebvre – bass
Ben Black, Lincoln Briney, Valerie Joyce: “Channeling Chet”
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27
THE TRIPLE DOOR
216 Union Street, Seattle
9:30PM , 21+
$15 general, $13 members/seniors, $7 students
(Tickets available online or by calling: 206-838-4333)
Bill Anschell – Piano Evan Flory-Barnes – Bass Jose Martinez – Drums Thomas Marriott – Trumpet
and a special guest
Inspired by a tribute to Baker that Lincoln Briney and others presented in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and other cities, vocalists Briney, Ben Black, and Valerie Joyce evoke the memory and spirit of the Chesney Henry “Chet” Baker (1929-1988). They celebrate Baker, one of the finest trumpeter’s and vocalists in jazz history, with songs and anecdotes from his short, scintillating life.
Baker lived hard, to say the least, and he sang the whole range of his experience. Black, Briney, and Joyce have chosen a handful of songs each to cover the range of his expression. So, we can expect some somber songs, some haunting song, some sentimental songs, some Latin numbers, some crooners.
Some of the selections are the obvious ones – numbers he performed often, such as “The Touch of Your Lips,” “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To,” “Almost Blue,” and “The Thrill is Gone?” (although here it’ll be rendered as an upbeat bossa). We’ll hear a distinctive take on “I Should Care,” too – as a somber, piano-voice duet.
Many of the renditions, in fact, will be fresh interpretations by the three vocalists. This performance is an homage to Baker, and is far from a slavish repetition of his own performances. It’s hard to imagine that, were he still alive, he’d want any kind of tribute but once with a hearty dose of musical and emotional adventure.
Artt Frank, bop drummer/composer/lyrcist, best known for his long term association with trumpeter immortal Chet Baker, invited Valerie Joyce to become honorary board member of the Chet Baker Foundation in 2009.
Valerie Joyce is among the nominees for the 2009 Earshot Golden Ear Award category for Northwest Vocalist of the Year along with Cocoa Martini (Karen Shivers, Kimberly Reason, Kay Bailey), Rochelle House, Bernie Jacobs and Greta Matassa.
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