Roseanna Vitro - Sing a Song of Bird

[GA Russell]

Roseanna Vitro Sing a Song of Bird Impacting September 24th, 2021 Format(s): Jazz   1 People Chase (Steeplechase) (Roseanna Vitro) 4:55 2 The Scatter (Red Cross) (Bob Dorough, Roseanna Vitro) 5:14 3 Bird's Song (Relaxin' At Camarillo) (Sheila Jordan) 3:21 4 Parker's Mood (Marion Cowings) 4:42 5 Grapple With The Apple (Scrapple From The Apple) (Roseanna Vitro) 5:23 6 Audubon's New Bluebird (Bluebird) (Bob Dorough) 4:49 7 Sheila, Jazz Child (Cheryl) (Roseanna Vitro, Sheila Jordan) 4:43 8 Quasimodo (Sheila Jordan) 6:43 9 Now's The Time (Marion Cowings) 4:31 10 Yardbird Suite (Roseanna Vitro) 6:17 11 Ko Ko - Cherokee (Gary Bartz) 4:28 12 These Foolish Things (Roseanna Vitro, Bob Dorough, Sheila Jordan) 5:27   Grammy-nominated vocalist Roseanna Vitro announces her latest musical adventure, “Sing a Song of Bird,” featuring the music of Charlie Parker.   SING A SONG OF BIRD is a collaboration of four New York jazz vocalists who are passionate about Charlie Parker’s music and have rendered new lyrics to six of his compositions. This is the 15th recording for Grammy-nominated vocalist ROSEANNA VITRO, who conceived and guided this project but chose not to sing on every tune. Instead, she hands the microphone to her mentors, bebop jazz legends BOB DOROUGH, SHEILA JORDAN and MARION COWINGS, each of whom take solo turns with their own unique and soulful interpretations on several compositions by Bird. SING A SONG OF BIRD is a celebration of Bird’s music. It is a special recording that goes beyond being a mere tribute album. Dorough was 94 and Jordan was 89 when they recorded the album. Their status as jazz legends is uncontested. Dorough is no longer with us, but Jordan is still going strong, with a busy schedule and performances all around the world. You can find Cowings performing around NYC as well. And, of course, we are very lucky to have Vitro still making music and dedicated to exploring new avenues of creativity, as she will for years to come.   Vocals Roseanna Vitro (RV), Bob Dorough (BD), Sheila Jordan (SJ), Marion Cowings (MC)   1. PEOPLE CHASE (Steeplechase) 4:55 (RV) 2. THE SCATTER (Red Cross) 5:15 (BD, RV) 3. BIRD’S SONG (Relaxin’ At Camarillo) 3:21 (SJ) 4. PARKER’S MOOD 4:42 (MC) 5. GRAPPLE WITH THE APPLE 5:22 (Scrapple From the Apple) (RV) 6. AUDUBON’S NEW BLUEBIRD (Bluebird) 4:49 (BD) 7. SHEILA, JAZZ CHILD(Cheryl) 4:44 (RV, SJ) 8. QUASIMODO 6:43 (SJ) 9. NOW’S THE TIME 4:31 (MC) 10. YARDBIRD SUITE 6:17 (RV) 11. KO KO / CHEROKEE 4:27 (Gary Bartz) 12. THESE FOOLISH THINGS 5:26 (RV, BD, SJ) Gary Bartz and Mark Gross- Alto sax Alan Broadbent and Jason Teborek-Piano Dean Johnson-Bass Bill Goodwin and Alvester Garnett-drums Premiering new lyrics on six Charlie Parker tunes, approved by the Parker estate (see lyrics inserted below).      singasongofbird.com | rvitrojazz@gmail.com | roseannavitro.com   Liner Notes Sing a Song of Bird is but another daring flight from Roseanna Vitro, a study of Charlie Parker, one of the greatest figures in jazz and popular music. This, her fifteenth record over a forty-year career, is the fulfillment of two goals. The first is to honor the musician’s creed of standing tall on the shoulders of giants (and personal heroes). Bob Dorough, Sheila Jordan, and Marion Cowings are just that, each bringing a lifetime of inspiration to Roseanna through their tireless virtuosity. Second, Roseanna's emotional commitment to song narratives and meaningful lyrics. As Roseanna’s devotees know well, she ALWAYS tells her tale. On Sing a Song of Bird, she flies high with Charlie Parker’s classic melodies. For 50 years, Roseanna Vitro has made vocal jazz her life’s work. She came to jazz from the roots of gospel and the blues, dug deeply into the standards, then embraced a wide variety of influences from Bill Evans to Ray Charles, from cultures and territories covering Brazil to India. During this pursuit, she took her calling to heart as a Jazz Ambassador for the US State Department. She taught vocal jazz at the university level for two decades, authored a series of jazz columns for JazzTimes magazine, released fourteen album projects, and toured on every continent except Antarctica. Roseanna met Dorough in 1998 when they were both inducted into the Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame. They developed a kinship from their common roots. Though Bob is best known for his Schoolhouse Rock project, Roseanna first dug him on “Nothing Like You,” a song he originally recorded with Miles Davis in 1966. In 2017, while making her record Tell Me the Truth, Roseanna learned that Bob’s health was failing. She quickly organized a session to document his lyrics to Parker’s “Bluebird” and “Red Cross.”  At the same time, Roseanna had grown close to Sheila through their JazzTimes collaboration.  She invited her to record with a band of associates: Mark Gross (alto sax), Jason Teborek (piano), Dean Johnson (bass) and Bill Goodwin (drums). Unfortunately, Bob passed within months of the recording, Roseanna then lost her mother, had to move to a new town after 35 years, and lastly, Covid-19 became the highest hurdle. Slowly emerging from the upheaval, she called a second session with an updated band, adding Marion Cowings and Gary Bartz to the mix.  Roseanna met Marion when she first arrived in New York, over 40 years ago. She was immediately impressed with his command of bebop. (Marion, a member of their mutual admiration society, introduced her to Jon Hendricks.) Roseanna met Gary on her 1996 Passion Dance recording for Telarc. Gary’s love of Bird was obvious. To complete the picture, Alan Broadbent, Roseanna’s new neighbor and two-time Grammy winner, agreed to join the session, teaming with bassist Johnson and drummer Alvester Garnett. Thus, the seeds of this recording were sown. Because lyrics and storytelling play a central role in Roseanna’s music, she asked Bob and Sheila to graft their words to Bird’s songs. Marion applied King Pleasure’s lyrics to “Parker’s Mood” and Hendricks’s lyrics to “Now’s the Time.” I wrote for the Parker classics “Scrapple From the Apple” and “Steeplechase,” while forging a second verse to “Sheila, Jazz Child,” an addition to Gary Brock’s original lyrics. Rounding out all is Gary’s read on “Ko-Ko / Cherokee,” and the three-way interchange among Roseanna, Bob and Sheila on “These Foolish Things.” When the dust cleared, certain verities remained: Charlie Parker was born on August 29, 1920, trumpeted by Roseanna's newly minted Sing a Song of Bird, which honors his centennial, his enduring impact on popular culture, and all those who continue to believe “Bird lives.” –Paul Wickliffe, producer Bio It is her 15th release, and it showcases her passion for expanding the jazz repertoire with newly crafted lyrics and a cast of bebop masters - vocalists Sheila Jordan, Bob Dorough and Marion Cowings; along with alto saxophonists, Gary Bartz and Mark Gross. This is a soulful flight from an artist whose recordings include The Music of Randy Newman, Catchin’ Some Rays (Ray Charles), Clarity (Clare Fischer), Tropical Postcards (Brazilian), Tell Me the Truth (Southern blues), Passion Dance (McCoy Tyner) and Live at the Kennedy Center (Kenny Werner), each featuring a cast of master instrumentalists. Roseanna has toured on every continent except Antarctica, representing the USA as a Jazz Ambassador for The US State Department, The Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center.   Lyrics   People Chase lyrics by Paul Wickliffe Music: Steeplechase by Charlie Parker   We all run in the human race, But what’s the point is a source of confusion. To live life like a steeplechase, we leap the hurdles or fall on our face!   To win life, many people chase the money, fame or some other delusion. We all win if we lessen the pace, to smell the roses with courage and grace.   We’re hurdling round the track to be the first to win all the dough. All you will see are the rumps of the other ponies out in front so take it slow and let it flow. Enjoy the s as you Go on the race round the circle of life. So make new friends, knowing time is our rival. So bring love, understanding to strife, just be more human and you’ll win at LIFE!   The Scatter Lyrics by Bob Dorough Music: Red Cross by Charlie Parker   They say that ’e’s got the bes’ riff; Red Cross. I’m tellin’ you he can ad lib: Red Cross. You’ll find him on the corner ’bout a quarter to four. You’ll listen and then you’ll wanta hear more. I tell you, he’s really mellow, Red Cross, A groovy and a happy fellow, Red Cross. He does a bit on Broadway till around about five. I’m tellin’ you baby, this is no jive.   Now when you’ve heard him just give him some skin, Then tip the kitty – a deuce or a fin. He’s jus’ the coolest, I dig him a lot. A scattin’ daddy, come hear what he’s got.   (He’s a) mover and a shaker, Red Cross. Not a  reggae from Jamaica, Red Cross. He comes from up in Harlem with a powerful beat So hurry on down, he’ll give you a treat. (Reet?)   Now when you’ve heard him just give him some skin, Then tip the kitty – a deuce or a fin. He’s jus’ the coolest, I dig him a lot. A scattin’ daddy, come hear what he’s got.   I’m tellin’ you once again, Bro, Red Cross. You listen to me and then go, Red Cross. You’ll get a happy feelin’ when he’s groovin’ so high. I’m tellin’ you, man, that this is no lie.   You’re dyin’ to get up there in that beautiful sky, So listen to Red and give it a try… Red Cross.   Bird’s Song (Relaxin’ at the  Camarillo) Sheila Jordan lyrics, Charlie Parker music   The first time that I heard this song Was at Birdland way back in nineteen-fifty-two or fifty-three. Bird played it and it blew me away. I still remember today. What a feeling. I’ll never forget the joy, Hearing Charlie Parker play this song. I hear it now and I’m singing along.   Bird always made me want to sing Bebop music And so I tried to learn each song Charlie Parker played, His melodies were soulful and fine. Just tryin’ to learn each line wasn’t  easy. I’ll never forget the joy, hearing all the music that he played. It thrills me now and I sing it today.   Grapple with the Apple Lyrics by Paul Wickliffe Music by Charlie Parker (Scrapple from the Apple)   Don't wanna grapple with the apple, Wanna sample a bit of wide open skies. No lie, today I'm gonna fly, to where sun can tickle the sea. Now you know how happy I'll be.   To squeeze and rumble through the tunnel See em funneling all the people inside. Just makes me wanna run and hide, to find my Caribbean bliss, A warm adventure sealed with a kiss.   Runnin' around this crazy town will get you down it's so overwhelming. Gotta go another show. Gonna reach to the sky and fly Give me the sun and the one I love to start my heart beaten' faster.   I'm tired of living like a hamster, Just a runnin' around a cage on a wheel. It's time to get a better deal, for real, Find a bottle of rum and snuggle with the one that I love.   Audubon’s New Bluebird Lyrics by Bob Dorough Music: Bluebird by Charlie Parker   Audubon, he was classifying a bluebird But he suspected his Latin was wrong. Not to say what he heard just wasn’t a bluebird But he detected a quirk in his song – bong! Called his colleague and said, “I’ve found me a new bird. Man, just listen to this. It’s so strong.”   Audubon grabbed his pen and started his doodlin’. When the bird instigated a run, Dropped his pen when he heard that bluebird a noodlin’ Scratched his head and said, “Son-of-a-gun… Mon, Here’s a new bird that’s really and truly a bluebird, Why, he keeps on chasin’ his tail just for fun.   Well, I’ve been all over this country. I’ve seen a lot birds, In fact, I’ve painted them all, or quite a few. Maybe you’ve Seen my famous book, It’s call ‘Birds of America’ Known around the entire globe as ‘Audubon’s Bird Book’ You can see a copy in your local library. Why, John James Audubon is recognized By ornithologists from far and wide.   But now, put that aside, we’re talkin’ bluebirds! There’s the Eastern – sialia sialis, Then there’s the Western bluebird sialia Mexicana, Then a Mountain bluebird, but this bird is a diff’rent kind of Bluebird, I really got to classify it quickly as a brand new specimen, Flyin’ ’round the lab so fab and free – and loose – Huh? How’d that bird get loose?   Hey! My assistant is such a goose, We gotta get ‘im back! Help! My big chance to make a discovery, If only we can recover ’im. Get some bunting and some nets – anything to cover all my bets.” Meanwhile the bird is flying frantic’ly “There ’e goes! This bird is free! AWW!”   Audubon took a flop down onto his sofa, Told his crew to just call it a day, Moaned and groaned till at last he just mulled it over While the bird traveled on its free way – Hey! Simmered down as he contemplated his losses And finally said, “That’s the bluebird that got away,”   Sheila, Jazz Child Lyrics by Gary Brocks and Paul Wickliffe Music: Cheryl by Charlie Parker   I wanna tell ya ‘bout a chick I know, her name is Sheila The grooviest gal you’ve ever met, Believe me when I tell ya, She’s hip, so hip that Charlie Parker took her under his wing. How hip is that he showed her his music! She’d laugh and get a smile and sing, Boh-bah-bahp, bah, da, Bah boh, ba-ba-da Bop   At night the girl named Sheila would wait by the door behind the club In sleet or rainy weather, she’d wait. ‘N’ Bird would teach her bebop licks ‘N’ man, she’d swing! How hip is that he taught her his music. She’d laugh ‘n’ get a smile ‘n’ sing. Boh-bah-bahp, bah, da, dop, boh, bah, ba-da Bop   In the beginning in Detroit City where the journey started, Her nickel descends, the record spins  “Now’s the Time” is playin’. She got it. Light and darker, Charlie Parker made his mark her own She started singin’, a lifetime of swingin’. So to be or not to bop!   Long live Ms. Sheila Jordan, first lady of Bop, She’ll never stop Her passion for the music Carry on Bird’s tradition, Her addition made the mission fun To raise the bar for all of us singers. Now we hear Ms. Sheila blow: Sing a Son... Sing a Son... Roseanna_V...

Grammy-nominated vocalist Roseanna Vitro's “Sing a Song of Bird,” expands vocal jazz repertoire with 6 new bebop lyrics to Charlie Parker tunes

Roseanna's note: A heartfelt thank you to the world jazz community for your support of Sing a Song of Bird. Working with mentors Bob Dorough, Sheila Jordan, and Marion Cowings was a dream come true. Their new lyrics bring to life a new book for singers to interpret while exploring the language of bebop. I was honored to shepherd this legacy project. I'm including a video of Bob Dorough's live rendition of "Audubon's New Bluebird." He was 94 in years, but his spirit was 25. Check out the live performance video recorded in NYC right before he passed. Bob is an example of the spirit and passion we feel when creating written or spontaneous improvisation. There are many special moments on this recording with the great Sheila Jordan and master vocalist Marion Cowings, as well as the stealth musicians who gave their best. Thank you!  Roseanna

People Chase (Steeplechase)—Roseanna swings Paul Wickliffe's tale of life as an artist in NYC The Scatter (Red Cross)—Bob Dorough's hip feel-good bop about a jazz man Grapple with the Apple (Scrapple from the Apple)— Paul Wickliffe fulfills Roseanna's dream story vacation from NYC to their favorite Caribbean island Audubon's New Bluebird (Bluebird)— Bob Dorough's last and finest vocalese (lyrics) to Parker's horn solo on Bluebird. Bird's Song (Relaxin' at the Camarillo)—Sheila Jordan opens with her signature story, The Bird. Bird's Song, another soulful original story of her relationship with Parker.

Lyrics and Liner Notes below in the attachments.

CD Release Livestream October 28th, 8pm EST  www.Soapboxgallery.org featuring: Roseanna, Sheila, Marion vocals *Donald Harrison alto sax, Alan Broadbent piano, Dean Johnson bass, Alvester Garnett drums *Danny Bacher singing Bob Dorough's music. Please join us!  Roseanna

Press Quotes “A stunning, epic legacy recording that gives imaginative flight to the timeless magic Parker left us long ago.” - JW Vibe by Jonathan Widran “This is the fifteenth recording for Vitro… delivering this year’s vocal triumph and a lasting one for years to come… Bird still lives!” -  Making a Scene by Jim Hynes “This is jazz perfection as you rarely hear it in any genre nowadays. There are too many highlights on this album to spend time describing them all. The album is flawless in the sense that there isn’t a bad or indifferent track or solo from start to finish. Bird would have enjoyed this tribute because it really does come from the heart.” - The Art Music Lounge by Lynn Rene Bayley

Roseanna's note:

A heartfelt thank you to the world jazz community for your support of Sing a Song of Bird. 
#24 Jazzweek
#1 Roots Music Report

We couldn’t have done it without you.
Thank you!  Roseanna

For those of you in the Los Angeles area LIVE MUSIC IS BACK!!     Roseanna Vitro & Marion Cowings   Please join us for the celebration: Sing A Song of Bird!  - On The Road…   Saturday – November 13, 2021 8:00 – 9:00PM   Feinstein’s at Vitello’s 4349 Tujunga Ave Studio City, CA 91604     Hear Roseanna and Marion perform classics and new lyrics to Charlie Parker’s historic melodies. • Bill Cuniffe – piano • Gabe Davis – bass • Richard Weller – drums • Kim Richmond – alto sax   www.roseannavitrojazz.squarespace.com/gigs