‘A near perfect vocal-jazz album’
John Eyles, AllAboutJazz.com
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CD Liner Notes
For the last 18 years of her life lyricist Fran Landesman (1927-2011) met every week with composer Simon Wallace to write songs. So far Sarah Moule has introduced 45 of their songs over five CDs.
Born In New York City Fran moved to London in 1964. During her lifetime her words were recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Barbra Streisand and many others.
The opening track of this album, Nothing Is Mine Now, was the last song Simon and Fran worked on together. It was finished the aftenoon of the day Fran passed away. The title track, Stormy Emotions, was their first song, written the day they met.
‘I got lucky meeting Simon. That he married Sarah Moule was a bonus. She’s the jazz vocalist par excellence.’
Fran Landesman
Dedicated to Kathleen Wallace (1925-2019) and David James Connearn (1922-2020).
Tracks
1 Nothing Is Mine Now
2 Are We Just Having Fun?
3 Never That’s When
4 Close To Tears
5 A Magician’s Confession
6 Truly Unruly
7 After The Fall
8 On Hold/Living In Limbo
9 Time Is The Beast
10 The Long Arm Of Love
11 Fool’s Gold
12 Stormy Emotions
Mick Hutton double bass (tracks 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), Neville Malcolm double bass (1, 2, 5, 6), Paul Robinson drums (3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), Rod Youngs drums (1, 2, 5, 6), Nigel Price guitar (1, 6, 7, 8) Mark Lockheart saxophone and bass clarinet (2, 4, 9).
Musicians
Simon Wallace has had a varied international career as a composer, pianist and musical director. He has performed in 26 countries and appears regularly at Ronnie Scott’s Club, The Vortex and the 606 Club in London and has played several seasons at The Cafe Carlyle and The Metropolitan Room in New York. From 1993 until her death in 2011 he wrote songs with American lyricist Fran Landesman and for over 30 years worked with the late Simon Brint composing music for some of Britain’s most popular TV shows. He has been musical director for many singers including Ian Shaw, Claire Martin and Clare Teal and in recent years Barb Jungr. He is married to Sarah.
In addition to leading his own bands, bassist Mick Hutton has played on over sixty albums and performed worldwide. Artists he has played with include: Django Bates, Kenny Wheeler, Jack Bruce, Bill Bruford, Humphrey Lyttelton, Nigel Kennedy, Acker Bilk, Jim Mullen, Gary Husband, Bob Berg, Pharoah Saunders, Tommy Smith, Courtney Pine, John Scofield, Annie Ross, Mose Allison, Bobo Stenson and Ian Shaw. He is one of the most admired bass players on the European jazz scene.
Paul Robinson has been a professional drummer since 1970. He spent 19 years touring worldwide with Nina Simone, and was a member of Trevor Horn’s Art of Noise. He has worked with Van Morrison, Zoot Money, The Buggles, Cleo Laine, Billy Ocean, Billy Connelly, Jesse Green, and Colin Hodgkinson’s Back Door. Session work includes Paul Mcartney, Tracy Ullman, Jan Hammer and Swans Way. He has done three world tours with “Sing The Truth”, featuring Dianne Reeves, Liz Wright, Angelique Kidjo, Patti Austin & Simone.
Neville Malcolm is one of the most in-demand bass players in the country. Known as ‘Level-Neville’, he is an understated star on both acoustic and electric bass, combining an earthy, soulful feel with effortless technical ability. Coming from a background in Gospel music, Neville started out playing organ and guitar, switching to bass as he developed an ever greater interest in jazz and other music. Turning professional in the early ‘90s, he worked with Philip Bent and Steve Williamson and became part of London’s Acid Jazz scene. He has since performed all over the world and recorded with Billy Cobham, Gabrielle, Tom Jones, Carl Orr, Alex Wilson, Nathan Haynes, Marlene Shaw, Dave Valentin and Jack DeJohnette. Most recently he has been touring and recording with two of the world’s best known jazz crossover groups, Incognito and Us3.
Rod Youngs A native of Washington D.C. Rod is one of the most expressive and adept musicians in the music arena today. His approach to music is intuitive, emotional and all embracing but soundly rooted in the jazz tradition. Whether playing mainstream jazz, world music, or urban contemporary, Rod seamlessly moves from one genre to another, always preserving stylistic conventions whilst bringing creativity and individuality. He has worked with musicians ranging from the great Gil Evans to Denys Baptiste, Les McCann and Angela Bofill.
Guest Musicians on Stormy Emotions:
Mark Lockheart is an award winning saxophonist and composer and was a member of post-jazz group Polar Bear
Nigel Price is one of the UK’s most highly regarded jazz guitarists and leads The Nigel Price Organ Trio.
Charlie Cawood is a guitarist and composer. He toured for a number of years with the Medieval Baebes and is a gifted player of pluckable instruments of all kinds.