Album Notes

The Second Set

The Second Set, features Jazz and Samba classics from the golden era of American music as well as Brazillian and other Latin genres.

Ambience, is a Seattle based Jazz group that features Leah Natale on vocals, George Stone on guitar, Burt Boice on bass and Chris Busa on winds. The CD captures Ambience’s distinctive sound that is characterized by tasteful guitar, lively brisk be-bop horn lines, robust bass, stimulating percussion and the pure sultry voice of Leah Natale. The CD liner notes provide an accurate description of Leah’s contribution:

“Leah does it her way with tasteful restraint and clarity. Her phrasing is unpretentious, yet emotional. Her sultry voice is all that is needed to leave an indelible impression on the listener.”

The CD begins with a Samba by Antonio Carlos Jobim titled, Agua De Beber and ends with Duke Ellington’s and Billy Strayhorn’s, Day Dream, a classic Swing tune from the 40’s.

The title of the CD, The Second Set, describes the musical rebirth that each band member individually experienced in their life and how this experience is analogous to the second set of a show when musicians find their distinctive groove and give their best performance.

This is Leah’s second CD, but first as a member of Ambience. Her first CD, My Someday, echoed the big band traditions when many of the song selections on that CD first gained popularity. This latest CD covers the same genre, but with a modern quartet sound and Swing and Latin arrangements that appeal to younger and older listeners, and serious or moderate jazz enthusiasts alike.