Album Notes

CYNTHIA was interviewed for her performance and asked what is the story behind this newest recording called Storytelling Live At Birdland. (Rod Harrington El Dorado Daily News) Cynthia's home town newspaper.........

When I performed at Birdland and listened back to this performance, I JUST KNEW IT HAD TO BE DOCUMENTED. When one feels vulnerable, they have to pull inside more and let the spirit move you. I think this recording changed the way I will sing forever. HUMBLE YOURSELF TO YOUR MUSIC and see what happens. I was singing of the future, my future and the past. I sang of peace not knowing that we would be in a war today.

To tell you the truth I had been under the weather with the flu and knew that I would have to depend on the musicians more than I usually would. I am so glad I did. Maybe things happen for a reason so that it can bring about growth. I allowed the musicians to mix there spirit with mine instead of trying to control everything. I really had no choice because we had no rehearsal due my illness. So it was an.... OK let's see what happen and have faith.

The musicians chosen for this performance released their own spirits and the music was allowed to breathe. John DiMartino is a true orchestrator on the piano, Sherman Irby is a true storyteller in his own right, on his alto sax, Sean Smith's sensitivity on bass is unmatched and last but not least, DeWayne "Cook" Broadnax on drums is the man who holds the spirit pulse for the music. You hire musicians for what they can bring to the table and allowing these musicians to be set free.

I sang of Africa not knowing that I would be selected to be a 2004 Jazz Ambassador to travel to the continent of Africa to share the music of jazz. I was elected by national audition to represent the United States abroad as a 2004 US JAZZ AMBASSADOR. This program is a joint effort by the State Department and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. I was sent along with my jazz trio to foster recognition and awareness of American Jazz abroad and provide an opportunity for cultural exchange of music and the art of being a jazz singer. I had no idea where they would send me but I wanted to go to the motherland. I had a feeling it might be the motherland....and it was, along with France.
On my return I knew the time was now to release this project. So here it is and I hope that you will trust it as I did and give your listening ear a chance to experience a bit of STORYTELLING LIVE with music. For more go to WWW.CYNTHIASCOTT COM