Album Notes

This Brooklyn-based jazz octet brings a fresh and energetic approach to the jazz and funk idioms through creative new arrangments of standards, the exploration of "new standards" (Bjork, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Beatles, Dolly Parton), and a diverse body of original songs penned by members of the group. The all-star lineup includes guitarist Ethan Hein, trumpeter Jesse Selengut, drummer Jeremy Portwood, saxophonist Catherine Sikora, vocalist Kate Bell, trombonist Elizabeth Dotson-Westphalen, clarinetist Adrian Mira and bassist Chris Luard.

About the tunes:
Easy Song - An optimistic swinger brought to you by Jesse, featuring his deft trumpet skills and Chris' expert bass.

Orlando's Bossa - Kate tells the hard-luck story of a homeless man. Soloists are Jesse, Adrian and Ethan.

In My Arms - Kate's moody lullaby, featuring a meditative improvisational discourse between Ethan and Catherine.

Sometimes I'm Happy - Our arrangement of this old standard combines swing and funk, and features Adrian's clarinet wizardry.

Red Sky In Brooklyn - Kate's sultry ballad, featuring a scorching brass duet by Elizabeth and Jesse.

Possibly Maybe - The steamiest number from our Björk repertoire, with dual Kates and an involuted four-horn arrangement by Jesse.

Never Seen Me Before - Kate gets her comeuppance against a former boyfriend who's had the gall to move into her neighborhood, over another of Jesse's dazzling horn charts.

Glass House Blues - Jesse's haunting ballad, with lyrics by Sylvia Gordon.

My Favorite Things - The Richard Rodgers classic as interpreted by John Coltrane, featuring a mindbending soprano sax odyssey by Catherine.

Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen as filtered through Jeff Buckley, with a soulful gospel-flavored arrangement by Ethan supporting a horn chart and trombone feature by Elizabeth.

The album was recorded in an apartment by Jesse, and mixed by Jesse and Ethan. It was mastered by Alan Tucker of Foothill Digital. The cover art is a set of magazine collages by Kate, with some Photoshopping by Ethan. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it!