LOVE IS THE KEY

From the pen of award-winning composer/lyricist, singer/pianist and arranger/producer SUE MASKALERIS comes her best material yet, ten catchy Brazilian-jazz and jazz songs, nine with outstanding lyrics, including two collaborations. It is rare for one musician to wear so many hats and so well.

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A ticking woodblock “clock” and thunderous left hand piano surdo open the samba ”Procrastination,” which pokes fun at this woeful but common habit. JANIS SIEGEL (The Manhattan Transfer) joins the mayhem, trading scat melodies in the baiāo section. After solos from guitarist WESLEY AMORIM (Alcione) and flutist CECILIA TENCONI, Sue scats a joyful one with the piano. 

 

The sensuous bossa ballad “Bliss” recalls Ivan Lins while paying homage to Tania Maria on her scatted piano solo; two of Sue’s major influences in Brazilian music. DARMON MEADER (The New York Voices) sweetens the choruses. 

 

Drummer STEVE WILLIAMS (The Shirley Horn Trio) joins JARED BERNSTEIN, Sue’s first bassist, Economic Adviser to President Biden (Also Economic Adviser Chief under Obama), on the ethereal “Love Will Overflow.” His old schoolmate DOC HALLIDAY smokes a solo on soprano before his poignant offering. The angelic background voices of DARMON MEADER and MINDYE FORTGANG sprinkle more magic. 

 

LUIZ SIMAS penned the Portuguese verses in “March of the Refugee (Dire)” while translating for too many immigrants in U.S. courts. The “Dire Choir” sings Sue’s urgent lyrics over an afoxê groove. Amorim’s searing guitars shine on this funky throwback to ’80’s Ivan Lins. 

 

The eternally timely message of the title song “Love Is The Key” is delivered over the percolating Afro-Cuban congas of CHEMBO CORNIEL, with a genre-hopping solo by Grammy-nominated violinist SARA CASWELL. Background singers form Steely Dan-like harmonies.

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Eliane Elias inspired Sue’s instrumental written at sea, “Renewal,” featuring strong solos by RODRIGO BOTTER MAIO on soprano sax (recorded in Zurich), LEO TRAVERSA (Ivan Lins, Tania Maria) on 5-string fretless bass and Grammy-winning drummer MAURICIO ZOTTARELLI (recorded in Sāo Paulo). 

 

“Você Pra Mim” begins dreamily before erupting into a bright samba and baiāo, with Portuguese lyrics by singer SANDY CRESSMAN, English by Sue. LARRY TUTT guests on alto with percussionist NEGAH SANTOS (Jon Batiste’s “Stay Human” band on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”).

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Seigel and Meader help celebrate “Valentine’s Day For One,” a witty, topical look at singlehood, full of quote gags and classic one-liners: “Love me Tinder, love me sweet, who’s gonna swipe me off my feet?” Sue rips another fiery scat solo with the piano here. 

 

An evocative soundscape with Tenconi’s alto flutes is painted on “Summer,” a duet with singer LUIZ SIMAS. Sue unleashes a Ravel-esque solo. 

 

Halliday’s soprano channels Wayne Shorter on the hypnotic 5/4 “Fly Away.” Upright bassist BRUCE ATKINSON (Richard Marx, Kenny Loggins) adds an R&B layer of voices for trancing out.

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There is a lushness to this music, often cushioned with string parts and background singers not found on much of today’s jazz releases. And a pop-like ethos in the writing and arrangements, despite deceptive complexity. All told, this is a multi-faceted and exciting third outing for the uber-talented Sue Maskaleris, where each song outshines the last!

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The core band is:

Sue Maskaleris: vocals, piano, keyboards, synth strings

Wesley Amorim: guitars, 7-string guitars 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9
Leo Traversa: bass, 5-string fretless bass 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11

Samuel Martinelli: drums 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11

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Guests:

Janis Siegel, 1; Janis Siegel & Darmon Meader, background vocals 8
Darmon Meader & Mindye Fortgang, 3
Dire Choir: Mindye Fortgang, Devorah Segall, Nancy Ruth, Annie Lebeaux, Eve Zanni, Nelson Riveros, Luiz Simas, John Di Martino 4 John DiMartino, Devorah Segall, Nancy Ruth, Annie Lebeaux, Mindye Fortgang, Luiz Simas: background vocals: 5, 11
Luiz Simas: vocals 9
Ceclia Tenconi: flute, 1, alto flutes, 2, 7, 9 alto sax 8
James “Doc” Halliday: soprano sax 3, 10
Larry Tutt: alto sax: 7, 8 EWI flugelhorn 8, voice: 1
Rodrigo Botter Maio: soprano sax 6
Darmon Meader: soprano sax 8
Brad Baker: clarinet 2
Luis Botter Maio: flugelhorn 6
Sara Caswell: violin 5, 11
Nelson Riveros: guitar 3
Jared Bernstein: upright bass 3
Bruce Atkinson: upright bass & background vocals 10
Steve Williams: drums 3, 10
Mauricio Zottarelli: drums 6
Negah Santos: percussion 1, 7, 9
Chembo Corniel: congas, tambourine 5, 11
Roger Guarino: voice 1

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