CONCORD
RECORDS PRESENTS THE NEW CD FROM SWING ICON KEELY SMITH HERE
"KEELY SWINGS BASIE-STYLE"
IS A TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDARY BAND LEADER COUNT BASIE
IN STORES ON OCTOBER
22
CONCORD
RECORDS will continue the exhilarating personal and professional renaissance
of swing icon KEELY SMITH with the release of her new recording, "Keely
Swings Basie-Style ... With Strings" (CCD-2138), on October 22nd.
On this sixteen-song tribute to Count Basie, the legendary band leader
and her personal friend, Keely is lushly accompanied by an 18-piece
band and a 22-member string orchestra led by pianist/conductor Dennis
Michaels.
"Keely Swings Basie-Style
... With Strings" is an ideal and inspired pairing of singer and material.
The very name Count Basie is synonymous with the swing movement, as
is the name Keely Smith, both in years past and again today. Rather
than record selections that could be faithfully copied, Keely chose
instead to use Basie's musical influence and style as inspiration
for the CD.
The CD begins with the
classic "April in Paris" and continues with such timeless standards
as "Love For Sale," "How High The Moon," "One For My Baby," and "Mood
Indigo," as well as swinging versions of more contemporary tunes,
including "How Sweet It Is" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." Other
highlights include an elegant version of "You Go To My Head," the
spirited "Take The ŽA' Train," and a poignant rendition of "The House
I Live In," which segues beautifully into "The Star Spangled Banner."
"Keely Swings Basie-Style
... With Strings" becomes the third in a recent series of recordings
that honor men who have had a tremendous effect on, and personal connection
to, Keely's life. Her 2000 Concord Records debut, "Swing, Swing, Swing,"
(CCD-4882) was an unofficial testament to her former husband and performing
partner, Louis Prima. Its successor, "Keely Sings Sinatra" (CCD-4943),
earned her a Grammy Award nomination in the "Best Traditional Pop"
category in 2001. It was therefore a natural progression to document
her respect and admiration for Count Basie on this latest Concord
release.
KEELY SMITH has enjoyed
incredible popularity, commercial success and historic achievement
throughout a career that has spanned nearly half a century. Most recently,
the revival of the swing movement introduced a whole new generation
to the excitement and fun of her music. In the late 90s, The Gap retail
chain was inspired to use Prima's signature tune, "Jump, Jive and
Wail" in one of its popular ad campaigns. Keely began her career as
the female singer in Louis Prima's band, and later became famous as
one half of their hugely successful Las Vegas lounge act. Now, with
recent smash engagements in Los Angeles, Atlantic City and at New
York's Feinstein's at the Regency, her performance career continues
to thrive. And, thanks to Concord Records, so does her legacy on disc.
Like Sinatra's 1950s "concept" albums and Ella's famed song books,
Keely Smith's recent Concord recordings will stand the test of time
to set a new golden age of jazz and pop standards.
OTHER
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