MP3 Susie Thorne - Blue Skies, Clear Day

She hails from Nebraska - but she swings like a big city girl........."You swing from the first note. I dig that." Jim Eigo - Jazz Promo - New York

11 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Jazz Vocals, BLUES: Jazzy Blues



Details:
ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE:
Susie Thorne âBlue Skies, Clear Dayâ November 2006

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This is Susie's first CD since 2000âs critically acclaimed release, "Love For Sale".

"Blue Skies, Clear Day" is a major statement from an independent artist delivering 11 tracks of refreshingly original and innovative arrangements, performed by a host of talented musicians, including Tom Kennedy (bassist for Dave Weckl) Christine Hitt (MaxJAZZ recording artist/pianist) and Rick Haydon(guitarist - Mel Bay records). All arrangements by Thorne, Hitt & Kennedy.

Blue Skies comes in a brilliant full-color, four-panel fold out poster with song title and lyrics.

**Read Susie's latest review from New York!
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/sound/nov0906.html
(scroll down - review is last on the page)

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"This is not a borderline "jazz influenced" vocalist or a straightforward balladeer who happens to be accompanied by some jazz players - she's the real thing."

Rob Lester
Talkingbroadway.com

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November 10, 2006

âI'm very confident that I've heard, in my humble opinion, one of the 5 best jazz CD's of 2006."

Albert Pride, Host of "The Jazz Is Out There"
www.blazeradio.org
Birmingham, Alabama

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"She hails from Nebraska - but she swings like a big city girl!" That's what critics are saying about this artist's new CD. Born in Hastings, Nebraska, the daughter of a classically trained vocalist mother and a professional trumpet player father (who was an occasional sideman for such greats as Lionel Hampton and Gerry Mulligan), Thorne was raised with a great love of music.

After graduating from high school, Thorne traveled the United States as lead vocalist in a Rhythm and Blues band. Thorne also entertained fans as a solo piano/vocalist as she toured the U.S. / Europe / Asia.

Thorne re-connected with her Jazz roots while studying piano performance at the University of Colorado at Denver. Inspired by such legendary artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson and Carmen McRae, she continued her vocal studies at the Academy of Vocal Arts. Thorne subsequently went on to perform for a loyal following in Japan and Hong Kong where she continued her jazz studies with American jazz artists on tour.

Her first CD, "Love for Sale" was greeted with critical acclaim and won her comparisons to the vocal stylings of the legendary performers â Nancy Wilson and a young Eartha Kitt., as well as the more current artists of today such as Diana Krall and Karrin Allyson.

Take a listen and you'll soon know what Nebraskans have known for years! She's Omaha's best kept secret...but our guess is, not for long!

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"I'm listening now and I have to say you swing right from the first note. I dig that!"

Jim Eigo, New York
Jazz Promo Services



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âBlue Skies, Clear Day" was recorded by:
SmithLee Productions - St. Louis, MO March 2006
Ware House Productions - Omaha, NE May 2006
Mix/Mastered - Dennis Moody Studios - Los Angeles, CA June 2006

Visit www.susiethorne.com for more information. To Purchase: www.cdbaby.com
Personnel on "Blue Skies, Clear Day":

» Christine Hitt - piano
» Tom Kennedy - bass
» Miles Vandiver - drums
» Rick Haydon - guitar
» Jason Swagler - alto sax


Produced by Tom Kennedy & Christine Hitt (Hitt appears courtesy of MaxJazz Records)

Notes from Susie about the tracks on Blue Skies..........

No Moon at All (David Mann, Redd Evans) vocal scat intro
This is a favorite song of a friend of mine, so I learned it at his request. Was a great suggestion and has since become one of my favoritesâ¦

Blue Skies (Irving Berlin)
This is such a great tune and itâs nice as a bossa nova! We went to 5/4 in the bridge for fun and it works!

Canât Buy Me Love (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)
Always wanted to do a pop cover of a Beatles tune but switch it up. I had intended to record this with more of a beatnik type rhythm â but when we got into the studio â man can those St. Louis guys swing. It was magic and we kept going!

Moon River (Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer)
Always liked this song when Audrey Hepburn sang it in Breakfast at Tiffanyâs. So lovely and melancholy. I was playing around with a certain rhythm on the piano and just started singing this tune. Itâs in 4/4 time instead of the original 3/4 and Rick Haydon (guitar) really adds a great dimension. This one has turned out to be my husbandâs favorite â he says it takes him on a journey every timeâ¦â¦

Night and Day (Cole Porter)
Classic â itâs one of those standards that never gets old. I came up with an idea for the introductory rhythm and we just played off that in the studio â the energy was cool.

Detour Ahead (Lou Carter, Herb Ellis, John Frigo)
Iâd only ever heard this tune as a ballad â but it seemed more comfortable to me to swing it, and it lays so nicely in 6/8 that it just felt natural -

Crazy (Willie Nelson)
My husband kept asking me to include a blues on the CD. I started thinking about what I could do instead of a standard blues tune and this Patsy Cline song came to mind. (Plus, I love Patsy!) Tommy thought it would be fun if I deferred to the original melody at the end â itâs the only time in the song the original melody is referenced. Christine added the final touch on the piano! I really like how this song played out as a blues... it feels right..â¦

You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (Cole Porter)
I love this song â and man can Tommy swing. I asked for fast and thatâs what I got!! It was a challenge to keep up with him and it was fun to connect with the nuances and stretch out trading 4âs etcâ¦.âwhite water raftingâ is what they call it â¦.

In A Sentimental Mood (Ellington, Mills, Kurtz)
Iâve always loved this song from the first time I heard Nancy Wilson sing it in her smooth, sophisticated style! Christine loves the way I sing it and suggested I put this tune on the CD. She wrote an arrangement around my interpretation and there was no turning back! Itâs just groovy-cool!

Old Devil Moon (E.Y. Harburg, Burton Lane)
This went straight into its own thing once we hit the studio â it became its own arrangement and we just had fun with it. Miles (drummer) stretches out on this one and when Tom started playing the hook at the end - we all followed!

Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes) (Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prevert)
I donât remember what my inclination was to put this in 3/4 - but it seems to fit the phrasing nicely. My friends have a French restaurant where I perform from time to time and it seemed appropriate to use Jaques Prevertâs French lyric. Itâs a beautiful song â and much more beautiful in its own romantic language.