MP3 Wistful Elegance - JAZZ: Smooth Jazz

Smooth jazz'n'soul - intimate vocals, piano and sax on unplugged versions of classic songs.

11 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Smooth Jazz, URBAN/R&B: Soul



Details:
"WISTFUL ELEGANCE" by PHARAOH'S DREAM

Music From The Heart, For The Soul

âThe strength of the music and performances, together, is a mind-movie that pulls you in and wonât let you leave until the story ends,â from liner notes by Roberta Flack, 2007

"David Nathan never ceases to amaze me!" Chaka Khan, 2007

"This is a new incarnation. a new chapter in my life and my musical journey..." Pharaoh's Dream, 2007

When multiple music artists band together, the results are sure to be twice as nice. Thatâs exactly what happens with Pharoahâs Dream and the exhilarating new release "Wistful Elegance," which started when London-born David Nathan, noted R&B historian and author met up with a musical legend. âThe premise for "Wistful Elegance" came out of a conversation I had with famed Philadelphia producer Thom Bell,â Nathan explains. âWe talked about the idea of doing a CD that was more acoustic or âunplugged.â I love the saxophone, and any time Iâve heard a voice and saxophone together, I think itâs amazing. Thom thought a project bringing those elements together was an incredible idea.â

Enter Preston Glass, award-winning producer (Kenny G.âs double platinum âDuotonesâ album, as well as work with Earth Wind & Fire, George Benson, Jennifer Holliday, Johnny Mathis and many more), songwriter (Aretha Franklinâs âWhoâs Zoominâ Who,â Natalie Coleâs âMiss You Like Crazy,â etc.), multi-instrumentalist and former associate of both Narada Michael Walden and â bringing things full circle â Thom Bell. âWhen David Nathan was working on his first CD, Reinvention,â recalls Glass, âI gave him a song, âWhen Your Heart Whispers Love,â which he included. Then, after David spoke with Thom, he approached me about working on the new project.â

âThe first thing we did,â Nathan continues, âwas to sit down at the piano. Somehow, Preston got a sense of me, as a person, and wrote this song, âWistful Elegance.â That became the theme for the whole CD.â Glass remembers it in the same way: âWhen we starting talking about the project, David noticed that a lot of the songs had a wistful quality to them, and then in another meeting he described them as âelegant.â I put the two words together, and then I started thinking of David. The songs on "Wistful Elegance" have a vibe that is true to him.â

Adhering to Jerry Wexlerâs dictum that it all begins with material, the pair assembled a truly special mix of the
known and obscure â all suited to the expressive treatments of Nathan, who credits the great Roberta Flack for
providing him with early encouragement and guidance; Flack subsequently wrote liner notes for Wistful Elegance. âKnowing what a superb listener Roberta is, her âstamp of approvalâ meant so much to me,â says Nathan. âI was
so humbled when I read what she wrote and having her words on the Pharaohâs Dream CD was a deep honor. Then
having such amazing artists as (longtime industry friends) Will Downing, Kenny Lattimore, Najee, Lynne Fiddmont,
Peggi Blu, Thelma Jones ad Johnny Britt (of Impromp2) on this project was a true blessing!â

Curtis Mayfieldâs poignant âThe Makings of Youâ starts everything off on a note of warm contemplation, with
Nathan delivering a richly interpretive vocal (âI just wanted to do something very simple and plaintive,â he notes.
âItâs like a prayer for meâ). âWhen the World Turns Blueâ benefits from the added luster of R&B star Kenny
Lattimore on background vocals, while Nathanâs penetrating take on âChildren of the Nightâ boasts two superb
guests, singer Will Downing and flutist Najee. Burt Bacharach and Hal David fans will rejoice over the inclusion
of the seldom-heard âI Took My Strength from You,â a scorching duet with soulful song stylist Peggi Blu, and
lovers of Philly soul will be similarly thrilled with âHow Could I Let You Get Away,â delivered by Nathan in a
sparkling rendition complete with sultry sax.

An engaging highlight of the album is a version of Heatwaveâs little-known but very catchy, âAll You Do Is Dial,â a song suggested to Nathan by Michael Lewis, his colleague and partner at the award-winning website
www.soulmusic.com. âIâm so glad David and Michael thought of that song,â Glass enthuses. âIt happened
to fit perfectly, especially with his voice and the other songs we were doing.â The bonus track, âWho Stole The
Moon,â a sterling Nathan original (co-written and produced by J.J. Schoch) is a smooth jazz-flavored piece
written some years ago that like many of the other songs on Wistful Elegance, the track conjures up a certain
visual imagery and with its infectious hook, it is one of the CDâs standouts. Adding diversity to the brew are a few surprises, including the Moody Bluesâ pop classic, âNights in White Satin.â âI always thought that âNights in
White Satinâ could be done in a soulful way,â Nathan muses, âso I thought, âletâs see what will happen if we soul
it up a bit!ââ Nathanâs bold, adventurous reading gains further strength from the excellent work of saxophonist
Craig Thomas who plays throughout the album and the astounding piano artistry of Giovanna Imbesi, who plays
on two other tracks and, incidentally, acted as producer on his first CD. Of Imbesi, who has worked with Narada
Michael Walden and other luminaries, Nathan says simply, âSheâs simply excellent!â

Rounding out this exemplary package is another little-known gem, âChange Upâ (featuring Nathanâs good friend, singer Thelma Jones, on featured vocals), and a moving interpretation of âWild Is the Windâ (produced by Ted Perlman), a song associated with one of Nathanâs greatest influences and friends, the incomparable Nina Simone. Taken as a whole, the eleven songs comprise a recording as varied and spirited as the participants involved â none more wholly than Nathan himself. âWhat I felt after we finished everything was that the entire CD had a certain mood to it. I want this music is going to touch people and letting people
hear my musical heart.â