2010 | Biography
On the opening track of Kisses You Awake, Jeanie Brandes’ exquisite new collection celebrating the rich tapestry and enduring magic of the Great American Songbook, the savvy and sensual world class singer asks herself the simple question that legendary lyricists Marilyn and Alan Bergman penned long ago: “What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?”
Working with and inspired by an incredibly creative jazz ensemble featuring bassist Brian Bromberg, her longtime pianist Shelly Markham, pianist Corey Allen, saxophonist/flutist Doug Webb and drummer Dave Tull, Brandes begins answering the question with 11 beautifully arranged, lushly produced tracks that fulfill her lifelong dream of making an honest and heartfelt jazz record.
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Kisses You Awake caps an incredible and diverse musical career that has taken the singer all over the world—beginning at age 22 when she performed with a 30-piece orchestra. Over the years, she performed many shows with Henry Mancini, had notable engagements at top jazz/cabaret venues in New York, L.A. and the Caribbean, and has sung the national anthem numerous times for her favorite teams in her hometown of Houston (Astros, Oilers, Texans, Rockets) and her adopted home of Los Angeles (Lakers, Galaxy). Raving about one of Brandes’ celebrated performances at Hollywood’s Cinegrill, Entertainment Today said, “Her voice is perfect for the material, and she is a highly trained singer with an impressive vocal range…left chills running down the spine. Brandes successfully channels the sensibility of a smoky white-tablecloth nightclub act into a smoke free, postmodern present.”
Starting with a subtle, intimate “What Are You Doing…” and wrapping with the eloquent “Here’s That Rainy Day,” Brandes taps the catalogs of Marilyn & Alan Bergman, Gershwin, Mancini, Johnny Mercer, Rogers & Hart, Jerome Kern and others to create a rich emotional journey that dashes all cynicism and proves that sometimes, just maybe, love conquers all. When Brandes says, “I still believe in love and romance, and jazz offers a sensitive way of looking at romance,” only someone living “A Day In The Life Of A Fool” would be disinclined to believe her.
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Brandes’ decision to take a warm and inviting jazz turn in her recording career comes after three critically acclaimed CD releases that featured many original songs: Love In The World I Remember (2000), which was released in conjunction with her bestselling book of poetry with the same name, now in its fourth printing; Soul Serenity (2002), which featured originals penned by Markham and a co-write by Brandes and Markham called “Sweet Celebration”; and a lovely children’s album, When I Look In Your Eyes (2006), which features the classic “Never Neverland” and iconic title track written by Leslie Bricusse. Besides the perfect mix of material and vibrant arrangements, the singer knew that the key to making Kisses You Awake a landmark recording was surrounding herself with the “best of the best” in the jazz world who could inspire her to reach new heights in her own artistry. She sees her brilliant team of veteran jazz musicians not as sidemen but as collaborators.
Another important element was the pure sound that emerged from the always shimmering behind the boards work of famed engineer and mixer Tom McCauley, who had worked on four songs from Love In The World I Remember. His credits include Bromberg, Manhattan Transfer, Joe Sample and The Duke Ellington Orchestra. Another of the noteworthy sonic touches was Brandes’ gift from Paul Levy of Advanced Audio, an M49 Neumann mic that was last used by Barbra Streisand.
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