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The debut solo jazz effort from singer/songwriter Cristina Morrison - cristinamorrisonilove.com - I Love, introduces one of the most distinctively original vocal artists on the scene today. An accomplished actress, a graduate of the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Ms. Morison’s talent has been hailed as “chameleonic and versatile ” and she brings these same qualities to her music on an album that melds jazz, blues, folk and pop sensibilities of the U.S. with samba, bossa nova and other South American influences, in a unique mélange that is all her own. Born of mixed American and Ecuadorian parentage in Miami, Morrison has resided in Rome, Quito, the Galapagos Islands, Los Angeles and now New York City, resulting in a multicultural world view that is reflected in her music, which is informed by her myriad life experiences and keen observations into the nature of the human character.
Joining Morrison is a roster of first class New York players, headed by the singer’s “partner in crime” saxophonist/composer Christian Hidrobo, a longtime colleague from her jazz band The Baroness & Her Lovers, who contributed the appealing melodies that accompany the singer’s own engaging lyrics, which are utterly cinematic in their vivid imagery. Accompanied by pianist Steve Einerson, bassists Marcus McLaurine (acoustic) and Alex Alvear (electric), drummer Willard Dyson and percussionist Sammy Torres in the stellar rhythm section, with saxist Hidrobo, trumpeter Walter Szymanski, guitarist Vinny Valentino and harmonica virtuoso Gregoire Maret supplying multihued backgrounds and compelling solos, Morrison embarks on an episodic musical journey that runs the gamut of emotions, joyous, sorrowful, exuberant and meditative. Pristinely recorded, the nine songs on I Love reach out and touch listeners’ minds, hearts and souls with messages that are simultaneously personal and universal.
The disc opens dramatically with Summer In New York, Szymanski blowing ominous muted trumpet over McLaurine’s slow bass ostinato conjuring nocturnal images of the city hearkened to in Morrison’s singing of her lyric, which begins “Corners, streets and alleys meet” and goes on to speak of “Lust and sex and human heat.” Vulnerability slowly swells to strength in Crisitina’s intoning of her story as the music moves from bluesy melancholy to joyous swing, propelled by Valentino’s soulful guitar on the spirited bridge that celebrates “Summer In New York/Summer’s sexy breeze/ Dancing on the river.” Einerson solos straight ahead over walking bass and riding cymbals before the singer slows the mood to take things out with a plaintive plea to “Make my lonely nights seem right.”
A bonus video track The Making Of I Love - youtu.be/sg6k7NUjMjs - offers an intimate look at Cristina Morrison and her colleagues at work in the studio. The spirit of camaraderie that is heard so clearly in the music is seen close up as the singer and her musicians collaborate to make the music come alive. She confesses to the camera,“Singing is more an instinct to me. It’s more personal. It’s more intimate of who Cristina Morrison is. I want to write what I think and what I feel and what inspires me. I just write it as it is.” What it is, to Cristina Morrison, are many things from many places. Her music takes the listener on a magical journey as she shares the world of wonderful experiences that have made her the insightful singer who she is today. One who sings her life and loves doing it.
Cristina will bring to her night at the “Metropolitan Room” original songs as well as standards from her new debut album titled,“I LOVE”. Here her talent as a singer-songwriter is expressed by bringing together her Latin feeling with her love for jazz. In I LOVE she merges different genres which navigate across bossa nova, funk, samba, Latin ballad, and straight-ahead. Cristina’s repertoire is a compilation of songs written and dedicated to the people, the places and all things she loves in life: her two sons, past love tales, the Galapagos Islands, New York, Storyville, and much more.
Her album had the honor of being recently chosen by JAZZ at LINCOLN CENTER to be given out as a gift at the “Young Benefactors Event Concert”. In her Bennett Studios recording she’s accompanied by a group of fine musicians like Steve Einerson, Willard Dyson, Marcus Mc. Laurine, Walter Szymanski, Gregoire Maret, Sammy Torres, Alex Alvear, Alex Harding, Vinny Valentino and Christian Hidrobo who’s in charge of the music & arrangements. The album will be officially released in the coming months by her indie label Baronesa Records.
The Press has defined Morrison as an analytical, charismatic, creative, and a free spirited woman and as a chameleonic and versatile actress who works her characters at depth being able to reach her audience.
El Debate- Mexico: "The Aging of the Plum" delivered an emotional performance at the Angela Peralta Theatre. Cristina Morrison and Rossana Iturralde gave a master class in acting through their portrayal of various characters.
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