COMPOSER
CD Release Show at The Bop Shop August 21, 2016
Jennifer Bellor, vocals
Colin Gordon, soprano saxophone
Julian Garvue, piano
Andrew Links, keyboard
Tyrone Allen, electric bass
Aaron Staebell, drums
1. Chase the Stars
2. Burning Light (remix)
3. Familiar Stranger (remix)
4. Moments Shared, Moments Lost (remix)
5. Air and Angels
6. Afterhours
7. A Whole New World (arrangement)
8. Pure Imagination (arrangement)
9. Noir
10. Songs in the Dark
Received the audio from the CD Release show, and excited to share my new song cycle I wrote this summer called “Songs in the Dark” with text by Emily Bronte (1818-1848):
1. “Frozen” (poem “The Night is Darkening”)
2. “Fall, Leaves, Fall”
3. “I’ll Not Weep” (poem “Stanzas”)
I also arranged a couple of my favorite tunes: “A Whole New World” and “Pure Imagination” to split up the set of all originals. It was fun performing them!
I had a blast making music with my band Sunday, August 21st at the Bop Shop for my CD release party in Rochester, NY.
Band featured:
Jennifer Bellor, vocals
Colin Gordon, soprano saxophone
Julian Garvue, piano
Andrew Links, keyboard
Tyrone Allen, electric bass
Aaron Staebell, drums
Great turnout, and was so happy to share it with so many friends from the area who were there to support me! At the end of the show I asked the audience to stay put so I could take a photo:
I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun performing! I presented an hour and 15-minute set comprising special live versions of not only compositions from my album Stay, but also premieres of songs I wrote this summer.
On Sunday, August 21st at 7:30pm at the Bop Shop in Rochester, NY, I will be holding a CD release show! It’s a really cool, intimate space and very excited to share my music with family and friends in the Rochester area. Click here for more details about show at Bop Shop
I will be presenting live show versions of a selection of compositions featured on my debut album Stay. All of these were arranged specifically for jazz performing artists Colin Gordon (soprano saxophone), Julian Garvue (piano/keyboard); Andrew Links (piano/keyboard); Tyrone Allen (electric bass); and Aaron Staebell (drums). Additionally, I will be premiering new songs that will be recorded/released as an EP this fall that sets the dark and evocative poetry of Emily Bronte (1818-1848) and John Donne (1572-1631).
The Digital release of my album STAY will be available Wednesday, August 10th! Check it out on CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and other sites for purchasing downloads and streaming. Album blends contemporary jazz, classical and rock styles featuring performers affiliated with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Eastman School of Music. Also featured on one track is Las Vegas-based rapper/jazz poet Rasar Amani.
I will be presenting live show versions of a selection of compositions featured on her debut album Stay. All of these were arranged specifically for jazz performing artists Colin Gordon (soprano saxophone), Julian Garvue (piano/keyboard); Andrew Links (piano/keyboard); Tyrone Allen (electric bass); and Aaron Staebell (drums). Additionally, she will be premiering new songs that will be recorded/released as an EP this fall that sets the dark and evocative poetry of Emily Bronte (1818-1848) and John Donne (1572-1631). Her album will be officially released at the show, featuring musicians affiliated with the Eastman School of Music and University of Nevada, Las Vegas, along with one track that will feature Las Vegas-based rapper, Rasar Amani. For more information on her album, please visit her Discography page!
Debut Album STAY to be released August 10, 2016
Album release show at the Bop Shop in Rochester, NY: http://www.bopshop.com/event/jennifer-bellor/
All compositions by Jennifer Bellor
CREDITS
Recorded at the UNLV Recording Studio (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12)
Recorded at the Eastman School of Music Recording Studio (tracks 5, 6, 9, 10, and 13)
Recorded and Mixed by: Ron George, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Recorded and Mixed by: Greg Thompson, Eastman School of Music
CD Design & Photography: Arthur Chivis
Vocal Coach: Stephanie Weiss
Mastered by: Gil Kaupp
PREFACE
Over the past year while planning out the music for this album, I was trying to tie together all of the pieces into one overall concept. I thought I would keep to this initial idea of developing a concept album that focused on the story of Baudelaire’s “The Generous Gambler.” While stepping through the process of writing/recording the music, I realized that the initial idea didn’t really fit all of the pieces conceptually. Therefore, I took a step back and reflectively discovered the pieces tied together because the compositions carried strong extra-musical associations to memories I have had throughout my development as a composer, and through my life. Even as a performer during my development (pre-college), the strong connections I had to a piece were tied to specific events, images, words, friendships, relationships, and artistic interactions. Truly each piece I chose for my album reflects some of these meaningful extra-musical associations; those that will stay with me as I continue to evolve as a composer.
TRACKS with instrumentation and preview excerpts
1. Chase the Stars (2015)
Lyrics from poem “Ah! Why, Because the Dazzling Sun” by Emily Bronte (1818-1848)
Original lyrics by Rasar Amani
Jennifer Bellor, vocals
Rasar Amani, rapper
Lynn Tsai, flute
Ivan Ivanov, bass clarinet
Samantha Ciarlo and Tammy Hung, violin
David Chavez, viola
Lindsay Johnson, cello
Tim Jones and Kyle Bissantz, percussion
Sean Carbone, electric guitar
Bennett Mason, piano
Summer Kodama, electric bass
Jeremy Klewicki, drums
Bronson Foster, conductor
2. Stay (2016)
Cory Tiffin, clarinet
Luigi Ng, vibraphone
Jae Ahn-Benton, piano
3. Burning Light (2015)
Lyrics from poem “Ah! Why, Because the Dazzling Sun” by Emily Bronte (1818-1848)
Jennifer Bellor, vocals
Tim Jones, vibraphone
Jae Ahn-Benton, piano
Sean Carbone, electric guitar
Summer Kodama, electric bass
Colin Woodford, drums
Bronson Foster, conductor
4. Moments Shared, Moments Lost (2016)
Ivan Ivanov, clarinet
Jae Ahn-Benton, electric organ
5. Interlude: AfterHours (2014)
Aaron Staebell, drums
6. Noir (2013)
Colin Gordon, soprano saxophone
Wendy Eisenberg, electric guitar
Tyrone Allen, electric bass
Aaron Staebell, drums
7. Fallen Veneer (2015)
Lyrics adapted/inspired by the poem “Christabel” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) with help from Alex Burtzos
Jennifer Bellor, vocals
Hunter Rose Turner, vocals
Lynn Tsai, flute
Ivan Ivanov, clarinet
Samantha Ciarlo and Tammy Hung, violin
David Chavez, viola
Lindsay Johnson, cello
Tim Jones and Kyle Bissantz, percussion
Sean Carbone, electric guitar
Jae Ahn-Benton, piano
Summer Kodama, electric bass
Colin Woodford, drums
Bronson Foster, conductor
8. Interlude: Time’s Arrest (2015)
Tim Jones, vibraphone
9. Familiar Stranger (remix) (2015)
Colin Gordon, soprano saxophone
Andrew Links, piano
Tyrone Allen, electric bass
Aaron Staebell, drums
10. Out of the Shadows (2012)
Mike Kaupa, trumpet
Samantha Ciarlo and Tammy Hung, violin
David Chavez, viola
Lindsay Johnson, cello
Andrew Links, piano
Wendy Eisenberg, electric guitar
Tyrone Allen, electric bass
Aaron Staebell, drums
Jennifer Bellor, conductor
11. Nightingale (2011)
Lyrics from the poem “Nightingale” by E. Louise Beach
Jennifer Bellor, soprano
Christina Wright-Ivanova, piano
12. Familiar Stranger (2015)
Lyrics adapted/inspired by “The Generous Gambler” by Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) with help from Elizabeth Reeves
Jennifer Bellor, vocals
Lynn Tsai, flute
Ivan Ivanov, clarinet
Samantha Ciarlo, violin
Lindsay Johnson, cello
Tim Jones and Kyle Bissantz, percussion
Jae Ahn-Benton, piano
Summer Kodama, electric bass
Bronson Foster, conductor
13. Chase the Stars (remix) (2015)
Mike Kaupa, trumpet
Andrew Links, piano
Wendy Eisenberg, electric guitar
Tyrone Allen, electric bass
Aaron Staebell, drums
Jennifer Bellor, conductor