Black Olive Jazz - Exotica (2016)

“EXOTICA” was an idea generated by myself, jazz legend Noel Jewkes, and piano genius, Grant Levin. I was looking for something unique, my own voice, where I could incorporate my full vocal range and theater background, my Mediterranean musical heritage, with polyrhythms and unusual scales, and my passion for jazz. One afternoon as we met for a session at my home in San Francisco, we brainstormed on ideas–Grant came up with “Slow Hot Wind”, and Noel remembered he had arranged a medley of that with Key Largo. Then Noel suggested a Ray Brown feel on “A Night in Tunisia”, and a Miles Davis chordal progression for “Surrey with the Fringe on Top”, incorporating abrupt tempo changes. The ideas were bursting forth–Grant tried them out on my piano, Noel played tenor, and I sang and recorded. Over the next year, I kept offering ideas–and Grant and Noel supported me and added their own artistry to each thought. Inspiration came from other sources: Drummer Akira Tana introduced me to “Never Never Land”. I added in my own lyrics to Horace Silver’s “Enchantment”, (from Larry Vuckovich’s beautiful album with Noel, “Something Special”.) “Bali Hai” came out of my love for Broadway, and “Lotus Land” was a reflection of Noel’s and my taste for the extraordinary and exotic, with influences from John Coltrane and Yma Sumac. Noel’s beautiful playing evokes Johnny Hodges on Billy Strayhorn’s “Passion Flower”.

Tracklist:

01. Bali Hai (5:44)
02. A Night In Tunisia (9:54)
03. Enchantment (6:14)
04. Surrey With The Fringe On Top (6:21)
05. Medley: Slow Hot Wind (Lujon)/Key Largo (6:11)
06. Never Never Land (4:46)
07. Wisteria (7:26)
08. Lotus Land (6:47)
09. Caravan (4:33)
10. Passion Flower (5:26)
11. Cleopatra And The Viper (5:45)
12. Out Of This World (3:50)