:: JAZZMéRICA LINER NOTES
Jazzmérica Track Listings
1. But I’m Weak (Samba) 4:28
A. W. Morales
2. I Did It, I Live It (Samba Caribe) 4:19
A. W. Morales and W. Wallace
3. All Blues (6/8 Afro-Cuban) 6:24
Miles Davis; lyrics by A. W. Morales
4. Les Feuilles Mortes/Autumn Leaves (Bossa Nova) 4:22
Joseph Kosma/Jacques Prevert/Mercer
5. Down in the Everglades (Ballad) 5:17
A. W. Morales
6. Smile Please (Salsa) 5:28
Stevie Wonder; coro/pregón by A. W. Morales
7. Luz do Sol (Bolero) 4:45
Caetano Veloso
8. Mountains to Flatten (Reggae) 5:18
A. W. Morales
9. Morning (Cha-cha) 4:02
Claire Fischer; lyrics by A. W. Morales
10. Your Love (Bossa Nova) 5:05
A. W. Morales
11. Play That Song of Love and Rage (Jazz) 4:48
A. W. Morales
Produced by Wayne Wallace and Alexa Weber Morales
All songs arranged by Wayne Wallace
Musicians
Alexa Weber Morales, vocals
Wayne Wallace, trombone, synth
Frank Martin, piano, organ
Paul Van Wageningen, trap drums
Michael Spiro, surdo, tamborim, batá, percussion
John Santos, timbales, bongo, batá, percussion
David Belove, bass
Andre Bush, electric guitars
Ricardo Peixoto, acoustic guitar
Louis Fasman, John Worley, trumpets
Melecio Magdaluyo, saxophones, flute
Anthony Blea, Mimi Dye, Monica Scott, strings
Tom Miller, steel drums
Bryan Dyer, vocals
Edgardo Cambón, Orlando Torriente, vocals
Murray Low, piano
Jason Lewis, trap drums
John Shifflet, acoustic bass
A Thumbnail Guide to JAZZMérica:
1. But I’m Weak (Samba) 4:28 By Alexa Weber Morales
Fiery piano from Frank Martin starts this powerful samba-about falling into the vortex of passion-off with a roar. Ricardo Peixoto contributes a Brazilian guitar solo, and Michael Spiro and Paul Van Wageningen keep the groove happening.
2. I Did It, I Live It (Samba Caribe) 4:19 By Alexa Weber Morales and Wayne Wallace
A complex gumbo with Trinidadian, Brazilian and Cuban flavors, this song is about making dreams a reality.
3. All Blues (6/8 Afro-Cuban) 6:24 By Miles Davis; lyrics by Alexa Weber Morales
The piece begins and ends with layered harmonies to an Afro-Cuban canto to Yemayá, the goddess of the sea. Features intricate horn arrangements and new lyrics by Alexa.
4. Les Feuilles Mortes/Autumn Leaves (Bossa Nova) 4:22 By Joseph Kosma/Jacques Prevert/Johnny Mercer
Done in French as a Bossa Nova. Jason Lewis (drumset) and John Shifflet (acoustic bass) give this piece a hushed, darkly acoustic sound. Wayne Wallace solos on trombone.
5. Down in the Everglades (Ballad) 5:17 By Alexa Weber Morales
Alexa’s songwriting skills really shine in this, one of her most popular compositions, which describes a birdwatcher conquering the object of his obsession. Guitarist Andre Bush and percussionist Michael Spiro recreate tropical ambience with tasteful detail.
6. Smile Please (Salsa) 5:28 By Stevie Wonder; coro/pregón by Alexa Weber Morales
Wayne Wallace does a brilliant salsa arrangement of a 1973 classic from Fulfillingness’ First Finale. Orlando Torriente and Edgardo Cambón sing coro, and John Santos plays timbales and percussion.
7. Luz do Sol (Bolero) 4:45 By Caetano Veloso
An ode to the circle of life by one of Brazil’s most notable composers gets a new treatment as a bolero with waves of string quartet woven around the poignant vocal in Portuguese. Features Anthony Blea on violin.
8. Mountains to Flatten (Reggae) 5:18 By Alexa Weber Morales
In an unfortunately still relevant protest song, Alexa takes aim at the greed and apathy that are destroying our environment, with subtle digs at a particularly pernicious shrub. Features driving horns and catchy vocals.
9. Morning (Cha-cha) 4:02 By Clare Fischer; lyrics by Alexa Weber Morales
Alexa does a tour-de-force recording of Wayne Wallace’s five-part a capella arrangement of the classic latin jazz tune. Bryan Dyer sings the bass line, and Alexa’s own Spanish lyrics tell of the promise of morning and the power of ideas. John Santos and Michael Spiro play percussion.
10. Your Love (Bossa Nova) 5:05 By Alexa Weber Morales
The tender heat of infatuation floats on top of yet another inspiring string quartet arrangement.
11. Play That Song of Love and Rage (Jazz) 4:48 By Alexa Weber Morales
This tune tells the story of an artist’s journey, both physical and metaphorical, in search of the sounds that fulfill her. Features a swinging bassline by John Shifflet and fabulous drums by Jason Lewis, plus guitar by Andre Bush.
