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Carol Sudhalter: The Octave Tunes

by Francesca Miano
Carol Sudhalter has always been a bit of a Renaissance woman: playing and leading groups from duo to big band, collaborating with band mates from the U.S. and Italy, gigging overseas as well as at her home base in NY, being a multi-reeds player who doubles on flute, putting her own unique spin on familiar standards, and writing and performing original compositions.

Carol’s latest CD, Carol Sudhalter: The Octave Tunes, reflects the eclectic nature of her music. The title refers to the fact that each song has its own special opening leap. I’ve included my observations on a few of the tracks.

The first cut, “Flamingo,” given an Afro-Cuban treatment, features Carol’s ethereal but hard-driving flute, along with the exquisite piano of her young Italian protégé, Carlo M. Barile. On “Pancake Blues,” written by another fine Italian musician, Vido Di Modugno , who swings on organ, Carol showcases her earthy, old-school tenor. A soulful and moving vocal by Marti Mobin is the focus on “You Go to My Head,” where Carol contributes strong support with the interweaving lines of her bari, and her low-pitched notes cut straight to the heart.

It’s back to flute for “Alice in Wonderland,” along with Carlo on piano again. The sensitive interplay and soloing of the two instruments accentuates the wistful nature of the Disney song. In “Nature Boy,” Antonio Cervellino plays purring arco bass, and this time the pianist is the compelling Joe Vincent Tranchina. Carol contributes a heartbreaking flute solo before a return to the basic combination of arco and piano, with the occasional addition of flute accents. Another wonderful singer, Elena Camerin, is showcased with her romantic vocal to the beautiful Argentinian song, “Quisiera Ser.” Vito Di Modugno’s powerful organ is front and center for a moving reading of Billy Strayhorn’s “Daydream.”

To end the CD (and make it truly one for “all seasons”), are festive but off-the-beaten-track renditions of the Christmas songs, “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” and “The Christmas Song.”

These are just a few of the musical delights listeners can find on Carol Sudhalter: The Octave Tunes. There is no other recording, jazz or otherwise, quite like it. Carol Sudhalter and her fellow artists have managed to achieve fresh ways of performing familiar standards, as well as originals, and make this CD an enjoyable and fascinating listening experience from beginning to end.

For further information about Carol Sudhalter: The Octave Tunes click on this link. You can also learn about Carol Sudhalter’s other recordings and gigs by going here.

An interview with Carol can also be found in my blogpost of Friday, July 24, 2009 (“And More Answers to the Two Questions.”)
Posted by Cha Cha at 8:10 PM 0 comments
Labels: Carol Sudhalter, The Octave Tunes
Monday, February 22, 2010

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It’s a limited edition coffee-table hardback on fine art paper, allowing the best possible print quality, very expensive, but worth it for a good photographer.

To preview the entire book,  click on www.blurb.com/books/1221024
Click on the thumbnails to enlarge any page (including, of course, Page 37 – where you will find me right opposite Kenny Davern). You can see the whole book by clicking on
the right arrow at the side of the thumbnails, but because it is
high-resolution it takes a while to load.

This link should bring you to all the specific information about the tunes: the song titles, composers, and the artists who play with me on them.  Among these brilliant musicians are Vito Di Modugno, Hammond Organist from Bari; masterful pianist Carlo Barile, only 18 at the time of the recording, already an accomplished classical organist. Two wonderful vocalists, Elena Camerin and Marti Mabin.  This link should bring you to a page where you can see the CD label image and hear some samples [Crazy He Calls Me, Alice in Wonderland, and Let It Snow]. Wait a few seconds for the page to load, and see samples on right hand side. When Alice in Wonderland and Let It Snow begin to play, you will see the CD label design.

Below is an order form. You can print it out, and send back with check; or make a paypal payment to Carol Sudhalter (sudsax@aol.com), and send me an email telling me you did so, along with mailing address information.

Cost of the CD is $20.00: this includes shipping and handling, as well as my expense to ship them from Rome.

My address:
Carol Sudhalter
31-20 12th Street
Astoria, NY 11106
_________________________________________________

www.myspace.com/carolsudhalter for even more music samples.

718 278 5331

917 667 5331

Sudsaxter@gmail.com

December 2, 2009 - New CD is nearly ready – just waiting for shipment from Rome. “Carol Sudhalter: TheOctave Tunes“. 7-page booklet, 13 tunes including 2 Christmas songs. Vito Di Modugno special guest on Hammond Organ. Order from this site until the album goes on sale at CD Baby and other sites, in a month’s time.

September 6, 2009 – Spent a rather horizontal summer  paying my full attention to some minor but annoying medical problems that were interfering with blowing the horns, reading music, touring. One doesn’t often think about all the weeks of preparation and follow-up that this type of decision involves: visits to doctors, blood and other workups, prep actions, follow-up meds and eyedrops, rest, rest, rest.  So, voila, summer’s gone.  It was exactly the right time to do all this (assuming that there will be other summers). It all turned out perfectly.

The good news that came out of all this ‘free’ time was that I edited and mixed all tunes on my new CD, to be mastered and produced by Alfa Music, Rome, in the next months. It will be out before December and will be a great Christmas gift. Special guest of note, Vito Di Modugno, Hammond organist. Other hints: vocalist Marti Mabin sings four beautiful tunes including one for Christmas, and another fine vocalist, Elena Camerin, sings a special tune in Spanish. That’s all I’ll give out for now…except you can put in an advance order if you drop me a line at carolsudhalter@hotmail.com

March 16, 2009 – Long weekend in Elkins, WV with my own band.. Most fulfilling, enjoyable and other worldly. We played at the Randolph County Community Arts Center,  some great arrangements by Joe Tranchina, great trombone playing by Chris Rinaman, the whole band was swinging and happening. We went through about 18 tunes, Cole Porter, Arlen, Kern,  some Latin ballads and uptempos, then announced our farewells and took a few bows. The audience was standing and applauding heartily. Then as if by some cue, with no trace of ”encore’ or ‘bis’ etc., everyone quietly sat down again. We were captive, understanding immediately that they expected another tune. So we played one, then they were happy. Then came the exquisite dinner the volunteers cooked for us, with taboolie, Indonesian rice salad with water chestnuts and other crunchies; chicken pot pie; and a variety of other dishes, something for every taste, and with the most perfect fluffy and wonderful textures.

Feb. 26, ’09: I have had the great pleasure of spending a day with saxophonist/clarinetist Roz Cron, who played all her life on a horn purchased from my Dad some 70 years ago.