Award-winning, internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist Lyn Stanley follows her top-selling Moonlight Sessions albums with an ultimate tribute to Julie London, set for Valentine’s Day weekend release
Lyn honors the Great American Songbook and reimagines 17 classic songs on her upcoming album, London Calling…A Toast To Julie London
Sneak Peek: Special audiophile editions scheduled to drop in late 2018—Limited Edition 33RPM 180g two-disc vinyl and Super-Audio CDs (SACDs) arrive in time for holiday gift season!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Los Angeles, CA: In this stunning new collection—London Calling…A Toast To Julie London—listeners will discover a side of singer Lyn Stanley that they haven’t heard before. The 17 tunes on this recording explore phases of romance from first glance, in “Blue Moon,” to a missed chance, in “Cry Me a River.” Most of the wide-ranging material presented here was originally recorded by singer/actress Julie London, along with a couple of offerings that Stanley feels would have been perfect for the sultry songstress, such as “It’s Impossible,” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.”
With her distinctive sound and approach, Lyn Stanley brings to mind a method actor, mining the stories and feelings in each tune and getting to the heart of the lyrics. Striving for sensitivity, Stanley stays true to these stories and portrays the experiences of people engaged in the dance of romance.
Besides being a well-conceived appreciation of the popular singer/actor Julie London, in both music and album graphic presentation, London Calling marks a big step forward in Lyn Stanley’s evolution as a recording artist. She recalls that for her debut album, 2013’s Lost in Romance, her mentor Paul Smith, renowned as Ella Fitzgerald’s long-time musical director and frequent collaborator, offered a lengthy tune list and urged the fledgling vocalist to pick some she could relate to. “It was as if you had a bunch of ingredients on the table and had to decide on the spot if you are going to make ramen or spaghetti,” she muses.
Just five years later, Stanley provided a recipe of her own to bring her unique vision of the Julie London project to fruition. Not only did she have a self-curated set list, she also had a clear idea of how each tune should sound, aiming to hold true to the composers’ ideas while stirring in some of her own.
Lyn Stanley always makes a practice of working with top-flight musicians, and once she communicated her ideas to them, she welcomed their input. Without any written arrangements, the brilliant results of their collaboration bring cutting-edge ideas to vintage songs. “It’s a thrill to hear something you’ve brought into life,” Stanley says. “It came to me so easily once I got my bearings.”
The singer opted for an intimate sound from a stellar lineup that brings together some of the very best players on the California jazz scene: guitarist/featured artist John Chiodini; pianists Mike Garson and Christian Jacob; bassists Chuck Berghofer and Michael Valerio; percussionists Luis Conte, Brad Dutz, and Aaron Serfaty (also heard on drums); and drummer Paul Kreibich.
With London Calling's artful packaging, Stanley finds another way to pay tribute to her inspiration, Julie London, who said photo shoots for her albums took longer than the recording process. That's not the case with Stanley, whose audiophile bona fides and perfectionism in the studio and throughout production are well established. But the gorgeously photographed images of the elegantly clad chanteuse are an homage to London's sensuous approach that reflects Lyn's own 21st century sensibilities. Completing the package are liner notes by Scott Yanow, offering a historian’s perspective on the music, providing background on each song, and insights to how Lyn—and Julie!—approached the tunes.
London Calling highlights include:
“Cry Me a River” This heartfelt but cool take on the quintessential London hit has an after-hours feel, touching on former feelings without longing or regret. With this strong and simple statement, Stanley knows when to dig in and when to hold back.
Joyful and tender, “As Time Goes By” is handled with delicacy and feeling, evoking the past while looking to the future.
Stanley’s swinging interpretation of “Goody Goody” has a bit of a bite and a bad-girl attitude; it’s a breakup story told by someone who’s landed on her feet.
“Call Me Irresponsible” gives us a peek at the vulnerable side of a sophisticate in this persuasive rendition of a classic. The crisp swing culminates in a seductive purr.
On “It’s Impossible,” Stanley portrays the sense of wonder felt at the first flush of romance with divine understatement and a slight ache in her voice. Check out the delightful collaboration with percussionists Luis Conte and Aaron Serfaty.
Stanley smolders on the slow, slinky, shimmering “Sway,” making every note—every pause!—matter.
The flamenco-flavored “Light My Fire” is full of sensuous invitation. Romantic and intriguing, it’s a refreshing new look at the Doors’ hit from the late 1960s.
“Summertime” is a tune so nice Stanley had to record it twice on London Calling. The ensemble rendition is spare, supple, and sultry, with her voice shining like a jewel in the lean arrangement. On a duo version, Stanley and pianist Mike Garson play at a hot-August-night tempo that’s full of haunting, hypnotic allure.
You’ve never heard “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” done quite like this! The relentless rhythm of this great ensemble piece conveys an ominous undercurrent, as Stanley’s treatment of the lyric reveals an iron will in a velvet voice.
A favorite among audiophiles, Stanley plans to release multiple versions of London Calling, including 17 tracks on a choice of super-audio CD or two-disc vinyl LP set. A dozen tunes will also be offered on a direct-to-disc vinyl recording. Stanley’s tradition of surrounding herself with the best comes through bright and clear in the magnificent sound of this recording, thanks to engineering by Steve Genewick, Rouble Kalpoor, and Spencer Garcia; mixing by Allen Sides, and mastering by Bernie Grundman.
London Calling…A Toast To Julie London is a culmination of Lyn Stanley’s lifetime of rich experience, both personal and professional, from her long-time enjoyment of London through her own her early perceptions of romance. For the project she tapped into communications techniques developed as a successful corporate manager along with a jazz-inspired approach to rolling with obstacles in creative and innovative ways.
Besides being a state-of-the-art tribute (following both the musical ideas and marketing platforms of Julie London), it is also a revelation of Lyn Stanley's formidable chops. With a late 2018 audiophile release and Valentine's Day weekend—February 15, 2019—wide release street date, London Calling…A Toast To Julie London is a gift for lovers and lovers of great music, created the way it was in the 1960s— by the musicians themselves as a band. Keep an eye out for multiple versions of the album, including standard and super-audio CDs, along with a two-disc vinyl LP set. Distribution will be through CDBaby.com and other fine audio retail and online outlets.
For more information contact: Michael Bloom, [email protected] or Max Horowitz at [email protected] or [email protected].
Produced by Lyn Stanley, with Associate Producer John Chiodini. Executive Producer: A.T. Music LLC. Engineered for high fidelity using analog mixing and mastering. Engineers: Steve Genewick (tracking), Allen Sides (mixing, and Bernie Grundman (mastering). Recorded and Mixed at United Recording, Studio A in Hollywood, using the Focusrite analog console, one of only ten ever made.
