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After
Japanese vocalist MASUMI ORMANDY released her debut album in
2016, Sunshine in Manhattan, a world of
opportunities opened up for her. During the past seven years, she has
released three CDs in Japan, performed recently with the “Father of
Slovak Jazz,” Peter Lipa, in Slovakia, who invited her to participate
in a concert tour to the Czech Republic, plus she has performed
concerts in Japan, Italy, the USA and Vienna, where she was featured
at the Viennese Ball in 2023. This was quite an accomplishment
considering she is an astute businesswoman and educator who followed
her dream to become a singer, making her debut album at the age of
77.
Ormandy’s
adventurous heart, now 84 years young, yearned to return to where it
all began in New York City to record a new album, BEYOND THE
SEA, in June 2023. ROSEANNA VITRO produced once again
along with master audio engineer, PAUL WICKLIFFE. Vitro is an
esteemed performer, clinician, recording artist, and jazz vocal
instructor, who has released fourteen critically acclaimed
recordings. Her album The Music of Randy Newman earned a
Grammy Nomination for "Best Vocal Jazz Album." Vitro and ALLEN
FARNHAM, longtime collaborator and renowned New York pianist and
arranger, worked for two months creating a travelogue interpreting
music of America and back to Japan in this inspiring new recording.
Ormandy
is surrounded by a stellar cast of New York’s finest musicians,
including Allen Farnham on piano and synth, DEAN JOHNSON on
bass, TIM HORNER on drums, star tenor saxophonist HOUSTON
PERSON, trumpet great BRIA SKONBERG, master trombonist JOHN
ALLRED, the formidable DANNY BACHER, who plays soprano sax
and performed a vocal duet with Ormandy, guitar great CHIELI
MINUCCI, who’s known for his group Special EFX, the swinging
guitarist PAUL MEYERS, tenor saxophonist TIM RIES
(Rolling Stones), ANDERS BOSTROM on flute, and MINO CINELU
on percussion. Star violinist SARA CASWELL and cellist JODY
REDHAGE FERBER are featured on the orchestral
arrangements. Truly a dream team.
Ormandy’s
jazz vocal career began when she came from Japan to New York to study
with Vitro. Although Ormandy had music training at conservatories in
Tokyo and San Francisco when she was young, she quit her studies when
she met and fell in love with Ray, an American who was living in
Tokyo and teaching at a university. Masumi and Ray overcame social
taboos and married. Together they founded the Pacific Language School
in Tokyo, which offers English language instruction for Japanese
students of all ages. The school continues to be a major success and
an important part of Ormandy’s life.
Throughout
the years, though, music was never far from Ormandy’s mind. She began
learning English when she was just ten years old and had immersed
herself in American culture. She particularly loved American
jazz—especially Ella Fitzgerald.
BEYOND
THE SEA
is an anthology of songs that frame Ormandy’s uplifting life view.
She opens the album with "Beyond the Sea," the
English-language version of the French song "La Mer” by Charles
Trenet, popularized by Bobby Darin in 1959. While the French original
was an ode to the sea, the English lyrics written by Jack Lawrence
transformed it into a love song. “I Can't Give You Anything But Love,
Baby" is a jazz standard by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields. It
features Bacher in a Louis Armstrong inspired vocal duet with Ormandy
complete with a New Orleans jazz-style horn section.
“Smile”
appeared in Charlie Chaplin’s film, “Modern Times.” Chaplin co-wrote
the music with David Raskin, a fellow filmmaker. The lyrics were the
brilliant creation of songwriters John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons,
and brings the promise, even when your heart is breaking, “You’ll see
the sun come shining through, if you just smile.” Masumi was 6 years
old when the nuclear bomb hit Hiroshima, 188 miles from her home in
Kobe. She spent over a month in blackout conditions, living in fear
of another bomb. For Masumi, sunshine has healing properties for the
darkness humanity encounters.
“Like
a River Flowing” is iconic in Japan, written by Akira Mitake with
lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto. These inspiring English lyrics were
written by Steve Sacks, NYC saxophonist and member of Ormandy’s Tokyo
quintet.
“Here’s
to Life” by Artie Butler and Phyllis Molinary, was the signature song
of the late, great Shirley Horn. With Ormandy’s 84-year-old journey,
the story easily flows forth with conviction. “Sentimental Journey” —
the classic World War II era anthem with music by Les Brown and
lyrics by Bud Green —is reminiscent of the Andrew Sisters’ joyful
swing era.
“I’m
Through with Love” was written by Gus Kahn, Matty Malneck and Fud
Livingston. It features Houston Person on tenor sax, with Ormandy’s
poignant vocal delivery of love and longing. “Tea for Two,”
originally from the show “No, No Nanette,” by Vincent Youmans and
Irving Caesar, found new life with the Farnham/Vitro arrangement.
Ormandy was inspired to include “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,”
by George C. Cory, Jr. and Douglass Cross, because of her years spent
in San Francisco as a young adult.
“It’s
Only a Paper Moon” was written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Yip
Harburg and Billy Rose. “Ringo No Uta” (Apple Song) is a beloved
Japanese song originally composed by Tadashi Manjyome, with lyrics by
Hachiro Sato. English lyrics by NY pianist Jonathan Katz, Ormandy’s
Tokyo bandleader.
Ormandy
may have found her voice late in life, but her conviction and
maturity make her music authentically compelling. With Roseanna Vitro
at the helm and a band of A-list musicians, Ormandy’s artistry and
commitment shine through.
# # #
BEYOND
THE SEA releases
September 1, 2023 on Miles High Records and will be available for
streaming on all platforms; physical CDs available at Masumi-ormandy.com.
Online:
Masumi-ormandy.com
Facebook.com/MasumiOrmandy.2018
Youtube.com/channel/UCXO5IPNlwv-0CuCYqD5vIzg
Mileshighrecords.com
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