Jennifer Martin’s new CD, Someone You’ve Loved, is the type of music you’d hear at a classy restaurant where there are drinks before dinner, waiters with white jackets, and a little patch of light at each table from the single candle. It’s a little old-fashioned without being dated: a nice mix of ballads and jazzy uptempo tunes describing love lost and found, abandoned and remembered.

Backed up by an excellent rhythm section (Brian Piper and Mike Garvey on piano, John Adams on bass, and Mike Drake on drums, trumpet and sax players Rodney Booth and Shelly Carro), she sings an uncommon set of standards. The path taken by many singers these days is to suddenly discover the Great American Songbook – only to record the most familiar Gershwin, Porter, and Richard Rogers songs. Ms. Martin has picked a set of songs that she makes her own (Bad News, Yes I Know When I’ve Had It, Sway) and, her voice is always clear and obviously experienced in this genre. Her great gift is understating her performances slightly while presenting the songs as jazzy stories or somewhat torchy songs – not overly dramatic and never over-the-top.
– Michale Coldewey

I was thrilled when I read this review. That was exactly the ambiance I was feeling when I selected the songs and worked with John Adams who produced and arranged the CD. I hope you enjoy listening to is as much as I enjoyed making it.

This collection of songs is all about someone you’ve loved – some good, some bad, some just playful and some a little painful. I think everyone can identify with the line in the title song, “cause your soul won’t forget, someone you’ve loved.” The story of searching for An Older Man Is Like An Elegant Wine, which led me to discovering Johnny Pate, an American Jazz legend, can be found in the article “Who is Johnny Pate” Please take a moment to read about this amazing man. Two of the songs on this CD were written by Mr. Pate, the title song, Someone You’ve Love and Yes, I Know When I’ve Had It. Three of the other songs were ones suggested by him.

The song Lost Herd was written by a Canadian treasure, Ian Tyson. Ian began his career in the ’60s folk era when he recorded, with his then wife Sylvia, over a dozen timeless albums that included his well know songs Four Strong Winds and Someday Soon. After 5 decades he is still going strong writing marvelous songs and touring while still continuing to work on his ranch in Alberta, Canada. I was privileged to open for Ian at the famous Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. He had such a great influence on my early years in music that I wanted to include one of his songs on my first CD.

I first thought of Someday Soon, as that is a song many, many people would recognize but then I remember a Christmas I spent with Ian and his lovely, talented wife Sylvia. I had just received a new Martin guitar and was anxious to learn to play. I was working on Someday Soon when Ian came into the room and told me that if I played that song one more time I would not live to see another Christmas. When I first heard Lost Herd I knew that was a song I had to record. Although it is from his songs in the cowboy genre, it is hauntingly beautiful and fits beautifully into the jazz world. I hope he like my interpretation.

The first thing people comment on when they see the CD is the cover photos. They were taken by Margaret Wolf (www.movingimagesproductions.com). Margaret is an incredible photographer with so much energy that she has to be tethered to the ground. She produced a coffee table book of the cover and session photos that is absolutely gorgeous. If you see it, you all want to have her produce one for you.

Kimberli Hull (www.sevenaspens.com) designed my website and the CD cover using Margaret’s photos. She also wrote the liner notes. Kimberli has been a big part of this project from the beginning. She has been my audience, the designer, the marketing guru and the supplier of wine!

The musicians on this CD are incredible! Without them this never would have happened. I cannot say enough good things about them. Their musical expertise is beyond description and on top of that they made the entire experience FUN! I would like to introduce each of them:

Brian Piper – Piano

Brian Piper as someone said “has cops to burn!” And that is an understatement. As a player he has made quite a name for himself, performing and recording with musicians and artists of all musical styles, from Texas legends Jerry Jeff Walker and Lloyd Maines to jazz greats Cab Calloway, Kenny Rankin and Clark Terry. He has conducted for Eartha Kitt, Rosemary Clooney and many others as the assistant musical director at Dallas’ famous Venetian Room in the Fairmont Hotel.
He has also played for the Dallas Summer Musicals and traveled with New York touring companies of several shows, including Grease and Godspell. He has worked with actors James Earl Jones, Tim Curry, Kris Kristofferson and Patrick Bergen. He has recently performed with Sheila E, Will Kennedy, Mike Davis and Bill Reichenbach.

Mike Garvey – Piano

Mike is an accomplished Pianist/Composer who has been based in Dallas since 1998. A native of the San Francisco Bay area, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from the University of California and has played professionally for over 20 years.

Mike is a recognized talent within the music industry and has been the featured pianist with many groups, playing such Dallas venues as Sambuca, Sipango, the Balcony Club and Soho Jazz Cafe. He also played regularly at the Adams Mark Hotel. Prior to moving to Dallas, Mike was an active participant in the New Orleans and Nashville music communities. Mike also spent three years on staff at RCA Records in Nashville.

John Adams – Producer, Arranger, Bass

John Adams is one of the Southwest’s most versatile and in-demand jazz, pop and studio musicians. He currently leads various performing groups. Adams holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of North Texas, where for ten years he was the jazz bass professor. He is also active as a producer/arranger, a composer, clinician, and an instructional author.

John has backed a wide array of artists from vocalists Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Wayne Watson, and Sandi Patti, to jazz artists such as Woody Herman, Randy Brecker, Marvin Stamm, Joe McBride, Bobby Lyle, Chet Baker, Clark Terry, Carl Fontana, and Dave Liebman. His broad musical background has also included extensive recording and show work.

Mike Drake – Drums

Originally from Durban, S. Africa, drummer Mike Drake has performed and recorded music of virtually every style and genre. Mike’s driving and musical approach have placed him in concerts backing an array of artists such as Rosemary Clooney, The Fifth Dimension, The Platters, The Inkspots, The Mamas and the Papas, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Kenny Rankin. Mr. Drake has also performed with numerous touring groups, house-bands, such as at the Fairmont Hotel’s Venetian Room, as well as musical productions and on commercial recordings and jingles. He also has extensive experience as an arranger and writer, and is one of the region’s premier drum set instructors at colleges and universities such as The University of North Texas, Eastfield College, and Texas Wesleyan University.

Shelley Carrol – Sax

Saxophonist Shelley Carrol hails from family of gospel singers and musicians in Houston, Texas. It was there that the music bug bit him at an early age and landed him in the famed Boys Choir of Houston. After picking up the saxophone, he was able to study with the legendary Texas Tenor greats Arnett Cobb and Don Wilkerson. At the time he didn’t know how revered these gentlemen were around the globe. They simply lived in his neighborhood. Shelley attended the city’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and was a standout in the city’s Summer Jazz Workshop Program. This is where he developed a true flair for the stage.
While attending the University of North Texas, Shelley earned a spot in the Grammy Nominated One O’clock Lab Band. There he recorded two critically acclaimed CD’s in 1990 and 91. During the same period, Mr. Carrol was invited to join the Duke Ellington Orchestra by trumpeter Barry Lee Hall. This would prove to be an enormous musical opportunity with worldwide exposure. Since joining the band, he has toured the U.S. and over 30 foreign countries. He has also recorded and/or performed with Maureen McGovern, Tony Bennet, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams and a host of others.

Rodney Booth – Trumpet

Rodney Booth has been an active professional musician for over 27 years. A native of El Paso, Texas, he began his professional career at age sixteen as a trumpet player in his father’s bands. He received his degree in Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas and was a student of Don “Jake” Jacoby. Rodney was a member of the renowned North Texas State 1 o’clock Lab Band.

He traveled across North and South America and Europe with Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd Big Band. He has performed with many major recording artists such as Lou Rawls, Nancy Wilson, Wayne Newton, Michael Feinstein, Dionne Warwick, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Hamlisch, Ray Charles and Natalie Cole to name a few. He has recorded professionally with the popular artist Al Green and country star Janie Fricke.
Rodney is very active in studio and commercial recordings. He can be heard on national commercials for the Fina Corporation, Texaco, McDonald’s Corporation, Domino’s, Miller Brewing Company and Chevrolet. In addition, he performed on the commercial recordings for the Texas Rangers, the Boston Red Sox, CNN News, the US Postal Service and also the popular television series, “Wishbone”. He also recently recorded the music for a national documentary, “The United States and Mexican War.” His various bands have been chosen to perform for companies such as Exxon, the Zales Corporation, Gordon’s Jewelers, Merle Norman Company and Cartier’s Jewelers. Rodney is also an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas where he teaches Improvisation, ear training, and jazz trumpet lessons.