Andre Schwartz is following up his critically acclaimed performance in the title role of The Phantom Of The Opera with an album of swing and Big Band classics that's likely to find the longstanding artist the widest audience of his career.
"I'm really thrilled to be recording this new studio album," Schwartz says of the record that has just been released. "It's been great fun to do and builds on everything I have done in my career so far - especially the music theatre that is now so much part of my life. Through the album I hope to deliver something really amazing to music fans of many different backgrounds."
In this assessment, Schwartz is spot-on: after sifting through a huge number of potential Big Band and swing classics, the songs that have made it onto the record are poised to expand this performer's following into new audiences - specifically those with a taste for music that's both sophisticated and yet hugely accessible.
Among the songs getting the now inimitable Schwartz treatment are Fly Me To The Moon, Paper Moon, Heaven, You're One Hell Of A Find and Makin' Whoopee! - a song first popularised by Eddie Cantor in the 1928 musical Whoopee! A real treat for fans of great performers blessed with outstanding voices is a version of Baby, It's Cold Outside - a duet with Kate Normington. "I am a big fan of Kate's," Schwartz says of the decision to record with the acclaimed actress and performer. "She has the voice and performing ability that few can match but she's unafraid of bringing an edge to what she does."
Schwartz himself is also intent on adding a twist to the songs on the new record. "It's not about radically altering the songs that everyone knows but instead adding my own imprint on them," he says. "In the process of recording the album this has come through really feeling and getting under the skin of the lyrics and stories of each songs."
In creating his first band and swing record, Schwartz turned to another huge South African music talent in the form of conductor, producer and arranger Graham Scott. Beloved for his theatre work, Scott's unparalleled abilities as a musical director on countless productions (including West Side Story, Camelot and Jesus Christ Superstar) and his previous work with Schwartz lends a potency and undeniable world-class sheen to the record. "Working with Graham has been a revelation to me. I'm not new to being in a recording studio after all, but to have someone with as much experience as Graham working with me is adding something really special to the songs," Schwartz confides. The addition of some of the country's top Big Band musicians recording live at the SABC's M2 studios has also helped create a record of international quality.
For an artist who spent much of his career in the Afrikaans market, the chance to deliver an album of English-language Big Band material is a natural evolution that came out of Schwartz's star turn in The Phantom Of The Opera. The latter saw him earn Naledi and Fleur Du Cap awards and helped hone a voice that had already earned Schwartz a devoted following since he launched his solo music career close to three decades back.
Schwartz will be supporting the release of his new album, 12 Plus 1 with live shows - both with a Big Band and alone. "I've already been given some of the songs a workout on the live front and the reception has been incredible. I can't wait to showcase the entire album in the coming months."
No comments:
Post a Comment