1st Single: Sexy Johnny Mathis Duet “They Can’t Take That Away from Me”
Kurt Elling, Dee Dee Bridgewater & Kenny Latimore Grace Other Twosomes
Nationwide — Triple-threat vocal wonder Freda Payne returns from a 6-year sabbatical with her most star-studded Jazz vocal project yet, Let There Be Love. The 5-song EP – in the tradition of 10-inch shellac records from the golden years of jazz – is bubbling over with knockout performances highlighted by 4 duets with special guests who are not only stellar singers, they ALL exude sparkling chemistry with Ms. Payne. Recorded inside fabled Capitol Records Studio ‘A’ in Hollywood and officially releasing via The Sound of L.A. Records on Friday April 16 (pre-order sales are on now), this instant classic from Freda and company will surely be one of the finest Jazz Vocal projects of 2021.With big band charts for 30-pieces by Grammy-winner Gordon Goodwin and production by Rodrigo Rios (Executive Produced by Michael Goetz for Alain Franke Music), no expense was spared to make Ms. Payne’s return a spectacular one. The first single (released in November) is a dream come true duet with Johnny Mathis on the George & Ira Gershwin gem “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” filled with sweetly flirtatious energy and the spirit of the singular Nelson Riddle.
2021 Grammy-winner for Best Jazz Vocal Album, Kurt Elling, swings in to join Freda on a rhapsodic scat symphony of Gershwin’s “Our Love is Here to Stay.” Freda has a field day with Michigan friend Dee Dee Bridgewater on the ingenious medley “Moanin’ n’ Doodlin’” which pairs up two lyricized jazz gems from the pens of piano greats Bobby Timmons (“Moanin’”) and Horace Silver (“Doodlin’”). Soul crooner Kenny Lattimore slides in next to Freda for a cool jazz meets mod-pop reading of the ol’ Nat King Cole hit, “Let There Be Love.” Finally, Ms. Payne trades scats solo with the band on the sassy “It’s Alright With Me,” delivering fans shades of Ella that served her well across the decades.
Though internationally renowned for her chart-topping 1970 Soul-Pop classic “Band of Gold,” Ms. Payne began her career in 1962 singing Jazz. She has since lent voice to everything from standards, R&B and Quiet Storm to Disco and Pop.
The last two decades have found Freda Payne firmly back home in Jazz. Her latest, Let There Be Love, will make lovers of the genre giddy – from vets to newbies.
Learn more at FredaPayne.com
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