Singer Antoinette Montague from New York City combines jazz and blues on her debut album, Pretty Blues, and delivers strong interpretations of a dozen standards.
The phrase “Pretty Blues" is simply another way of describing Antoinette's jazzy-blues. Her strength is combining the heartfelt passion of the blues with the sophistication of jazz. Her style can be powerful one moment and soft-and-delicate the next. Her lusty and soulful voice reaches right into the heart of the listener.
“At times I have been called a jazz singer who can belt the blues, and other times they say I am a blues singer who can swing with a jazz band," states Montague. “I don't care. I am just happy to be a singer. Period. I'm just letting it flow however it goes. Of course I mix jazz and blues. It's natural to take all of your inspirations and blend them together. You also might hear me throw in a little gospel, R&B, Motown soul or big-band stylings. We build on what came before. The classic example is Billie Holliday, who was influenced by Bessie Smith's blues, but Billie took it into more of a jazz direction."
Antoinette Montague's new CD is on CAP Records (Consolidated Artists Productions) and is available in record stores nationwide, online at major webstores (including amazon.co, cdbaby.com and jazzbeat.com/html/montague) and at digital download sites such as iTunes.com. For more information on Antoinette, visit her website.
“Where the blues are a basic part of life, an almost primeval experience, jazz is an elevated artform," explains Antoinette. “Jazz follows a rich artistic path of high caliber. Where blues is the solid foundation for so much other music, jazz goes its own way. Jazz is infinite in possibilities. That's why I love the idea of combining the best of jazz and blues whenever possible. They compliment and balance each other."
For Pretty Blues, Montague assembled a top band of some of the best jazz masters in the country with a wealth of credits -- pianist Mulgrew Miller (Woody Shaw, Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Branford Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves), tenor saxophonist and flutist Bill Easley (Duke Ellington Orchestra, Benny Carter, Ruth Brown, George Benson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Isaac Hayes, Dakota Staton), drummer Kenny Washington (Lee Konitz, Betty Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Joshua Redman, Phil Woods), and bassist Peter Washington (Art Blakey, Benny Green, Lionel Hampton, Marlena Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, Michal Urbaniak). Montague co-produced with musical director Kenny Washington while Miller contributed arrangements.
On the CD, Antoinette covers some classic material. She shows her blues roots on the opening medley, “I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water/Everyday I have The Blues." Following that full-throated blues number, Montague comes right back with the delicately-sung sweet love song “Unless It's You" ("We're never completely free of people we have loved and this song reminds me of doubts I had when leaving relationships"). Antoinette also shows what she can do with standards - three by Irving Berlin ("How Deep Is The Ocean," the top-speed “From This Moment On" and “Blue Skies") and a pair by Sammy Cohn ("Dedicated To You" and “Teach Me Tonight"). The album title comes from her version of the Joe Williams tune “Pretty Blue." Among other tunes, Antoinette sings “Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)" written by Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie for the movie “The Color Purple." “That song is for all my 'sistuhs' out there. It acknowledges the lonesome, scuffling road, but encourages women to raise their self-esteem and believe in themselves."
Montague also offers worthwhile advice with the song “Pure Imagination" from an unlikely source, the original “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" movie. “I don't really remember the film, but I have heard several jazz artists perform it over the years and it always gave me chills. The words are an inspiration. If you want to do something, imagine it first and then make it happen. Try to be worthy and true to yourself. Keep honest energy around you. I use the lyrics to shed self-doubt and catapult myself into action."
Before headlining her own shows, she sat in on hundreds of gigs in an effort to practice her craft, learn the ropes and work her way into the music scene. The past decade Antoinette has been one of the hardest-working jazz-and-blues singers in New York City. For example, on Monday nights when there are jam sessions at clubs all over town, she would often sing a song or two with the Harlem Renaissance Band at Lucy's and then hop over to 125th Street to vocalize in front of the Cotton Club Big Band directed by Ed Passant. Montague has worked regularly with Bill Easley, Tom Aalfs and Mike Longo's New York State of the Art Band (including the 88th Birthday Celebration of Dizzy Gillespie). She also was in the Great Women in Music Festival at Birdland with the Duke Ellington Band, directed by Jack Jeffers and filmed for television by the BET on Jazz channel. Antoinette performed at the 10th Anniversary of International Women in Jazz (she serves as the Vice President of that organization), and the NAACP's Tribute to Milt Jackson.
Antoinete was mentored by some great singers - Carrie Smith ("She inspired me to have a big voice onstage"), Etta Jones ("She could transport the audience"), Della Griffin ("She showed me laid-back phrasing and how to use the comic side of my personality") and Myrna Lake ("She let me sub for her and that's when I learned to lead a band through three sets a night"). In addition, Montague has performed onstage with many top jazz and blues musicians including Red Holloway, Benny Powell, Earl May, Winnard Harper, Wycliff Gordon, Stan Hope, John DiMartino, Bernard Purdy, Victor Jones, Tootsie Bean, Zeek Mullins, Paul Bollenbeck, Frank West and numerous others.
The phrase “Pretty Blues" is simply another way of describing Antoinette's jazzy-blues. Her strength is combining the heartfelt passion of the blues with the sophistication of jazz. Her style can be powerful one moment and soft-and-delicate the next. Her lusty and soulful voice reaches right into the heart of the listener.
“At times I have been called a jazz singer who can belt the blues, and other times they say I am a blues singer who can swing with a jazz band," states Montague. “I don't care. I am just happy to be a singer. Period. I'm just letting it flow however it goes. Of course I mix jazz and blues. It's natural to take all of your inspirations and blend them together. You also might hear me throw in a little gospel, R&B, Motown soul or big-band stylings. We build on what came before. The classic example is Billie Holliday, who was influenced by Bessie Smith's blues, but Billie took it into more of a jazz direction."
Antoinette Montague's new CD is on CAP Records (Consolidated Artists Productions) and is available in record stores nationwide, online at major webstores (including amazon.co, cdbaby.com and jazzbeat.com/html/montague) and at digital download sites such as iTunes.com. For more information on Antoinette, visit her website.
“Where the blues are a basic part of life, an almost primeval experience, jazz is an elevated artform," explains Antoinette. “Jazz follows a rich artistic path of high caliber. Where blues is the solid foundation for so much other music, jazz goes its own way. Jazz is infinite in possibilities. That's why I love the idea of combining the best of jazz and blues whenever possible. They compliment and balance each other."
For Pretty Blues, Montague assembled a top band of some of the best jazz masters in the country with a wealth of credits -- pianist Mulgrew Miller (Woody Shaw, Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Branford Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves), tenor saxophonist and flutist Bill Easley (Duke Ellington Orchestra, Benny Carter, Ruth Brown, George Benson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Isaac Hayes, Dakota Staton), drummer Kenny Washington (Lee Konitz, Betty Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Joshua Redman, Phil Woods), and bassist Peter Washington (Art Blakey, Benny Green, Lionel Hampton, Marlena Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, Michal Urbaniak). Montague co-produced with musical director Kenny Washington while Miller contributed arrangements.
On the CD, Antoinette covers some classic material. She shows her blues roots on the opening medley, “I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water/Everyday I have The Blues." Following that full-throated blues number, Montague comes right back with the delicately-sung sweet love song “Unless It's You" ("We're never completely free of people we have loved and this song reminds me of doubts I had when leaving relationships"). Antoinette also shows what she can do with standards - three by Irving Berlin ("How Deep Is The Ocean," the top-speed “From This Moment On" and “Blue Skies") and a pair by Sammy Cohn ("Dedicated To You" and “Teach Me Tonight"). The album title comes from her version of the Joe Williams tune “Pretty Blue." Among other tunes, Antoinette sings “Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)" written by Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie for the movie “The Color Purple." “That song is for all my 'sistuhs' out there. It acknowledges the lonesome, scuffling road, but encourages women to raise their self-esteem and believe in themselves."
Montague also offers worthwhile advice with the song “Pure Imagination" from an unlikely source, the original “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" movie. “I don't really remember the film, but I have heard several jazz artists perform it over the years and it always gave me chills. The words are an inspiration. If you want to do something, imagine it first and then make it happen. Try to be worthy and true to yourself. Keep honest energy around you. I use the lyrics to shed self-doubt and catapult myself into action."
Before headlining her own shows, she sat in on hundreds of gigs in an effort to practice her craft, learn the ropes and work her way into the music scene. The past decade Antoinette has been one of the hardest-working jazz-and-blues singers in New York City. For example, on Monday nights when there are jam sessions at clubs all over town, she would often sing a song or two with the Harlem Renaissance Band at Lucy's and then hop over to 125th Street to vocalize in front of the Cotton Club Big Band directed by Ed Passant. Montague has worked regularly with Bill Easley, Tom Aalfs and Mike Longo's New York State of the Art Band (including the 88th Birthday Celebration of Dizzy Gillespie). She also was in the Great Women in Music Festival at Birdland with the Duke Ellington Band, directed by Jack Jeffers and filmed for television by the BET on Jazz channel. Antoinette performed at the 10th Anniversary of International Women in Jazz (she serves as the Vice President of that organization), and the NAACP's Tribute to Milt Jackson.
Antoinete was mentored by some great singers - Carrie Smith ("She inspired me to have a big voice onstage"), Etta Jones ("She could transport the audience"), Della Griffin ("She showed me laid-back phrasing and how to use the comic side of my personality") and Myrna Lake ("She let me sub for her and that's when I learned to lead a band through three sets a night"). In addition, Montague has performed onstage with many top jazz and blues musicians including Red Holloway, Benny Powell, Earl May, Winnard Harper, Wycliff Gordon, Stan Hope, John DiMartino, Bernard Purdy, Victor Jones, Tootsie Bean, Zeek Mullins, Paul Bollenbeck, Frank West and numerous others.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
