CULLEN, LORI - Sexsmith Swinghammer Songs (Sealed) (CD)

Long time friends and respected musicians Lori Cullen, Kurt Swinghammer and Ron Sexsmith come together and collaborate on a new recording - Sexsmith Swinghammer songs. Ron, who has been a huge fan of Lori’s for years, suggested to Kurt that they co-write an album of material specifically for Lori to sing. The inspired results are sure to draw attention, as always, to her remarkable voice. Identified by jazz giant Kurt Elling as one of his favourite new vocalists, Lori Cullen’s upcoming album on True North Records is a fresh expression of jazz-infused chamber-pop. With her pure, unaffected style she delivers twelve tunes that evoke the rich creativity of 60’s/70’s composers Bacharach, Webb and Jobim. Supporting the combination of Sexsmith’s renowned lyrical approach and Swinghammer’s unique musical sensibilities, the tracks feature contributions from a dozen of Toronto’s finest musicians. “To have two of my favourite people who also happen to be two of my favourite songwriters write an album of material for ME to sing is beyond exciting.” - Vocalist Lori Cullen "It was a thrill for me, not only to write the words for Kurt's incredible music but then to have Lori Cullen lend her beautiful voice to these songs was a dream come true" - Lyricist Ron Sexsmith “Having Sexsmith as wordsmith was true inspiration to pull out all the stops compositionally, and writing melodies for Lori’s breathtakingly beautiful voice was the greatest motivation one could ever ask for.” - Composer Kurt Swinghammer The album was recorded at Toronto’s Canterbury Sound by veteran engineer Jeremy Darby and produced by Maury Lafoy, who also played bass along with the core band of drummer Mark Mariash, keyboardist Robbie Grunwald, and guitarist Swinghammer. Centered around nylon string and Rhodes, the skillfully constructed arrangements sparkle with trumpet, trombone, oboe, clarinet, recorder, and harmonica. Backing vocalists Mia Sheard and Jennifer Foster add a signature sound throughout the songs with intricately layered counterpoint parts. With his celebrated experience and sonic sensitivity, David Travers-Smith created the exquisite mix. “Kurt Swinghammer’s fertile songwriting imagination gave this project an absolutely amazing jumping off point for both Ron Sexsmith’s straight to the heart lyrics and Lori Cullen’s beautiful interpretations. It the rarest and finest combination of music, lyrics and voice I’ve worked on.” - Producer Maury Lafoy The first Lori Cullen CD came out at the start of a new century. Garden Path reflected a young sensibility informed by her heroes Joni Mitchell and Jane Siberry. Two years later she shifted gears to jazz standards for the well received So Much. Her third release Uneven Hill focused on original writing and dramatically broadened the scope of her sonic world. Calling For Rain in 2006 brought together all the previous elements to create a hybrid of jazz and pop which established her artistic identity. It was nominated for a Best Vocal Jazz Juno and one of her original tunes won the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award from the Ontario Council Of Folk Festivals. The CDs Buttercup Bugle and That Certain Chartreuse continued to define her reputation as a brilliant interpreter of covers, as well as a distinctive original writer, and expanded her reputation overseas with releases in Japan. Lori’s seventh album is a confident, mature artistic statement inspired by the personal milestone of motherhood.