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MARINA
PACOWSKI always
dreamed of coming to America because of her fascination with the
American music scene and her love of jazz. Born and raised in Biarritz,
a lovely seaside resort in southwestern France, her parents loved
American music. Her father, a successful surgeon who also played
clarinet and sax, and her brother, who plays guitar, were both in a New
Orleans-style jazz band, while her mother loved American musicals and
the songs that became jazz standards. Pacowski, a jazz vocalist and
classical pianist, had made a couple of trips to the States, playing
jazz piano in different venues in California, and finally took the big
leap in 2017 to settle down in Los Angeles where she became part of the
local jazz scene.
Pacowski
has now recorded her debut jazz album, INNER URGE, with a
Who’s Who of some of the finest jazz musicians in the United States.
The album features JOEL FRAHM (tenor sax), JOHN CLAYTON
(bass), ROY McCURDY (drums), JOSH NELSON (piano), JON
MAYER (piano), PETER ERSKINE (drums), LARRY KOONSE
(guitar), CARL SAUNDERS (trumpet), MARK MASSEY (piano), BEVAN
MANSON (piano), MIKE GURROLA (bass), BRENT FISCHER (vibraphone),
NOLAN SHAHEED (flugelhorn), and SCOTT WHITFIELD (trombone).
The album was produced by Pacowski and Whitfield. Pacowski also
arranged all the selections (except one arranged by Whitfield).
Although
she is a superb pianist, Pacowski chose to focus on her singing for
this project. She began studying piano when she was eight years old,
but she also very much enjoyed singing and scatting along with Ella
Fitzgerald records. Her neighbors were amused to see a little girl
walking around the community singing vocal improvisations.
Pacowski
has been honored with numerous awards, including the “Best
Collaborative Music Award” by the International Society of Bassists,
which caught the attention of bassist and composer Frank Proto, the
Composer-in-Residence for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Proto
wrote a piano concerto for Pacowski and flew her out to record an album
and DVD at Greaves Hall in Cincinnati.
Pacowski
became a faculty member in France at the Conservatory of Music Maurice
Ravel when she was still quite young, and today she is regularly
invited to teach clinics and master classes in festivals and music
camps in France and around Europe. She has toured extensively in
France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, as well as
in the United States.
After
Pacowski’s brother moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of
Music, she decided it was time for her to make her move. She had
performed in various venues around the country but especially loved the
climate of Southern California, which reminded her of Biarritz. So, she
moved to Los Angeles, where after a short time she started performing
at local jazz hot spots like The Jazz Bakery and The Lighthouse. Some
of the highlights of her performance career in Los Angeles include
being the guest vocalist for a tribute to guitarist Kenny Burrell at
Catalina Jazz Club, receiving a Jazz Excellence Award in 2021, which
was awarded at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s in a ceremony hosted by music
host Rhonda Hamilton of KJazz-FM.
With
the ear of a trained musician (and a uniquely individual vocal timbre),
Pacowski is adept at vocal improvisation. Her complete command of the
chord changes and highly developed sense of swing are apparent right
from the opening number, “Inner Urge,” which features a burning scat by
Pacowski and some fiery tenor sax improvisations by New York-based Joel
Frahm. A highlight of this arrangement is Pacowski’s adventurously hip
counterpoint to the original melody.
The
sea is very important to Pacowski. Growing up along the Atlantic coast,
Pacowski would spend her time sitting by the water where she found
solace in the sound of the waves. She chose Clare Fischer’s Latin jazz
standard “Pensativa” for its ocean imagery. The sounds of the sea are
represented by Roy McCurdy’s cymbals (the waves), John Clayton’s bowed
bass (seagulls) and Brent Fischer’s (Clare Fischer’s son) vibraphone
(the wind). Pacowski wrote her own lyrics in French to Miles
Davis’ “Solar,” which opens with John Clayton’s evocative bass figure.
Pacowski sang “My Foolish Heart” with the inimitable Jon Mayer at a
concert and captures the magic of that evening here with a duo
rendition of the classic tune.
Pacowski’s
improvisatory chops are on full display on Charlie Parker’s “Donna
Lee,” which also features a burning piano solo by Mark Massey. Pacowski
loves Miles Davis’ unaffected straight-tone playing and captures it
beautifully on “On Green Dolphin Street,” which she re-arranged in 5/4
time. “I’m Old Fashioned” is an old chestnut for which Pacowski has a
special affinity because, like the lyrics, she loves the moonlight, the
sound of rain, and the simple feeling of being in love. The song
features Bevan Manson on piano and Scott Whitfield on trombone. Pacowski
chose “Moon and Sand” because of its dreamy lyrics and ethereal melody
and harmony.
“East
of the Sun” is a favorite tune played at the regular jam session where
Pacowski met trombonist Scott Whitfield. She and Whitfield wanted to
include it to honor their meeting and collaboration. It was arranged by
Whitfield and features a nine-piece band. Pacowski wanted to include a
typical French song and chose arguably the most well-known French tune
“La Vie en Rose.” Pacowski says, “I wanted to represent my country, and
this song seemed like the best choice because it’s so popular. And the
reason it is so popular is because it has an amazing melody!”
Pacowski’s
arrangement of “Up Jumped Spring” features beautiful solos by Carl
Saunders, Peter Erskine, and Larry Koonse, as well as a hip vocal
improvisation by Pacowski. “Taking A Chance on Love” is included
because of its hopeful lyrics. Pacowski concludes the album with a
haunting duo rendition of “What Are You Doing the Rest Of Your Life?”
Accompanied solely by Josh Nelson’s piano, Pacowski sings the original
French lyrics by Eddy Marnay, with music written by fellow countryman
Michel Legrand.
INNER
URGE is an
eminent debut by a refreshing new voice on the American jazz scene.
Marina Pacowski’s highly developed harmonic sense and feeling for time
infuse her vocals with a musicality that you would typically associate
with a skilled horn player.
# # #
INNER
URGE is set
for release on March 10, 2023 on Summit Records and available
everywhere.
Online:
Marinapacowski.com
Facebook.com/marina.pacowski
@FrenchieMarina
(IG)
Summitrecords.com
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