Cécile McLorin Salvant Finds “the Gems That Haven’t Been Sung and Sung”
1Digest
This episode of the New Yorker Radio Hour features a conversation with jazz singer Cecille McLorin Salvant, a three-time Grammy winner for Best Jazz Vocal Album. David Remnick, the host, delves into Salvant's musical journey, exploring her diverse influences and her unique approach to performing. Salvant reveals that she grew up in a multilingual household in Miami, Florida, where her mother exposed her to a wide range of music from around the world. She discusses her early musical experiences, including her time studying law in France and her decision to pursue a career in music. Salvant shares how her teacher, Jean-François Bonnell, encouraged her to join a jazz class and how she quickly found herself performing in a small jazz club. She talks about her early influences, including Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, and how she eventually developed her own distinct style. Salvant also discusses her passion for discovering and performing lesser-known songs, including a 16th-century lute song by John Dowland. She explains her songwriting process and how she draws inspiration from her introspective nature and her love for solitude. The episode concludes with Salvant performing her original song "Moon Song," a beautiful and evocative piece about the power of desire and longing.
Outlines
Introduction
This Chapter introduces the episode and its guest, Cecille McLorin Salvant, a renowned jazz singer. It also mentions the podcast's new monthly edition hosted by Capital Group CEO Mike Gitlin.
Cecille McLorin Salvant's Musical Journey
This Chapter delves into Cecille McLorin Salvant's musical journey, exploring her diverse influences and her unique approach to performing. She discusses her upbringing in a multilingual household in Miami, Florida, where her mother exposed her to a wide range of music from around the world. She shares her early musical experiences, including her time studying law in France and her decision to pursue a career in music.
Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition
This Chapter focuses on Cecille McLorin Salvant's experience at the Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition, where she won as a complete unknown. She shares her initial disbelief at winning and her journey from a small-town musician to a rising star in the jazz world.
Salvant's Unique Approach to Music
This Chapter explores Cecille McLorin Salvant's unique approach to music, comparing her to Rianne and Giddens, another artist who blends musical genres and historical context. Salvant discusses her passion for introducing lesser-known songs to her audiences and her role as a musical curator.
Salvant's Songwriting Process
This Chapter delves into Cecille McLorin Salvant's songwriting process, highlighting her introspective nature and her love for solitude. She discusses her inspiration for "Moon Song," a song about the power of desire and longing, and performs the song live in the studio.
Keywords
Cecille McLorin Salvant
Cecille McLorin Salvant is a renowned American jazz singer, known for her captivating performances, eclectic repertoire, and three Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album. She is recognized for her unique approach to jazz, incorporating elements of blues, folk, and classical music into her performances. Salvant is also a skilled songwriter, composing original music that reflects her introspective nature and her love for solitude.
Jazz
Jazz is a genre of music that originated in the African American communities of New Orleans, United States, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is characterized by improvisation, syncopation, and a strong emphasis on rhythm and blues. Jazz has evolved over the years, incorporating influences from various musical traditions, including blues, ragtime, and classical music. It is known for its complex harmonies, sophisticated rhythms, and expressive melodies.
Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition
The Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition is a prestigious competition held annually in Washington, D.C., to discover and showcase emerging jazz pianists. It is named after the legendary jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk. The competition is known for its rigorous judging process and its high standards of musical excellence. Winning the competition is considered a significant achievement in the jazz world, often launching the careers of talented young musicians.
Lute Song
A lute song is a vocal composition written for the lute, a stringed instrument popular in Europe during the Renaissance period. Lute songs are typically characterized by their lyrical melodies, expressive harmonies, and intimate character. They were often performed in private settings, such as homes and courts, and were a popular form of entertainment during the 16th and 17th centuries. Some famous composers of lute songs include John Dowland, William Byrd, and Thomas Morley.
Moon Song
Moon Song is an original song written and performed by Cecille McLorin Salvant. It is a beautiful and evocative piece about the power of desire and longing, exploring the feelings of anticipation and yearning that precede a romantic encounter. The song is characterized by its lyrical melody, expressive harmonies, and introspective lyrics.
Radio DJ
A radio DJ (disc jockey) is a person who hosts a radio program, typically playing music and providing commentary or information. Radio DJs are responsible for selecting and sequencing music, introducing songs, and interacting with listeners. They may also host interviews, play games, or provide news updates. Radio DJs play a crucial role in shaping the musical landscape and connecting with audiences through their unique personalities and musical tastes.
Curator
A curator is a person who is responsible for managing and overseeing a collection of objects, such as art, artifacts, or historical documents. Curators typically work in museums, galleries, libraries, or archives. They are responsible for selecting, acquiring, preserving, and exhibiting items in their collection. Curators also conduct research, write descriptions, and develop educational programs related to their collection.
Deep Cuts
In music, a deep cut refers to a song that is not a popular hit or a well-known track from an artist's discography. Deep cuts are often considered hidden gems or lesser-known favorites among fans. They may be songs that were not released as singles, or tracks that were not heavily promoted. Deep cuts can offer a more intimate and revealing glimpse into an artist's musical style and creative process.
Mixtape
A mixtape is a compilation of audio recordings, typically music, that is created and shared with others. Mixtapes were traditionally made using cassette tapes, but they can now be created using digital platforms. Mixtapes are often used to express personal taste, share favorite songs, or create a specific mood or atmosphere. They can be a thoughtful gift or a way to connect with others through shared musical interests.
Q&A
What are some of Cecille McLorin Salvant's musical influences?
Salvant's musical influences are diverse, ranging from Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald to traditional folk music from Senegal, Cape Verde, and Paraguay. She also draws inspiration from Brazilian music, French music, and even bluegrass.
How did Cecille McLorin Salvant get her start in jazz music?
Salvant's journey into jazz began with her teacher, Jean-François Bonnell, who encouraged her to join a jazz class. She quickly found herself performing in a small jazz club, despite having little prior experience.
What is Cecille McLorin Salvant's unique approach to performing?
Salvant is known for her eclectic repertoire, which includes both jazz standards and lesser-known songs from various genres and historical periods. She enjoys surprising her audiences with unexpected song choices and creating a unique musical experience.
What is Cecille McLorin Salvant's songwriting process like?
Salvant's songwriting is deeply introspective, often reflecting her love for solitude and her yearning for connection. She draws inspiration from her own experiences and emotions, creating music that is both personal and universal.
What is the significance of the Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition?
The Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition is a prestigious competition that has launched the careers of many talented jazz musicians. Winning the competition is considered a significant achievement in the jazz world, often leading to recognition and opportunities for the winners.
What is a lute song?
A lute song is a vocal composition written for the lute, a stringed instrument popular in Europe during the Renaissance period. Lute songs are known for their lyrical melodies, expressive harmonies, and intimate character.
What is the meaning behind Cecille McLorin Salvant's song "Moon Song"?
"Moon Song" is a song about the power of desire and longing, exploring the feelings of anticipation and yearning that precede a romantic encounter. It celebrates the excitement and beauty of the prelude to love.
How does Cecille McLorin Salvant approach her role as a musician?
Salvant sees herself as a musical curator, seeking out hidden gems and lesser-known songs to share with her audiences. She wants to introduce her listeners to new and exciting music, expanding their musical horizons.
What is the significance of Cecille McLorin Salvant's eclectic repertoire?
Salvant's eclectic repertoire reflects her diverse musical influences and her desire to challenge traditional notions of jazz music. She embraces a wide range of genres and historical periods, creating a unique and captivating musical experience for her audiences.
What is the connection between Cecille McLorin Salvant and Rianne and Giddens?
Both Cecille McLorin Salvant and Rianne and Giddens are artists who blend musical genres and historical context in their performances. They both challenge traditional notions of musical boundaries and seek to introduce their audiences to new and exciting sounds.
Show Notes
When the jazz singer Cécile McLorin Salvant was profiled in The New Yorker, Wynton Marsalis described her as the kind of talent who comes along only “once in a generation or two.” Salvant’s work is rooted in jazz—in the tradition of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan and Abbey Lincoln—and she has won three Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album. But her interests and her repertoire reach across eras and continents. She studied Baroque music and jazz at conservatory, and performs songs in French, Occitan, and Haitian Kreyòl. “I think I have the spirit of a kind of a radio D.J. slash curator,” she tells David Remnick. “It’s almost like making a mixtape for someone and only putting deep cuts.” And even when singing the standards, she aims “to find the gems that haven’t been sung and sung and sung over and over again.” During a summer tour, she visited the studio at WNYC to perform “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” made famous by Barbra Streisand; “Can She Excuse My Wrongs,” by John Dowland, the English composer of the Elizabethan era; and “Moon Song,” an original from Salvant’s album “Ghost Song.”
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