Steppin (Remastered) Christy Baron

• 1 Will It Go 'Round in Circles 03:56
• 2 Mercy Street 05:42
• 3 Tomorrow Never Knows 07:07
• 4 Thieves in the Temple 03:38
• 5 This Must Be Love 04:16
• 6 Delays On the Downtown 6 06:30
• 7 She's Not There 03:39
• 8 The Shadow of Your Smile 04:08
• 9 Is Love Enough 01:25
• 10 Ain't No Half Steppin' 03:15
• 11 Spooky 03:18
• 12 Nite and Day 06:05
• Total Runtime 52:59

Info for Steppin (Remastered)

When jazz singers interpret popular music, their main source is often the great standards and Broadway music of the 1920's, 1930's and 1940's. Turning most of their attention to George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and other famous composers of that era, they tend to ignore the rock and R&B songs of the last 40 years, assuming they are irrelevant to jazz singing. Yet worthwhile popular music didn't die with the Gershwin Brothers -- great popular songs continue to be written, and on her second Chesky album, Steppin', Christy Baron demonstrates that the popular music of the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's and 1990's can, in fact, be relevant to a jazz-oriented vocalist.

"This new offering from the great folks at Chesky, Steppin' by Christy Baron, uses their great 24-bit/96kHz mastering facility. Here we have a truly talented jazz vocalist with large dosage of fun and frolic. The album is filled with twelve cover tunes from "Will It Go 'Round In Circles" made popular in the 70's by Billy Preston to 80's sensation Peter Gabriel's "Mercy Street". Here we have a small gathering of jazz musicians doing a great job of backing Christy's wonderful voice. Her voice can sound soft and sultry like during the song "Days on the Downtown 6" which is amazingly funky and modern sounding for Chesky. In fact this is my favorite track on the album. It has none of that soulless lame lounge lizard sound we sometimes find in more than a few audiophile releases. Another really upbeat tune, "Spooky" has a big dose of funk while Christy's vocals are strong and cool-man-cool.

In fact this may very well be my fave Chesky release to date! Great musicianship and interpretation to the point where i personally like Christy's rendition of "Mercy Street" over Peter Gabriel's! On the other hand the song "Spooky", while quite good, was better done better by Classics IV in '67. Of course the usual excellent sound quality and soundscape as found on other Chesky titles is here in all its glory. If you are looking for truly great funky jazz then Christy Baron's Steppin' is for you. Not just great sound.. but great music! Chesky has a winner on their hands here!" (Steven R. Rochlin, enjoythemusic.com)

Christy Baron, vocals
Andy Middleton, soprano saxophone, flute
Dan Zank, piano
John Hebert, acoustic bass
Zach Danziger, cymbals
Gilad, percussion
Chris Rogers, trumpet
Didier Rachou, drum and percussion programming, guitars
Doriane Ellito, background vocals
William Galison, chromatic harmonica
David Johansen, spoken word
Jeff Haynes, percussion
Christos Rafalides, vibraphone
Curtis King, vocals
Akim Funk Buddah, tuvan throat singing
Duane Martin Foster, background vocals

Digitally remastered

Christy Baron
A dynamic performer with an entrancing voice, Christy Baron was raised in Pittsburgh. She has not only been singing and performing in New York City since 1984, but she is also an accomplished actress, having appeared on Broadway, television and in independent films. Baron started as a cabaret singer and pianist while studying music at Carnegie-Mellon University. When she moved to New York, she began working in piano bars but soon became sidetracked from cabaret singing by acting jobs and singing commercial jingles. Baron has since performed with such artists as Natalie Cole, Phoebe Snow, Melba Moore, Carly Simon, Dr. John and David Sanborn.

This album contains no booklet.