This new song cycle celebrates 10 fascinating women through history, from Ada Lovelace to Hedy Lamarr and Lena Horne. It's titled "Lives of the Saints," though none was a literal saint. All are real women who did extraordinary things but suffered in some way for what did or what they believed.
Experience the world premiere of this new music on Thursday, April 10 at Dizzy's Club inside Jazz at Lincoln Center with shows at 7 and 9pm. The evening blends jazz and storytelling in a fresh, modern take on timeless legacies.
You'll hear original music by Aubrey Johnson, Helen Sung, Dave Douglas, and Renee Rosnes, and lyrics by acclaimed writer David Hajdu. The performance lineup features vocals by Aubrey Johnson; piano by Helen Sung; trumpet by Dave Douglas; saxophone and clarinet by Chet Doxas; cello by Marika Hughes; bass by Simón Willson, and drums by Eliza Salem.
The album's title goes back to writer-producer David Hajdu's childhood when he was drawn to a mystical book on his mother's shelf titled "Lives of the Saints." This was a collection of tales of Catholic saints and their heroic martyrdom. Later in life, Hajdu began to collect his own stories of ordinary individuals who, through their deeds, attained exalted status in his mind. He essentially created his own canon of secular saints—and now he's drawn upon the concept for his latest musical work. Here's more of the backstory, courtesy of Sunnyside Records.