track analysis

LUA HADAR with TWIST
Like A Bridge CD and DVD Track Analysis
CD & DVD Recorded LIVE at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California, USA, 2012
CD Released April 14, 2012, at Somethin’ Jazz Club, New York City
DVD Released November 15, 2012, at The Balboa Theater, San Francisco
℗© 2012 New Performance Group; All Rights Reserved
Lua Hadar – Multi-lingual Vocals
www.luahadar.com
Jason Martineau – Piano, Music Director/Arranger
www.likeabridge.net
Dan Feiszli – Acoustic & Electric Bass
Celso Alberti - Drums
Ian Dogole - Udu, Dumbek, Shakers, Cajon
Larry De La Cruz - Alto, Tenor, Soprano Sax & Flute
With special guests David Miotke on Jazz Accordion, Emil Miland on Cello, Fumiko Ozawa on Koto and Gideon
Bendile with members of the Kalahari Experience Zulu Choir.
Co-Producers –Lua Hadar & Candace Forest
Video Director – Lawrence Jordan
Recording Engineer – Jesse Nichols
Live Sound Engineer – Craig Griffeath
Mixing Engineer – Dan Feiszli
Mastering Engineer – Ken Lee
Photography – Kingmond Young, Jack Schow
Graphic Design – Paige Smith
Video Editing – InVision Productions
Video Technical Producer – Hamilton Everts
DESCRIPTION: LUA HADAR with TWIST: Like A Bridge (CD and DVD) was recorded live at the legendary Fantasy
Studios in Berkeley, California. Lua’s cosmopolitan jazz sound draws from many nationalities and styles, connected
by our common humanity, with the Bridge as its symbol.
Since its inception in 2007, Hadar’s world jazz band TWIST has developed a reputation for twisting the style of
international standards, performing original numbers and presenting songs in several languages. The new recording
features songs in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese and Malagasy, the language of Madagascar.
The DVD includes both a 70-minute Live Studio Concert directed by Emmy Award winner Lawrence Jordan (Tony
Bennett, Sting, Mariah Carey, Eddie Izzard, more) and the 25-minute documentary, Building Bridges.
The Like A Bridge CD is receiving critical acclaim and airplay on over 100 radio stations across the USA and in
Canada, The Netherlands, Germany, England and Brazil.
Instrumentation: vocals, piano, acoustic and electric bass, drums, global percussion (udu, cajon, dumbek, shakers),
reeds, koto, cello, jazz accordion.
THE SONGS
Bridge Over Troubled Water (English) (5:53)
This American pop classic has been embraced by the world and beautifully expresses how all human beings can
reach out to each other; person to person, country to country, culture to culture. Larry De La Cruz solos on alto sax,
adding to the rich warmth of Lua’s vocal in this world beat rendition.
Ojalá Que Llueva Café (Spanish) (3:28)
“If only it would rain coffee.” Lua sings this exuberant anthem of the 99% from the Dominican Republic, backed up
by the driving force of Celso Alberti on the drum set, Ian Dogole on cajon, with Larry De La Cruz wailing on tenor
sax.
Beyond the Sea/La Mer (French) (5:25)
Charles Trenet’s “La Mer” was Americanized and popularized by Bobby Darin. In contrast, Lua’s rendition is steeped
in French nostalgia, quoting the French folk song about dancing on a bridge, “Sur le Pont D’Avignon” (On the Bridge
of Avignon.)
Raha Mbola Misy (Malagasy) (4:04)
A folk classic from the island of Madagascar, the former French colony off the east coast of Africa. Sung by Lua in
the original Malagasy language and twisted as a samba, the lyrics ask, encouragingly, “If there is still a smile and
time to share happiness, why waste your winter nights crying, hungry for the light?” Larry De La Cruz solos on flute.
San Francisco (French) (3:58)
The French pop tribute to the now famous Blue House recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, after songwriter
Maxine Le Forestier introduced millions to the culture of San Francisco in 1971. Lua met and sang with Le Forestier
in June 2011. Inspired by this meeting, TWIST recorded San Francisco as a funk tune with bass solo by Dan Feiszli
and Hadar on the French lyric. “It is a Blue House, couched in my memory; we come on foot, no need to knock,
they’ve thrown away the key.”
Child of Man (English/Hebrew) (4:49)
A joyous celebration of life and renewal by Israeli singer-songwriter Noa, this world beat anthem is enhanced by
global percussionist Ian Dogole on the udu. The last line is in Hebrew, “I wish I were a flower or a tree.”
Sukiyaki/Ue o Muite Aruko (Japanese) (4:24)
“Ue o Muite Aruko” made its debut on the world pop stage in 1963, known then as “Sukiyaki.” A song of dignity and
hope, it was notably reprised after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, encouraging the devastated populace
to “walk with its head up.” Music Director Jason Martineau collaborated with koto player Fumiko Ozawa to create a
new east-west arrangement of the pop classic, sung by Lua in Japanese.
Imagina (Portuguese) (3:45)
A mystical waltz in Portuguese by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Chico Buarque, its wide vocal range is usually covered
with a male-female duet. Lua’s duet is with renowned cellist Emil Miland, evoking the oneness of man and woman
in the cosmos.
Stregata dall’Amor/Ravel’s Bolero (Italian) (5:26)
Martineau’s arrangement pairs the love theme from Fellini’s “La Strada” and its palpitating Italian lyrics with the
world famous Ravel’s “Bolero.” Hadar sings with passionate intensity: “You say you do not know how to love, you
say you cannot love; but you are bewitched by love!” Celso Alberti on the snare drum with Larry De La Cruz on the
classic soprano sax theme.
Isfahan (Instrumental) (5:47)
The Far East Suite (1966) was inspired by a world tour undertaken by cultural ambassador Duke Ellington and his
orchestra in 1963.The Khaju Bridge in Isfahan, Iran, is regarded as one of the most beautiful bridges in the world.
Twist’s arrangement of Strayhorn’s “Isfahan” features Jason Martineau on piano, Dan Feiszli on bass, Larry De La
Cruz on alto and Celso Alberti on drums.
The DVD features three numbers that do not appear on the Like A Bridge CD:
Né Quelque Part (French, Zulu) (4:23)
Maxime Le Forestier’s pop song, “Born Somewhere,” advocates for immigration rights in both French and Zulu. The
compelling, upbeat performance features Lua’s French vocal, backed by South African performer Gideon Bendile,
with members of his Kalahari Experience Zulu Choir.
The Golden Gate Bridge (English) (4:28)
San Francisco Bay Area comedic songwriter Rita Abrams penned a few extra lyrics for the 75th anniversary of one of
the world’s most iconic bridges. Lua enjoys the romp as she takes on the persona of the Bridge who’s been through
it all.
Scriabin Etude in D# Minor, Opus 8, No.12 (Instrumental) (6:08)
Mystic, visionary, virtuoso, and composer, Alexander Scriabin dedicated his life to creating musical works to open
the portals of the spiritual world. Music Director Jason Martineau takes the lead in a unique virtuoso jazz adaptation
of the 1894 piano work, with fiery performances by bassist Dan Feiszli and drummer Celso Alberti.
Find all song lyrics and English translations at:
http://likeabridge.net/song-lyrics
Also by Lua Hadar:
It’s About Time, CD 2005
Lua Hadar with Twist, CD 2008