Anne Walsh
Long Beach, California, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Is there time to explore and reflect on musical beauty in the frenetic pace of modern life? It’s a question vocalist Anne Walsh asks on her latest CD “Go” available September 27th. “The title sums up my wish to move forward as an artist, and strike out into areas of the musical art-form that I haven’t had the opportunity to explore in the past.” Walsh and husband Tom Zink created this memorable musical journey as the follow up to their previous project “Pretty World”, which earned a Grammy nomination for the arrangement of “In The Still Of The Night,”
The collection to be released September 27th on AtoZink Music, showcases a pair of Brazil 66’ hits (“Cinnamon & Clove”, “Batucada”), several originals written by friends (“Je Vousem”, “Bumble Bee”, “I’ll Wish for You”), classic jazz pieces with original lyrics ( Wayne Shorter’s “Go”, & Azymuth’s “Cascade of the 7 Waterfalls”), a song discovered on LinkedIn (“Melanie”), and even a piece of the soundtrack to Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid (“South American Getaway”). Once again, Walsh’s husband, Thomas Zink, produced and arranged the dozen tracks that mesmerize in “Go.”
The CD both gives a point of view and asks some questions about the current times we live in, and the evolving way we listen to music. “The song Bumble Bee, really sums up what it’s like to be alive these days: buzzing around, always moving (wings always flapping), and so busy that it is unfortunately easy to neglect the ones and the things we love.” Though we are constantly bombarded with information, there is an up side to this sometimes overwhelming deluge: the ability to study, observe and enjoy so many different cultures, and styles of music. “We wanted to incorporate that positive element into the format of the CD, so it’s very eclectic.” It flows almost like a mix tape from style to style, but with a unique kind of cohesiveness. As an example, were it not for online communities like LinkedIn, the pair would never have discovered the beautiful “Melanie” by Spanish composer Pablo Martin-Caminero.
Throughout “Go”, a top-notch group of all-star musicians, that includes noted bassists Brian Bromberg, and Jerry Watts, saxophonist Gary Meek, Guitarist Larry Koonse, and percussionists Chris Wabich, & Tiki Pasillas, help bring the musical vision alive. The result is a consistently colorful program in which one song leads logically to the next one, yet nothing is predictable or obvious. Not unlike modern life.
While this collection acknowledges the challenges of twenty first century living, it also provides an antidote through the rich layering of the musical elements, and a varied mosaic of orchestration. Some of the songs are fairly simple in their construction, while others invite the listener to thoughtful reflection in order to discover all the elements that are woven into the piece. Anne’s voice takes the lead in much of the orchestration - including background parts, on solos, introductions and interludes. “Sometimes with vocal jazz projects, there’s a disconnect between the way the voice and other instruments are used in a song, but we wanted to bridge that gap and link the elements together with the voice” explained Zink. In fact, many of the solos evolve as a conversation between Anne’s vocals and the solo instrument.
“Ultimately we believe that beauty is real and rooted in the nature of creation. It can be reflected in music, or in the way a life is lived” With this in mind, Anne chose to end the CD with an original song (Spring’s Unfold) that she wrote as a tribute to the beauty of the sacrificial love that her parents lived out as they raised her and her brothers.
This very dynamic duo have built upon their previous success to create “Go”, a complex yet accessible program that is both eclectic and unified. More information about “Go,” and the upcoming musical activities of Anne Walsh and Tom Zink can be found at www.annewalsh.com - The Creative Genius Market
Vocalist Anne Walsh has an authentic style of singing that is neither purely jazz or purely pop but rather a fusion of the two. Joined by her husband Thomas Zink who produced and arranged her debut recording Pretty World released by his label A To Zink Music, Walsh’s selection is rooted in American and Brazilian classics including covers of Rodgers and Hammerstein‘s “My Favorite Things” and “Waters Of March” from Antonio Carlos Jobim. The selection additionally features contemporary pop tunes such as Sergio Mendez’s samba-driven “Chave Chuv” and Suzanne Vega and Kevyn Lettau’s misty ballad “Winter.” Walsh’s vocals inject rays of light into somber and melancholic arrangements tooling a fluidity that is soothing and natural. Pretty World is perfectly tailored to Walsh’s register and philosophy about life, and is very persuasive in converting others to follow along her path.
The recording fosters a concert setting as opposed to a overly produced studio offering as instruments attach to one another and blossom under each other’s tutelage. This was accomplished by using live musicians and allowing them the freedom of improvise and work off of each other’s vibe like in the bouts of perky xylophone-toned doodles and the eruptions of whistles in Bob Wilson’s upbeat minuet “He Love You.” With Zink playing the piano, keyboards and synths, the songs are cemented in a comely undertone which compliments Walsh’s register. For example, the soft and airy feel in songs like Keith Jarrett’s “My Song” and Pat Metheny’s “So May It Secretly Begin” bode nicely with the heavenly lilt in Walsh’s pitch. In the case of Metheny’s and Jarrett’s songs as well as with Don Grolnick’s bossa nova shaded “Pools,” original lyrics needed to be penned for Walsh which were written by Joe DeRenzo. Walsh’s vocals have a graceful stride that brings out the beauty in these tracks, and the melodies seem to embrace the warmth that she provides.
Contributing their talents to the recording are a group of musicians that have worked with Sergio Mendez including guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves, bassists Carlitos Del Puerto and Jerry Watts, percussionist Tiki Pasillas, and saxophonist-flautist Gary Meek. Walsh and Zink additionally incorporated strings into the recording which gave tracks like Cole Porter’s “In The Still Of The Night” and Mendez’s “Pretty World” an elevated stance. The string section includes Peter Kent, Kathleen Roberts, Cameron Patrick, and Missy Hasin.
The musicians casted for the recording are large in numbers, though the music is subdued and primarily softens the senses. Even with the numerous improvisations provided by the band and with Walsh exerting complete freedom in her vocal melodies, everyone was on the same page playing to perform the songs in an optimal light and it worked. - Jazz Times
Anne Walsh – Pretty World (AtoZink Music)
Released – May 24, 2009
Yeah, there’s a pile of CDs I meant to write about, but the one that made me say “wow” today is from California’s Anne Walsh. Now, I’m a huge fan of Brazilian beats, and this one’s got plenty of that. But what it also has is a very different spin on three old bossa nova classics – “Pretty World,” along with “Waters Of March” and “Chove Chuva.”
Enough to erase memories of Lani Hall, Janis Hansen and Karen Philipp? No. But a nice counterpoint to all of that, and it’s frankly nice to see these classics dusted off. The “sultry” is turned down a notch from the old Mendes recordings – and that’s not a bad thing. Ms. Walsh has a delicate-sounding voice that belies its range and power.
All 12 tracks are covers – but three of them you may know better as instrumentals. Percussionist Joe Derenzo has added lyrics to Pat Metheny’s “So May It Secretly Begin,” along with Keith Jarrett’s “My Song,” and “Pools,” by Don Grolnick.
My favorites are “Chove Chuva (Constant Rain)” and a surprising Portuguese version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “My Favorite Things.” Ms. Walsh teaches music at the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles. Produced by her husband, Thomas Zink, who also arranged, engineered, and played keyboards.
Handcrafted. This is stuff of the highest quality, and is very highly recommended. - girlsingers.org
A celestial voice with a refreshing outlook arrives on the jazz-adult pop scene with today’s (June 16) release of Pretty World by Anne Walsh from A To Zink Music. Her classically-trained voice gracefully guides a dozen dreamy compositions brimful of hope, optimism and romance. Walsh’s classy collection of elegant standards, sensual Brazilian jazz rhythms and dramatic ballads enchants with warmly produced live instrumentation meticulously performed by noted musicians.
For her debut jazz outing - previous releases include concept albums of lullabies (the Parent’s Choice award-winning Baby Mine) and sacred music (Be Still My Soul) - Walsh made it a family affair by tapping husband Thomas Zink to produce and orchestrate Pretty World. While the record consists entirely of lovingly selected covers, Joe DeRenzo composed original lyrics to instrumentals by Pat Metheny (“So May It Secretly Begin”), Keith Jarrett (“My Song”) and Don Grolnick (“Pools”), which added a unique element. To maintain authenticity, Zink, who played piano, keyboards and synths, recruited gifted musicians who had performed together while backing Sergio Mendes, including guitarist Oscar Castro-Neves, bassists Carlitos Del Puerto and Jerry Watts, percussionist Tiki Pasillas, and saxophonist-flautist Gary Meek, in addition to multidimensional bassist Brian Bromberg.
The first track from Pretty World gaining radio spins across the nation, “Chove Chuva” is a cool swinging version of the Mendes original, perfect for frolicking by the beach in the summer sun. To mark the album release, Walsh performed with her band Sunday night (June 14) in Sherman Oaks, California at Spazio and will take the stage backed by a quartet consisting of Bromberg, Pasillas, Zink and drummer Chris Wabich on Wednesday night (June 17) at Spaghettini’s in Seal Beach, California.
Reviewers have been lavishing praise upon Pretty World. Below are some of the highlights. - Jazz HQ
Discography
"Pretty World" - June 16, 2009
“In The Still of the Night” was nominated for a Grammy. The Single "Chove Chuva" received airplay throughout the US and internationally. Other tracks including "So May It Secretly Begin" also garnered attention and significant airplay.
"Go" - September 27, 2011
Photos
Bio
Anne Walsh’s new album “Go” (the follow up to her Grammy nominated CD "Pretty World") is the most recent collaboration by the singer and pianist-arranger-producer Thomas Zink. The CD includes a pair Brazil '66 hits, compositions by Cole Porter and Wayne Shorter, obscurities and originals. The music, which is often Brazilian Jazz -oriented, is never predictable, but though it is eclectic there's also a unity that carries through. Anne, whose pure voice unites both the grooving and ethereal elements in "Go", contributed lyrics to two of the songs, and in addition to his work on keyboards, mr. Zink created the arrangements. The results are infectious and rhythmic while being full of adventure and subtle surprises. “Go” is the latest accomplishment in their busy careers.
Anne Walsh was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. Her family was quite musical with her father Frank being a baritone/tenor with local light opera companies. “My earliest remembrances of music were the musicals Mary Poppins and Oklahoma. I was a toddler when my parents brought me and my brother Michael to see Mary Poppins. As a young girl, I grew to love Simon & Garfunkel, Ella Fitzgerald, Sergio Mendes, Herb Albert & The Tijuana Brass and Barbra Streisand - yes Babs; still love her.” Anne studied ballet, embraced classical music, and along the way learned to play piano, guitar and percussion.
After studying voice and music therapy at Anna Maria College, Anne moved to Los Angeles and worked for a time as a music therapist. “I had such a passion for singing that I decided to spend my life singing and teaching voice.” At Orange Coast College, she was introduced to the music of the big band era, and has since sung with various big bands in LA and the Inland Empire. She discovered Brazilian music, worked towards a Masters degree in Music at Cal State Long Beach, and sang in several jazz combos. After graduating with a Master’s in Music, Anne became an important educator, joining the faculty of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Nearly twenty years ago, Anne met Tom Zink when they both performed with a quintet. A decade later they were married.
Tom Zink was born and raised in Laguna Beach, California. “The earliest music that I remember hearing was Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker. My Dad was a big jazz fan who used to listen to Symphony Sid’s radio shows when he was a kid. I was saturated with jazz from an early age but also listened to Sergio Mendes, classical music and other styles too.” He took accordion lessons when he was four, switching to piano and organ when he was six. While Tom majored in political science at UCLA, he studied piano privately with Terry Trotter, his goal all along to become a jazz pianist.
Since then, Tom has become perhaps best known for working with bassist Brian Bromberg’s group for the past 25 years. However he has also been involved on a countless number of other assignments as a composer, arranger and producer. “I was not that interested in going on the road, especially after meeting Anne, and this work allowed me to stay in town.” In addition, he developed into a very personal and creative jazz musician.
While Anne Walsh and Tom Zink have worked together occasionally through the years, Anne remembers, “Five years ago we decided to focus our efforts as a team and see where it would take us. We love performing, and many of our performance outlets at that time were apart from one another, which is tough on a marriage. Tom is a wonderful accompanist, he is a very good listener, has a great touch and sensitivity to music. I particularly enjoy performing as a duo” Tom says of his wife, “I love her approach to the melody, getting to the heart of the song with that voice of hers. We take seriously the composer’s original intent with each song while also making our mark on the music.”
Anne and Tom had success a few years ago when they recorded Pretty World, a CD that earned a Grammy nomination.
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