Vocalist Ellie Martin has CD release concert at Arylyn’s

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Vocalist Ellie Martin will perform a CD release concert at Arylyn’s Good Beer, 520 Hankey Ave., on Friday at 7 p.m.

Watching her children living in the moment and playing with abandon made Martin realize not to take anything for granted.

Despite a successful career in academia, the singer and songwriter decided it was time to follow her dream and record an album.

“Verdant,” Martin’s debut recording, showcases her wide ranging vocal and compositional talents. The album comprises 12 original songs that mostly follow the arc of her life in the last few years, reflecting her experiences as a woman, a mother, and a cancer survivor. Martin’s voice is light and warm as she skillfully navigates through her program of bebop, Latin grooves, ballads and swing, undaunted by .

Martin, who lives in Toledo, gathered for this recording some of the finest Midwest-based musicians as well as guest artist Peter Eldridge, who plays piano and sings background vocals. Also joining Martin is Ariel Kasler on guitar, who has two albums that feature original jazz compositions influenced by Middle Eastern, Jewish, and Israeli music. Bassist Kurt Khranke has been a mainstay on the Detroit music scene for over 40 years. He has worked with many jazz luminaries, including Sheila Jordan, Ray Bryant, James Moody, Larry Coryell, Joe Henderson, Steve Turre and Clark Terry.

Olman Piedra not only plays drums and percussion, he is also Martin’s husband. Like Martin, he is an educator with a doctorate in music. Grammy-nominated Keith Ganz plays guitar on two tracks and mixed the album. Rounding out the performers on the project are Victor Gonҫalves (accordion), Andrew Bishop (clarinet), Ben Wolkins (trumpet) and Mike Harrison (background vocals).

Martin opens the album with “Living for the Now,” which she wrote for her two daughters. She wanted to capture the toddler’s universe and wrote the piece as a fast Samba to reflect the frenetic energy of her young daughters at play. “As Times Goes” is a ballad about losing love as we age. The song is a duet that features Mike Harrison.

Martin wrote “Dancers Serenade” as a tango to capture the push and pull of power in relationships. It features Brazilian accordionist Victor Gonҫalves. “Never Will I Worry” has a modern jazz-fusion feel. She wrote the song after several of her friends got divorced and realized that she never even saw the problems brewing below the surface.

Martin wrote “Love Somehow Will Heal” for a close friend who died from cancer when she was 36. She wanted the song to have an intimate feel, so she arranged it with just piano and clarinet accompaniment. “Renewal” is a celebration of life. Martin wrote the song after she was finally cancer free. Written in the hardbop style reminiscent of the music that came out of Pittsburgh, “Steel City Eye” is an homage to the city where she received her PhD.

“Verdant,” the title tune, is a ballad about renewal. Martin wrote Flamenco infused jazz piece “Lucianita” for her daughter. The piece was inspired by a trip to Spain that she took with her husband shortly before their daughter was born. The lyrics are in Spanish and capture her daughter’s fiery, strong-willed personality. Martin wrote “Lady Liberty” after attending the women’s march in 2017. The song has a strong political statement about the power of diversity and the strength of the nation through inclusivity.

Martin got the phrase “Step into Your Essence” from Kate McGarry during a vocal lesson. It is a funky tune about accepting yourself for who you really are.

Martin is the vocal jazz instructor at the University of Toledo, as well as Toledo School for the Arts. She has performed at the Pittsburgh Jazz Festival, the Sunset Jazz Festival and the Michigan Jazz Festival. She was the featured vocalist with the National Arab Orchestra in San Antonio Texas, and she has performed alongside jazz luminaries Geri Allen, Terri Lynne Carrington, Esperanza Spalding, the New York Voices, Jon Hendricks and Afro Blue.

She completed her bachelor’s degree in voice at McGill University, a master’s degree in vocal jazz performance at the UT and a PhD in Jazz studies from the University of Pittsburgh under the guidance of Nathan Davis and Professor Geri Allen.

While at UT, Martin worked closely with the legendary lyricist, vocalist and distinguished Professor of Jazz, Jon Hendricks, and wrote her master’s thesis and dissertation on Hendricks and the formation of his seminal vocal group Lambert, Hendricks & Ross.

Martin has given several national and international lectures on vocal jazz historiography, improvisation, intersections between voice and instrument, and media reception of race and gender in vocal jazz.

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