Join renowned songwriter and composer Jeff Franzel along with musicians Corin Stigall and Yaala Ballin as they celebrate African-American composers and vocalists of the 20th century. Enjoy the sounds of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Thelonious Monk, and a nod to the blues with covers of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith.
Jeff is currently working on a Billy Joel country tribute album as the pianist/arranger featuring Willie Nelson and Lady Antebellum. He has written songs for such diverse artists as The Temptations, Placido Domingo, Shawn Colvin, and Dianne Reeves. Jeff writes in virtually all styles and works with lyricists in many languages and has accompanied such artists as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Mel Tormé.
Upright Bassist, Corin Stiggall, a stalwart member of the NYC jazz scene for over 20 years, has performed at the Village Vanguard and Carnegie Hall with many musical legends including George Cables, Gil Coggins, and Billy Higgins. Recorded for Columbia Records, taught at the Stanford Jazz Workshop and is known for his plush”magic carpet ride” swing.
Yaala has recorded 3 CDs – “Travelin’ Alone” (Smalls Records), “On The Road” (Gallery Records), “Live Session” (Gut String Records) – and was recently featured on “The Music Of Duke Jordan” (Steeplechase Records) with the Chris Byars Septet, for which she also wrote original lyrics. In addition to appearances in New York City (Smalls, Smoke, Birdland), she frequently tours in Europe and has been featured at festivals and concert series in the Middle East and Mel Tormé.