The most asked question at our shows by audience members is: "do you have any CDs?"
Well - we used to, but it's been years since we've visited a recording studio. And currently we have "Christmas Live at the Gosforth Civic Theatre" which we released in 2019... which is perfect, if it's December. But Strictly Smokin' is so much more than that.
With this crowd funder we want to make some new recordings that will last all year round and that will be a great addition to your music listening. So, we're aiming to produce three CDs across the next 18 months... each with it's own distinct flavour.
In the pipeline already was "Strictly Smokin' Big Band Sings Ella with Alice Grace" - Covid-19 put the kibosh on that meaning it's top of our list to get into the studio.
We have an amazing list of ten tracks that paint a broad picture of Ella's career, including her work with Duke Ellington, Marty Paich and, of course, Nelson Riddle. We're working with an exquisite string section to make sure this recording is as lush as we can possibly make it and if rehearsals are anything to go by, Alice Grace is sounding incredible!
Number two on our list is a disc which takes in a section of our tour through the iconic image: "A Great Day In Harlem".
We had such an amazing opening show at Gosforth Civic last April that we feel this music deserves recording within the context of the image and to have it's story told through the narrative of the musicians who composed and performed it and their own personal interactions.
And finally, disc number three - "Strictly Smokin' Big Band and Friends" ( a working title, which might yet make the cut!)
This is the most ambitious of them all and a record of the amazing friendships we've developed with some of the UKs finest and most prolific jazz musicians and vocalists.
Each track on this CD will feature one of the amazing guests which Strictly Smokin' have brought to Newcastle - this is a complex operation to plan, but we can confirm that already Mike Lovatt, Mark Nightingale, Hailey Tuck, Alan Barnes, Bruce Adams and Joe Stilgoe have agreed to take part...!
The entire CD will be made up of brand new arrangements created to spotlight the incredible musicianship of these jazz greats... to be honest, we're still pinching ourselves!
There is no doubt that these are ambitious projects with an ambitious goal... but we hope you'll be able to support us.
We have structured the rewards in this crowd funder to essentially be advance purchases of the albums. A download will cost £8 and a CD will cost £10 once they are produced - if you can support us by purchasing in advance we can throw everything we've got at these sessions and produce the best quality music and recordings, with the best jazz musicians in the region and the UK.
Of course, there are options to donate more significant amounts with rewards to match.
We can't wait to get into the studio, and for you to hear what we produce - they're going to be something rather special.
Our rewards:
- £8 - 1 Album Download
- £16 - 2 Album Download
- £24 - 3 Album Download
- £30 - All 3 CDs, PLUS 2 exclusive track downloads
- £50 - Exclusive CD box set, PLUS 2 exclusive tracks
- £100 - Listed supporter on albums, 3 CDs + musical thanks
- £250 - Listed supporter, 3 CDs, musical thanks + VIP tickets
- £500 - Personal SSBB composition, artwork print, album downloads, listed supporter + more...
- £600 - Alice grace house/ garden gig, listed supporter, album downloads and more...
- £1000 - Option to perform in public with SSBB or house/ garden gig, plus downloads, listed supporter + more...
- £5000 - EVERYTHING! Plus SSBB for your own personal flash mob!