Fran Jaré performs with Soultrax for her CD release of Copy Cat Coo Coo, Thursday, Sept. 7, 8 p.m. at Frankie’s Jazz Club, 765 Beatty St., Vancouver. Tickets: $15.
It’s a family affair on jazz artist Fran Jaré’s new album.
Jaré called on her daughter, bassist Brandi Disterheft, a Juno Award winner, and sister Angie Jaree, who has a Grammy to her name – to join her in putting down some smooth tracks for Copy Cat Coo Coo. On the album jacket Jaré also thanks her husband Brian Disterheft for guiding her and financing the “mission.”
Combining all that talent in one CD birthed an amalgam of seven original recordings with various ensembles, and one standard paying homage to Stevie Wonder.
“It reaches a broad spectrum of listeners, I would say. So it’s not very avant-garde. It’s very upbeat. And the other thing is there’s a surprise ending on the first song – people get such a kick out of it,” says Jaré, a singer and composer on the album, ahead of her upcoming CD release show at Frankie’s Jazz Club Sept. 7.
The two sisters are catching up in North Vancouver this week, after a long absence. They would perform together in their younger years, but now they’re scattered across a large coastline – Jaree is in L.A. and Jaré lives near the base of Capilano Road.
What makes it all the more poignant is that Jaré would ask her sister to sing a song on the new CD about long-distance relationships. While the lyrics to “Just Be With Me” have romantic overtones, the message is the same for anyone: “how we all have busy lives and there’s no time and no compromise,” explains Jaré.
In the studio Jaré could hear it in her sister’s voice, they were on the same wavelength with this song.
“The way she does the feeling of it, she’s gotten a lot of comments from people on her emoting,” says Jaré.
Jaree’s singing résumé is impressive as it is diverse. She has recorded or performed in concert with Barbara Streisand, Michael Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Bette Midler, Natalie Cole, Whitney Houston and Christina Aguilera. The question is: what vocal powerhouses hasn’t Jaree performed with?
Most recently Jaree sang in the jazz-laden hit La La Land, as part of a choir for the those big production numbers in the movie. The most amazing part of that experience for Jaree was performing those numbers live at the iconic Hollywood Bowl.
“That was pretty exciting,” says Jaree.
Equally exciting for Jaree was lending her voice to her sister’s album.
One of Jaré’s new songs is infused with Latin inflections and influences from Brazilian musician Tania Maria, while another is a classical fusion with an Edvard Grieg feel, in which the flute takes over.
But perhaps the biggest treat for Jaré is having her daughter be part of the album. Brandi began performing in her teens with her mother, a Chicago-born pianist and B3 organist.
Lately Disterheft has been under the apprenticeship of Miles Davis’ bassist, Ron Carter, since she relocated to New York City, where she has recorded and honed her craft with many jazz greats.
So can Jaré take credit for her daughter’s musical acumen?
It’s a funny story, says Jaré.
Disterheft did not want to follow in her mother’s footsteps, she wanted to study communications instead. Her parents supported that wish, saying she could have any career she wanted.
But once Disterheft stepped foot inside Handsworth Secondary, it was a whole different ball game.
“Once she went there, they call him Mr. Reb. (Bob Rebagliati) he started having her go into all of these festivals,” recalls Jaré of Handsworth’s legendary music teacher.
Even getting Disterheft’s foot in the door was a challenge, as the family didn’t live in the Handsworth school catchment. So Disterheft had to fill a seat either in German class or take a string instrument.
Nein, she said to the language class, and instead picked up an acoustic bass.
In one week, through blood, sweat and tears, Disterheft was playing the bass like a pro.
She had calluses on her fingers, a bass player’s calling card, and needed a stool to reach the top of the hulking instrument, but Disterheft persevered.
Fast-forward to earlier this year when mom and daughter sat down to rework some of the phrases on the new album.
“It was such a great, great learning experience sharing that,” says Jaré.
Disterheft elevates the album with her East Coast jazz experiences, that’s her mother’s assessment.
“It’s a whole different level ... .” explains Jaré. (Disterheft) brings a wonderful, escalated level to the whole project and it adds her influence as well ... her perspective and experience.”
Jaré is backed by funky jazz- R&B-fusion band Soultrax, featuring Olaf De Shield on guitar, Dave Say on saxophone, Derry Byrne on trumpet, Miles Foxx Hill on bass and Buff Allen on drums.
As she prepares for the Frankie’s show, Jaré reflects on her career and what might have been. Raised in Chicago, Jaré underwent a tonsillectomy as a child. Her grandma was convinced that spell with tonsillitis changed her voice and the trajectory of her life.
Jaré would later open for Diana Ross and The Supremes at the Palmer House – a famous and historic hotel in Chicago – as one part of a sister act.
