Friday, November 22, 2013

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Natalie Cressman & Secret Garden

Artist:Natalie Cressman & Secret Garden
Song:Skylight
Album:Unfolding




22 year old Natalie Cressman may look like a fashion model. But she actually plays trombone and sings and writes her own songs. Her debut CD Unfolding is mostly jazz. But with her latest CD Turn The Sea, she is becoming a singer songwriter. Natalie is from San Francisco. Her father Jeff Cressman is best known as trombone player on the Santana CD Supernatural. He is also a recording engineer and he owns his own studio. Her mom Sandy Cressman sings in the Brazilian style. Natalie studied dance as a child. But she also played trombone. And by the time she was in junior high, she concentrated on music. As a teen she played with her mom's band, Pete Escovedo and Jai Uttal. But her big break came when sax player Peter Apfelbaum invited her to play with his band the New York Hieroglyphics at the 2008 Monterey Jazz Festival. Her dad recorded with Apfelbaum so he's a family friend. She went on to play with Carlos Santana, Joe Lovano, Sheila E. and Miguel Zenon. After graduating high school, she moved to New York City to attend the Manhattan School of Music on a scholarship. When ex-Phish leader Trey Anastasio was putting together a touring band in 2010, he asked Jeff Cressman to play trombone. Jeff was unavailable but he recommended Natalie and she has toured and recorded with him ever since. Anastasio really likes her and along with Apfelbaum have encouraged her to record her own music. Unfolding was her debut CD. It's mostly instrumental and Apfelbaum guests on one song. The rest of the band is Ivan Rosenberg on trumpet, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown on sax, Pascal Le Beouf on keyboards, Ruben Samama on bass and Jake Goldbas on drums. Natalie wrote most of the songs including Skylight. Her new CD Turn The Sea is less jazz and more singer songwriter. Natalie self releases her music through CD Baby. It remains to be seen if she can get a big record deal and become famous. But even if she doesn't, Natalie Cressman will have a long career as a session musician. Here's Natalie Cressman performing Skylight with the San Francisco School of the Arts Jazz Band in 2009.

No comments:

Post a Comment