Tyra Penn and Her Army of Snakes - The Last Day of August (2021)

After 17 years together in various formations, Tyra Penn and Her Army of Snakes are recording their first album! As a band with such a long lifespan, many, many outstanding New England jazz musicians have been among our intrepid reptiles. Joining me on the record will be an A-list ensemble, who happen to be some of my favorite people: Paul Courchaine on guitar, my musical partner for the entire 17 years; Molly Flannery on piano, who has been the primary arranger for many of the songs, and whose composition Undercurrent will be featured on the record; Russ Gershon on saxes and woodwinds, another long-time collaborator who has also been one of the arrangers; Joe Potenza and Sven Larson switching off on the bass chair; and Zeke Martin on drums.

The title of our record is The Last Day of August, a special story, told in song, based on an uncommonly beautiful novel. John Crowley’s "Little, Big" is a modern-day fairy tale following five generations of the Drinkwater family in their curiously constructed house, located Somewhere in rural New England.

John Crowley once said of his work that his books are made, in part, of other books. This program is also made from a book, and from a collage of songs, both familiar and unknown.