Antoine Drye - Retreat to Beauty (Oblation, vol. 3: Providence!) (2023) [Hi-Res]

It is our collective right and responsibility as Americans (some believe) to live, preserve and advance the culture left to us by our predecessors. One cardinal component of western culture is our contribution to the vast world of music, through our Great American Songbook.

As an educator, I have endeavored to play and teach such timeless melodies from the 1920’s, through to the 60’s, to listeners and learners alike, from adult-aged, all the way to kindergarten. I hope the next generation of music lovers, players and performers will grow up hearing, loving, learning, and sharing these songs, like we all did, in order to preserve the living legacy of this music, our unique contribution to world culture early in the 20th century.

Toward this end, Antoine Drye and I have strived to preserve the classic style of landmark orchestral recordings of iconic instrumentalists in Black American Music, like Clifford Brown, Ben Webster, Stan Getz, Cannonball Adderley, and Charlie Parker, while at the same time adding new and original melodies we hope will be perceived as a natural extension and continuation of the style as a living creative framework, and not just a conserved legacy.

To accomplish this, it was vitally important that the irreplaceable feeling of a live performance with a full orchestra be the gold standard for this project. While many modern-day artists utilize excellent, high-quality string samples, sometimes even mixed with live over-dubbed performances by real musicians in the studio, there simply is no substitute for the communal experience of a large ensemble of musicians performing a work together, nor the sound. It is the cumulative effect of community and artistry that cannot be replaced by any technology and is the only way to truly give this style its due.

Please enjoy Antoine Drye with Strings - Retreat to Beauty (Oblation vol. 3: Providence!)

Isaac Raz (orchestrator)

Oblation - the act of offering, as in a spiritual/religious manner
Providence - timely preparation for future eventualities
“Oblation” is the intention and “providence” is the causality.

Antoine Drye - solo trumpet
Isaac Raz - orchestrator
Sullivan Fortner - piano
Isaac Raz - piano (track 12)
Ben Wolf - bass
Donald Edwards - drums
David Bertrand - flute 1
Myron Walden - flute 2
John Ellis - clarinet/bass clarinet
Charlie Porter - trumpet 1
Antoine Drye - trumpet 2
Willie Applewhite - trombone 1
David Gibson - trombone 2
Patrick Milando - French horn 1
Alexandra Cook - French horn 2
Becca Patterson - tuba
Christina Courtin - violin 1
Trina Basu - violin 2
Marika Hughes - cello
Jessica Troy - viola
Brandi Disterheft - bass (classical parts and Send In The Clowns)
Kim Kimistri Kalesti - voice (track 12)
AC Lincoln - background vocals (track 12)
Vondie Curtis Hall - actor role: dad (intro to 37)???
Sebastian Stoller - actor role: babygirl (intro to 37)
David Stoller - actor role: usher (intro to 37)

Tracklist:
1.01 - Antoine Drye - Dada Takes Lilykenz to a Show! (1:14)
1.02 - Antoine Drye - 37 (4:08)
1.03 - Antoine Drye - Isfahan (4:51)
1.04 - Antoine Drye - Friend (4:53)
1.05 - Antoine Drye - When It's Sleepy Time Down South (3:28)
1.06 - Antoine Drye - Oblation (4:52)
1.07 - Antoine Drye - The Peacocks (7:22)
1.08 - Antoine Drye - Reflections (3:56)
1.09 - Antoine Drye - Send In The Clowns (3:47)
1.10 - Antoine Drye - Laura (3:33)
1.11 - Antoine Drye - Goodbye (4:58)
1.12 - Antoine Drye - Image (1:46)
1.13 - Antoine Drye - Ringing In The Bells (3:13)