Janet Grice Dream Travels CD

Janet Grice - bassoon and recorder, Vanderlei Pereira - drums, Armen Donelian - piano, Nilson Matta - double bass.Dream Travels was recorded by the late engineer David Baker and produced by Janet Grice. In this acoustic jazz release Janet explores the beautiful timbres of the bassoon and recorder in compositions by group members and Brazilian composers Egberto Gismonti, Hermeto Pascoal and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Janet’s unusual use of the bassoon - a deep-pitched double reed instrument usually associated with the symphony orchestra - was hailed as a “gutsy, original idea” and a “dazzling display of woodwind technique” on Song For Andy, her first record. Dream Travels represents beloved places, people, and journeys of the mind, body and spirit. Janet’s original compositions - the introspective Dream Brother, smooth Summer’s End, high-energy Affinity, and virtuosic Searching For A Choro - reflect her classical background and love of Brazilian music. A jazz pianist of extraordinary talent, Armen Donelian’s compositions have been described as “downright haunting”, as in his hypnotic song Mexico. The Brazilian rhythm section of drummer Vanderlei Pereira and bassist Nilson Matta - who composed the joyful Paraty - provides the dancing groove that supports soulful improvisations. Brazilian compositions on the CD include Bebê, Loro and Felicidade.Janet Grice recorded three CDs of original and Brazilian jazz and performed internationally with her groups, Karl Berger, Butch Morris and the STX Ensemble. She recorded for Music Minus One, New World Records, and numerous jazz labels, and has performed with the Mingus Orchestra, Don Cherry and Paulo Moura. Awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to research music in Brazil, she also received grants from the National Endowment, Meet the Composer and Arts International for her compositions and jazz bassoon performances. She holds a Doctorate from Rutgers University, a Bachelors degree from the New England Conservatory and a Masters from New York University, and is a teaching artist for the Lincoln Center Institute and NYC Dept. of Education.