PREVIEW: Jeanne O’Connor Gives Sneak Preview of Upcoming Album at Caffé Lena
07/03 @ Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs
Photo by Janis Wilkins
“My brilliant musicians are very smart and funny people who are quite comfortable interacting with me onstage, so there will definitely be some fun as well as some really serious high-quality jazz.”
Gracing the historic Caffé Lena stage on July 3, Jeanne O'Connor, a Saratoga-based jazz and pop vocalist, will be giving audiences a rare glimpse into her upcoming solo album, The Sweetest Sounds. Jeanne, most widely known for her intricate interpretations of jazz, both vocally and lyrically, is providing fans a personable experience with an experienced local artist, as well as a historic moment, as The Sweetest Sounds is Jeanne’s first album in nearly two decades.
Jeanne is set to perform a beautiful array of pieces ranging decades. From jazz classics dating to the 1930s to pieces such as “Wichita Lineman” from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Alongside these renditions, Jeanne will also be showcasing a few songs from her upcoming album, making audiences excited for what is to come.
“I will be providing some backstories about the songs and my connection to them,” explains Jeanne. “My brilliant musicians are very smart and funny people who are quite comfortable interacting with me onstage, so there will definitely be some fun as well as some really serious high-quality jazz.”
The Sweetest Sounds is an album created out of pure passion, serving as a creative outlet for Jeanne within the past few years. For Jeanne, the creation of The Sweetest Sounds was a search to bring meaning and experience to a musical format. The album is a curation of Jeanne’s takes on familiar favorites as well as originals close to her heart. Jeanne detailed the recording process as a thrilling opportunity to witness every piece and her own musical talents evolve alongside other legendary musicians such as Randy Brecker and Gil Goldstein.
“I went through treatment for breast cancer in 2023 — I am fine now — and decided that there was no time like the present to record the things I really wanted to say, musically,” says Jeanne. “I chose some songs that I’ve been singing for years, which I re-arranged, along with my pianist and co-producer, John di Martino. I also wanted to record some originals that are really meaningful to me, too. For instance, one tune, “Medianoche (for Don),” is a song written by my late husband, Don Grolnick, which I composed lyrics to. I tried to capture the spirit of the song by evoking a night of music in Havana, Cuba.”
Caffé Lena, as they state, strives to provide “music, connection, and learning from a legendary venue,” and this performance is the perfect opportunity to experience that firsthand. With an album that explores a spectrum of emotions and experiences through a range of jazz interpretations, it is clear that this event will be hard to miss.
"People will hear my voice exploring songs set to swing rhythms, Brazilian grooves, and jazzy pop treatments,” says Jeanne. “You’ll also hear a duet with Amy London, a gifted singer whom I work with in my New York City vocal jazz quartet, The Royal Bopsters.”
Besides her July 3 performance, Jeanne performs regularly through the Capital Region, frequenting venues such as the Market Bar and Restaurant. For a more detailed calendar of performances, visit https://www.jeanneoconnor.com/.
For more information on Jeanne’s show at Caffé Lena, visit: https://www.caffelena.org/event/jeanne-oconnor-the-sweetest-sounds-exclusive-pre-release-concert/
