Courtney Fortune

Speak Love

Origin Classical 82541



... (Fortune) handles adeptly the balance of grace and appeal to sensuousness
that is an earmark of many jazz-vocal greats... Courtney has developed a textured, sultry, arrestingly mature torch singer's delivery..
Peter Monaghan, Earshot Jazz

The dark tones of Los Angeles-based singer Courtney Fortune's voice transition seamlessly from jazz to folk and pop on her debut album, Speak Love. Adapting her diverse musical interests at an early age, Fortune has garnered fans from the U.S. to Japan for her smooth voice and warm presence. Along with a collection of standards (including a lush "I Wish You Love"), half of the songs on Speak Love were written by Fortune or co-written with four-time Grammy-nominated composer and arranger Chris Walden, who also produced the album. Recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, Speak Love is an eclectic mix of musical influences that revitalizes and inspires loyal jazz fans while giving depth to the current popular music landscape.


Track Listing:

1.Care of Cell 44 3:56
2. I Wish You Love 4:06
3. Lost in the Memory 3:33
4. You're Starting to Feel Like Home 4:22
5. Close the Door 3:39
6. Speak Love 4:27
7. I Love the Way You're Breaking My Heart 3:22
8. Like Always 3:54
9. Dindi 3:26
10. Bitter Words 3:16
11. I'll Keep Waiting 4:06
12. Hello Love 4:02

Performers:

Courtney Fortune - vocal
Christian Jacob - piano
Jim Cox - hammond B3
Blake Angelos - keyboard
Dean Parks - guitar
Andrew Synowiec - guitar
Miles Fortune - guitar
Kevin Axt -bass
Gregg Field - drums
Jamey Tate - drums
M.B. Gordy - percussion
Till Brönner - trumpet
Bob McChesney - trombone
Charlie Bisharat - violin
Kenton Chen, Michael Harris - background vocals
Steve Erdody - solo cello
Jeff Driskill - clarinet
Chris Walden - flugelhorn
Chris Walden - strings arranged and conducted

Production Info:

Produced and arranged by Chris Walden
Recording and mixing engineer: Steve Genewick
Additional recording: Chip Westerfield, Malcolm Luker
Assistant engineers: Josh Blanchard, Paul Smith, Rick Fernandez
Recorded at Castle Oaks Studios, Calabasas, CA
and Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA
Mixed at G-Studio Digital, Studio City
and Capitol Studios, Hollywood
Mastering: Sangwook "Sunny" Nam, Ojai, CA
Recording dates: May 27-28/08, Oct. 15/08, July 21-25/08, May 13-16/09
Intern: Drew Jordan
Orchestra contractor: Gina Zimmitti
Cover photograph: Robin Bartholick
Cover styling: Carole Mayervich
Additional photography: Beate Walden & Ben Kerns
Front cover design: Fortune Design Studio
Design & layout: John Bishop
Legal affairs: Helen Yu
Publicity: Costa Communications
Executive Producer: Chris Walden


Reviews of Speak Love

Muszer Oldal - Budapest (Rudolf Radnai)
Translated from Hungarian A beautiful blond 21 years old singer first album a real surprise. Rarely, but still interesting to hear such fine voices in the jazz world. It is no coincidence that the young guest singer with great success in Japan and England, where clubs have elapsed before an audience of exam success. First album Chris Walden cont ...

Cape Cod Times (Ken Capobianco)
Courtney Fortune Speaks Love in Gorgeous Tones There are so many female pop vocalists steeped on "American Idol" histrionics who want to out Mariah Mariah these days and jazz singers who don't have the word nuance in their dictionaries or think they have to imitate the husky tones of Cassandra Wilson or chilly remove of Diana Krall. So, few fresh ...

All Music Guide (Adam Greenberg)
It's a little surprising for Seattle's Origin label, heavy on instrumentalists and local scene players, to take on a torch singer in its portfolio. However, L.A. area songstress Courtney Fortune shows stronger development than many of the average lounge singers, combining with contemporary big-band maestro Chris Walden for a number of compositions ...



ORIGIN RECORDS

OA2 RECORDS

ORIGIN CLASSICAL

CONTACT US

  • Origin Records
    8649 Island Drive South
    Seattle, WA 98118
    ph: (206) 781-2589
    fx: (206) 374-2618
  • Email / Order Info / Etc
THE ORIGIN MUSIC GROUP • FOUNDED 1997 / SEATTLE, WA • THE MUSIC YOU NEED