...a rich and swinging affair, with powerful, impeccably performed arrangements...Music full of joy...
With Nancy Wilson & George Shearing's The Swingin's Mutual as a model, Washington, DC-based vocalist Darden Purcell and co-producer, arranger, guitarist and husband Shawn envisioned a modern take on that quintessential 1960s sound for her third recording as a leader. Enlisting the dynamic New York vibraphonist Joe Locke, along with pianist Todd Simon, Jeff Reed on bass and drummer Todd Harrison, her sextet tackles the virtuosic soli passages of Shawn's arrangement of "Willow Weep for Me," captures the intimacy of Johnny Mercer's title track, and swings hard behind Darden's Annie Ross-inspired lyrics on "Chatterbox."
"Whether deftly delivering lyrics, or joining the ensemble in intricate musical lines, Darden is completely at ease and in control...this is music making at the highest level." Alan Baylock
Track Listing:
1. Willow Weep for Me 6:37
2. Love's Got Me in a Lazy Mood 6:24
3. Come Back to Me 5:41
4. It's a Most Unusual Day 5:48
5. I Concentrate on You 4:57
6. A Cottage for Sale 5:35
7. Estrada Branca (This Happy Madness) 5:55
8. Chatterbox 7:24
9. Estate 7:09
10. Taking a Chance on Love 6:32
11. You've Changed 5:21
Performers:
Darden Purcell - voice
Joe Locke - vibes
Shawn Purcell - electric and nylon string guitars
Todd Simon - piano
Jeff Reed - acoustic bass
Todd Harrison - drums and cymbals
Production Info:
Produced by Darden Purcell and Shawn Purcell
Recorded March 16-18, 2023 by Charlie Pilzer
at Tonal Park, Takoma Park, MD
Edited by Rich Sigler/Sigler Music Productions, March 2023
Mixed & mastered by Dave Darlington
at Bass Hit Recording, New York, NY
Photos by Suzette Niess Photography
Arrangements by Shawn Purcell
Make-up by Elzi Camacho
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Love's Got Me in a Lazy Mood
Michael Doherty's Music Blog (Michael Doherty)
Darden Purcell is a vocalist who has performed with the Airmen Of Note, as well as several other artists. She put out her first album, Easy Living, in 2009, and followed it in 2016 with Where The Blue Begins. She opens her new album with a seriously cool, bluesy rendition of "Willow Weep For Me," which features a strong vocal performance. This trac ...
Wild Mercury Rhythm (C Michael Bailey)
Darden Purcell is the Director of Jazz Studies, Jazz Voice instructor, and director of the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble at George Mason University. As such, she is an in-demand jazz educator who has been a guest artist/clinician/conductor at Capital University, Illinois Wesleyan University, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, Southern Nazarene University, Tiff ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Darden Purcell has an effortless swing to her voice, teamed with all star vibist Joe Locke as well as her own team of Shawn Purcell/g, Todd Simon/p Jeff Reed/b and Todd Harrison/dr. She displays her clarity on an intimate and emotive meeting with and Locke Simon on "You've Changed", making one wish for an entire album as such. Likewise, her duo wit ...
Sound in Review (Steven Miller)
Hello, connoisseurs of intricate soundscapes and narratives told through melody and rhythm. It is splendid to delve into an artistic endeavor that presents itself as a veritable amalgamation of influences, techniques, and emotions. We find ourselves today discussing Dr. Darden Purcell's latest offering, Love's Got Me in a Lazy Mood, released under ...
The Jazz Word (Sylvannia Garutch)
Darden-Purcell-The-Jazz-Word-CDDarden Purcell's latest album, Love's Got Me in a Lazy Mood, has been released through Origin Records. If you're unfamiliar with Dr. Purcell, she's a remarkable vocalist who blends different genres and styles. She has presented her work at international venues like the Institute for Jazz Research "Jazz Voices" confere ...
Jazz Sensibilities (Jeff Becker)
Darden Purcell's third album, Love's Got Me In A Lazy Mood, is a remarkable set of music that shows her skill as a jazz vocalist and deep immersion in the genre's rich traditions. The album encapsulates a journey through the Great American Songbook, with forays into Latin-influenced numbers and an original composition with lyrics, all rejuvenated b ...
All About Jazz (Geannine Reid)
4-Stars Darden Purcell's album Love's Got Me In A Lazy Mood (OA2 Records, 2023) shows her keen ear for the subtleties and nuances which define the West Coast cool jazz vocal sound. Purcell's album comprises eleven tracks which blend the laid-back, sophisticated rhythms and melodic inventiveness that characterize the style with beautiful singing a ...
Jazz Music Archives (Carmel DeSoto)
4-STARS Darden Purcell's album, "Love's Got Me In A Lazy Mood," unfolds as a project that is a meticulous assembly of jazz artistry. The eleven tracks finely exhibit Purcell's mastery as a vocalist and the collaborative spirit that jazz embodies. With arrangements and an original by Shawn Purcell, they present a vocal jazz set that reflects jazz's ...
Take Effect (Tom Haugen)
The D.C. resident and vocalist Darden Purcell finds herself in the sounds of the ‘60s for this 3rd recording as leader, where Joe Locke, Shawn Purcell, Todd Simon, Jeff Reed and Todd Harrison are along for the timeless listen.
"Willow Weep For Me" opens the listen with Purcell's smooth voice alongside Simon's elegant keys and Locke's flowing ...
