ROBERT PRIEST
PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME
[ M√A√P√L√ ]
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FILE UNDER: Spoken Word, Jazz, Poetry Jazz, Avant Guarde Jazz
SOUNDS LIKE: No one we can think of, please send your ideas.
FOR FANS OF: Jack Kerouak, Alan Ginsberg, Jim Morrison, Patti Smith, Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Langston Hughes, Amiri Baraka, Gil Scott-Heron, Lilian Allen, Sonia Sanchez, Jayne Cortez, Daniel Lanois.
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FIRST SINGLE AND TITLE TRACK OUT NOW
FULL ALBUM FOR RELEASE, 2024
"He is a rare hybrid - a poet who can as easily compose hummable melodies as sing them with power." - FM Magazine.
FULL ALBUM PREVIEW: For release in 2024 on VMI/IDLA
UPC 803057073023
© (P) 2023 Robert Priest under exclusive license to Vesuvius Music Inc. / Distributed by IDLA
ABOUT THE ALBUM
Waiting for the Sun to Rise sees Jordan turning his gaze outward, writing from a place of weathered wisdom. “Rio Grande,” is the album’s centerpiece, is a hymn to what’s left of the world. Squandered potential and abiding hope live side by side, and a soaring solo by Grammy-winning trumpeter Randy Brecker tops off producer Lou Pomanti’s arrangement. The stunning “Coltrane Plays the Blues” continues Jordan’s penchant for mid-century jazz references. Like his thematic cousin Paul Buchanan of the Blue Nile (whose “The Downtown Lights” is covered here), Jordan sets his stories in an after-hours netherworld populated by lonely lovers and disappointed dreamers.
“Marc Jordan has always been about uncompromising quality. He has a way of not doing the obvious, and that’s what makes a great songwriter: you say it or play it differently than everybody else.” — David Foster
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Jordan is a Juno Award and Genie Award winner, and in 2019 was Juno-nominated for his last album Both Sides. He is married to singer-songwriter Amy Sky, and in 2022, the duo recorded a Juno-nominated album of duets entitled He Sang She Sang.
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A songwriter’s songwriter, Marc Jordan is best known for writing (along with John Capek) “Rhythm of My Heart,” the 1991 smash for Rod Stewart. Marc’s songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, Diana Ross, Cher, Chicago, Bette Midler, Natalie Cole, Kenny Loggins, Kim Carnes and the Manhattan Transfer, to name a few.
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"This was my first project in the era of COVID so there were challenges getting people together to cut tracks and just do the usual hang as tracks are going down...which has been my process for many years. That said, it's always interesting to shake it up now and then and I think the music somehow had more urgency as a result — so I'd firstly like to thank all the musicians who played on this record, and a special thank-you to Randy Brecker, who took time out of his busy schedule to do what only he can do. A special thank-you to my longtime collaborators John Capek and Steve MacKinnon. To my great manager, Tom Berry, for his wise counsel, and to Geoff Kulawik and everyone over at True North Records for their help. Thanks to Marc Lostracco for the cover art and design; to Vic Florencia for his superb mixes; and Harry Hess for mastering. Thanks also to Ezra Jordan for his input and amazing background vocals…you always do the unexpected and make it work. To Kim Nelles for everything you do. Thanks to my producer, Lou Pomanti, who engineered, arranged, sang, argued for what he wanted, co-wrote some of the pieces, and engineered big parts of this recording. To my wife, Amy Sky, who always tells me what she really thinks, and that is the greatest gift of all."
TRACK DESCRIPTIONS
Waiting for the Sun to Rise sees Jordan turning his gaze outward, writing from a place of weathered wisdom. “Rio Grande,” is the album’s centerpiece, is a hymn to what’s left of the world. Squandered potential and abiding hope live side by side, and a soaring solo by Grammy-winning trumpeter Randy Brecker tops off producer Lou Pomanti’s arrangement. The stunning “Coltrane Plays the Blues” continues Jordan’s penchant for mid-century jazz references. Like his thematic cousin Paul Buchanan of the Blue Nile (whose “The Downtown Lights” is covered here), Jordan sets his stories in an after-hours netherworld populated by lonely lovers and disappointed dreamers.
“Marc Jordan has always been about uncompromising quality. He has a way of not doing the obvious, and that’s what makes a great songwriter: you say it or play it differently than everybody else.” — David Foster
​
Jordan is a Juno Award and Genie Award winner, and in 2019 was Juno-nominated for his last album Both Sides. He is married to singer-songwriter Amy Sky, and in 2022, the duo recorded a Juno-nominated album of duets entitled He Sang She Sang.
​
A songwriter’s songwriter, Marc Jordan is best known for writing (along with John Capek) “Rhythm of My Heart,” the 1991 smash for Rod Stewart. Marc’s songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, Diana Ross, Cher, Chicago, Bette Midler, Natalie Cole, Kenny Loggins, Kim Carnes and the Manhattan Transfer, to name a few.
​
"This was my first project in the era of COVID so there were challenges getting people together to cut tracks and just do the usual hang as tracks are going down...which has been my process for many years. That said, it's always interesting to shake it up now and then and I think the music somehow had more urgency as a result — so I'd firstly like to thank all the musicians who played on this record, and a special thank-you to Randy Brecker, who took time out of his busy schedule to do what only he can do. A special thank-you to my longtime collaborators John Capek and Steve MacKinnon. To my great manager, Tom Berry, for his wise counsel, and to Geoff Kulawik and everyone over at True North Records for their help. Thanks to Marc Lostracco for the cover art and design; to Vic Florencia for his superb mixes; and Harry Hess for mastering. Thanks also to Ezra Jordan for his input and amazing background vocals…you always do the unexpected and make it work. To Kim Nelles for everything you do. Thanks to my producer, Lou Pomanti, who engineered, arranged, sang, argued for what he wanted, co-wrote some of the pieces, and engineered big parts of this recording. To my wife, Amy Sky, who always tells me what she really thinks, and that is the greatest gift of all."
ABOUT ROBERT PRIEST
In a realm where poetry's potency meets the reverberations of jazz-infused soundscapes, Robert Priest stands as a singular figure. With a career that traces back to the late 1980s, Priest has been a quiet force within the corridors of spoken word and music, a niche he's not so much carved as fluidly inhabited as a poet and songwriter.
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The emergence of Robert Priest into the cultural radar occurred in 1988, with his fusion of poetry and music in the MuchMusic video "Congo Toronto" which was nominated "Best Song of the Year". Priest's avant-garde inclinations marked his entry into a space where conventional categorizations could not confine him.
Priest's career defies binary classifications. His versatile pen has brought forth seventeen volumes of poetry, four novels, and a litany of musical compositions. His words have been quoted in the Farmer's Almanac, debated in the Ontario Legislature, sung on Sesame Street, posted in Toronto's transit system, broadcast on MuchMusic, released on numerous CDs, quoted by politicians, and widely published in textbooks and anthologies.
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The Sonic Fraternity: While Priest's lyrical prowess extends to his own compositions, he's also earned distinction as a collaborative spirit. His co-authored work "Song Instead of a Kiss" with Alannah Myles ascended to the pinnacle of Canadian charts, a resounding testament to his lyrical finesse and melodic sensibility. Such crossovers punctuate Priest's career, intertwining his words with the resonances of celebrated musicians.
The Jazz Affair: Priest's recent foray into the realm of jazz might be seen as an expected progression in his artistic trajectory. Yet, it's the unexpected that truly captivates. His 2021 album, "Love is Hard," produced by Bob Wiseman, swayed to the avant-garde breeze. This ethereal journey into soundscape marked Priest's willingness to navigate uncharted waters, proving that his creative compass remains unwavering.
A Prelude to "People Like You and Me": The crescendo of Priest's journey finds its forthcoming expression in "People Like You and Me." Under the aegis of producer Jaymz Bee, the album weaves Priest's voice, poetry, and songs into a symphony of jazz enchantment. Collaborations with luminaries like Kevin Breit, George Koller, and Alison Young evoke a cadence that's more than the sum of its parts. Avant-garde jazz, spoken word, and a dash of the unpredictable — "People Like You and Me" is a glimpse into Priest's immersive realm of artistry.
An Ongoing Impression: As Robert Priest's journey unfolds, the intersections of poetry and music reverberate with renewed vibrancy. He stands as a trailblazer, undeterred by the boundaries of genre, resonating with echoes of Langston Hughes' jazz-infused verses and the socio-political resonance of Amiri Baraka. Priest's legacy is one of pushing the envelope and defying norms, carving an indelible path that continues to captivate and inspire.
In a world where words often remain confined to ink and melodies to notes, Robert Priest's artistry transcends these limitations. His is an embodiment of the ineffable fusion where verse and melody meet, giving rise to something altogether extraordinary.
