Marsha Heydt - One NightMarsha Heydt has been living and working around New York City for the past two decades. Following her tenure at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and a brief stint in Los Angeles, Heydt settled in New York. She has now released her first Cd One Night on Blue Toucan Music.

One Night features Marsha Heydt and her ensemble on 13 tracks, many of which have a decidedly Latin and Brazilian flavor. Heydt is featured on alto and soprano saxophones as well as flute. The core rhythm section showcases Norman Pors on piano, Marc Schmied on Bass Vito Lesczak on drums. Sheryl Bailey offers some tasteful guitar soloing on several tracks and Marlon Simon offers his special Latin Percussion on nearly all the tracks.

The first cut sets the mood with the driving Afro-Cuban rhythms from Simon on congas and timbales. Todd Schwartz takes the first solo on trumpet, again giving the tune an authentic jazz/salsa flavor.

Throughout the Cd the most striking feature to this listener is the addition of strings to the standard jazz ensemble. Although many jazz artists – starting with Charlie Parker – have added string arrangements to jazz standards it remains a fresh sound. Here it is not overdone but a perfect compliment to Heydt’s flute.

Marsha Heydt takes some risks on this Cd as well. The treatment of You Don’t Know What Love Is is unusual. The psychedelic/smooth jazz with strings version of this often-called standard hosts an abundance of influences. I can hear shades of Hendrix, Parker with Strings, Hal Galper and of course Marsha Heydt!

One of the Cd’s most endearing moments comes at the hands of vocalist Carla Cook. I Want You to Know features a beautiful string arrangement behind Heydt’s soprano saxophone and Cook’s vocal. Cellist Erik Friedlander also enjoys some nice interplay with Heydt’s flute on The Love Theme from Spartacus.

The best surprise comes at the end of this first Cd by Marsha Heydt. The final cut Afrikaan shows a side of the Heydt and the ensemble not heard previously on One Night. The infectious montuno played by Pors and underscored by the entire rhythm section is the perfect balance to Heydt’s flute and Schmied’s bass. This is my favorite tune on the album.

You can find out more about Marsha Heydt at www.marshaheydt.net and www.bluetoucanmusic.com

 

SS