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Joie de Vivre



Released March 17, 2015



Personnel:
Mark Christopher Brandt: acoustic piano, hand clapping
Dan Leonard: acoustic and electric guitars
Emily Wellington: violin
Shani DuFrain, TCRG: vocals, Irish Step Dancing, hand clapping



All music composed and arranged by Mark Christopher Brandt ©2015 All rights reserved. Heart of the Lion Publishing Co/BMI. Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Slipped Disc Audio in Ashland, Virginia.



This CD sells for $20.00 (Includes shipping and handling).
Contact Mark personally at: creativmusic101@gmail.com and order your copy while supplies last!


FREE Scores, Sheet Music and Parts Here!

Joie de Vivre (front cover)



The following is from a 2014 review:



One year after the release of Round Trip, Joie de Vivre appeared in it’s own niche, immediately surprising the Irish dance world and both the Portuguese Fado and French torch song markets.


The versatile and eclectic violinist Emily Wellington contributed to making Joie de Vivre [Joy of Life] a unique and powerful album with her ability to become the sound and the style of each country invoked by composer Mark Christopher Brandt and his universal music.


A completely different side of guitarist Dan Leonard is found here with Spanish, Irish, jazz and classical guitar styles appearing at a moment’s notice and seamlessly intertwining with the violinist and the pianist.


The title track is a haunting melody with lyrics composed by Brandt and sung by his daughter, Shani DuFrain. DuFrain, a professional Irish dancer, also contributed percussion on two tracks with hand claps and Irish dance steps. The melody of Joie de Vivre is reprised at the end of the album as an instrumental duo between Mark and Dan.

..



.Shani DuFrain T.C.R.G



Known for that "Joie de Vivre" when she danced professionally Shani was the inspiration for No Explanation's second album.



Album Tracks:

1. Joie de Vivre


American Suite for Irish Dancers

2. Part 1: The Clifton Slip Jig

3. Part 2: Alannah's Spanish Dance

4. Part 3: Jazz Horn Pipe


5. Hope Springs Eternal

6. The Visit

7. The Child In Me

8. A Celebration of Life

9. Joie de Vivre (Reprise)



The Musicians



Mark Christopher Brandt



Pianist/Composer



Joie de Vivre offers the listener a tour through Europe, Spain and America.while running the gamut of classical, jazz, and fusion/rock styles. All of the musicians playing on Joie de Vivre are up to the challenges that this music presents and Mark is equally at home at the acoustic piano on each piece.



Dan Leonard



Guitars



Dan plays electric, jazz, acoustic, and nylon string guitars on this album. He is a virtuoso level guitarist on each instrument, employing the actual techniques and strumming to his performances and not simply the proper sounds. He is comfortable in all styles and genres of music.



Shani DuFrain



Vocals and Percussion



In addition to singing the title track on Joie de Vivre, Shani added hand claps and Irish Dance steps as percussion during the American Suite for Irish Dancers. She is a certified T.C.R.G and in 2010 she was rated 6th in the southern region of American Irish Dancers, qualifying for the All Ireland and Worlds competitions in Ireland.



Emily Wellington



Violin



With a masters degree in Violin Emily delivers, classical, Irish, and jazz style violin with effortless virtuosity on every track. At the time of this recording she was employed by the United States Air Force as a member of the US Air Force Band Singing Sergeants.