Puttin' On The Ritz
June Bisantz & Gordon Morrell
June Loves Fred, is a project in progress celebrating the vocal work of the great Fred Astaire. Working with West Coast producer and multi-instrumentalist David West, these tunes are done in an eclectic style, combining genres like jazz, Latin and Western swing to bring a fresh perspective to these iconic tunes. Puttin' On The Ritz is an complex blend of Western Swing and Jazz and Night and Day is done in a sensual Cuban style, both tunes featuring the blended vocals of June Bisantz and Gordon Morrell.
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Plans for this project include other iconic Fred Astaire vocal tunes such as S'Wonderful, Dancing in the Dark, and Change Partners. Each will be done in a different musical style, united by Bisantz and Morrell's signature vocal harmonies.
Their previous album. created for the sheer joy of itc celebrated their enduring musical partnership and friendship. Recorded remotely, this EP - June on the East Coast and Gordon on the West, the pair relied on their long-time collaboration to get the harmonies smooth and tight while never being in the same place at the same time. The result was a wonderfully successful collaboration -winning a Global Music Award in 2023 and an Elite Music Award in 2024 - that they are continuing in this next project.
June and Gordon met in 1971 and immediately connected through the smooth, easy combination of their singing voices. Over the decades, they made music from Maine to California and back again, in clubs, concerts and studios - sometimes with years between reunions. But however long the separation, their voices always recombine as easily and naturally as breathing and laughing.
On the 50th anniversary of their meeting, they searched for the best way to celebrate this personal and musical milestone, while living on opposite sides of the country. Enter brilliant guitarist/arranger/producer David West. Together with his talented crew of internationally renowned musicians and the magic of remote recording technology It's Been A Long, Long Time became a reality. And the collaboration continues!