Deborah Silver Rocks With The Basic Band with Basie Rocks!
By G. H. HARDING
Jazz-stylist Deborah Silver’s new album Basie Rocks -just out- is an extraordinary interpretation of some exemplary contemporary tunes and produced by legendary drummer Steve Jordan no less. Be it Paul McCartney’s “Band On The Run” or Peter Frampton’s “Baby, I Love Your Way” and The Rolling Stone’s “Paint It, Black,” the album is a perfect re-imaging of these classics in a jazz motif. Reactions across the board have been uniformly positive. Fervent followers of these great songs have been entranced by the recordings. T2C had a chance to chat with Silver.
T2C: The album is just sensational; tell us about your background and how the album came to be?
Deborah Silver: Thank you very much. I grew up in Mississippi, where music wasn’t just background noise—it was the heartbeat of our home. My mom was a trained opera lyric soprano, and my dad played jazz sax and led a band as a hobby. The Great American Songbook was always playing, but R&B songs were my personal favorite.
I sang in my high school choir but didn’t jump straight into music. I started in a pre-med program at Washington University in St. Louis. While there, I got involved in musicals, and, well… the showbiz bug bit. I swapped the stethoscope for a mic, moved to L.A., studied with vocal coach Seth Riggs, did some TV, and eventually moved back East after meeting my husband. We raised a beautiful family, but once my kids started calling me from their rooms on their cell phones, I figured it was time to get back to singing!
The album began with a song I co-wrote with 12-time Grammy nominee Dennis Lambert to support entertainment workers during COVID. Proceeds went to both The Actors Fund and The Jazz Foundation of America, and Steve Jordan—who’s the Foundation’s Music Director—produced the track. While working together, I mentioned my idea of turning rock songs into jazz standards, and before I knew it, Steve was not only producing it but also put me with The Count Basie Orchestra.
T2C: Who has influenced you and your career?
DS: Our house in Mississippi was basically a musical buffet—you could hear everything from opera to jazz depending on the room (or the mood!). But R&B was it for me. Anything that made you wanna move had my full attention—I’ve always been a dancer at heart! Luther Vandross, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Commodores… those were my go-to’s. And when I started singing that’s when I discovered Dinah Washington—and it was love at first note.
T2C: Steve Jordan has been a personal favorite of mine for years; ever since his appearance with Neil Young on SNL years ago. How did you connect with him?
DS: The Jazz Foundation of America provides critical support to jazz, blues, and roots musicians in need. Their motto says it best: “Saving jazz and blues… one musician at a time.” I first found out about it through my friend Freddy Cole. We were going into the studio in LA to record our single “Orange Colored Sky” with Steve Tyrell as producer and the night before he brought me to a JFA dinner in honor of Johnny Mathis, where Freddy was performing.
I instantly loved what they stood for. So later, when I was searching for a trusted charity to support others in the music industry, the Foundation was a natural choice.
That moment came sooner than I ever imagined. I actually caught one of the first cases of COVID and ended up in isolation for 59 days. Back then, no one knew much about the illness—except to stay far away. As lousy as I felt during that time, it gave me a lot of time to think. And one thing I knew for sure: as soon as I got back out into the world, I wanted to help others.
I knew so many in our industry were struggling—not just the performers, but also the people behind the scenes: ushers, box office staff, food service workers, and more. So, I wrote a song called “Covid-19 Blues” and gathered an incredible group of vocalists and instrumentalists to join me with the goal of raising funds to support those affected.
That project led me directly to Steve, who serves as Music Director of The Jazz Foundation of America, and from there, a beautiful collaboration began—one rooted in music, shared purpose, and a deep respect for the people who make this industry what it is.
T2C: The songs choices are just terrific; McCartney’s “Band On The Run”, Frampton’s “Baby, I Love Your Way,”, Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” … how were those choices arrived it?
DS: It was an incredible experience diving into rock and roll history and sifting through all the song options. Many suggestions actually came from my son Spencer—he has this amazing, almost encyclopedic knowledge of classic rock. When it came to choosing the songs, I really focused on ones that I could naturally hear in a big band setting. If I could already imagine the horns swinging and the rhythm section grooving in my head, that was my cue. Of course, narrowing it down was the hard part—there are just so many incredible classics—but I gravitated toward tracks that had a strong emotional pull or a unique energy I felt I could bring something new to.
Steve Jordan, Scotty Barnhart (Basie Orchestra), and I spent a lot of time really digging into the feel of each tune before anything else. Only after that was locked in did Scotty bring in arrangers. My mission was to take these iconic rock songs and treat them like they’d been part of the Great American Songbook all along. And you know what? Thanks to the MANY musical artists involved, the songs traded their leather jackets for velvet blazers!
T2C: Your performance almost makes those songs yours; everyone I’ve played them for is just knocked out. You’ve got to be pleased by the reception.
DS: YES—I’m completely blown away by the response to the album. As any artist will tell you, you pour your whole soul into the music, hoping it lands on the right hearts. But to actually hear that it’s resonating with people? I’m still pinching myself! Every time someone shares something like this with me, I never take it for granted. I’m deeply grateful for every person who’s listening and taking the time to say they’re enjoying it!!! SO, thank you for that!
T2C: Tell us about the label that released the album.
DS: Green Hill Music, based in Nashville, Tennessee, is part of a family of music companies under the umbrella of Primary Wave Music, one of the largest independent music publishers and entertainment companies in the world.
Green Hill sits alongside two iconic sister labels under the Primary Wave umbrella:
1) Sun Records – The legendary label that launched the careers of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins and known as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll.
2) Gaither Music Group – A leading name in gospel and Christian music, Gaither is known for its award-winning artists, inspirational recordings, and faith-based television specials.
T2C: The Basie Band … that must have been a thrill. What was working with them like?
DS: Working with The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra felt like stepping into history and making it swing! It was beyond thrilling and when it was time to play—Let’s just say the metronome never had a chance! They don’t just play music, they live it… that unmistakable Basie groove lifts every song on the album and makes each track something special.
T2C: How many of them were there in the recording?
DS: This great 18-member Count Basie Orchestra, today there are 18 members of The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra on this album – all of them bringing an abundance of swing, directed by Scotty Barnhart, along with a brilliant group of guest artists!
T2C: And where was the album recorded?
DS: The Power Station at Berklee, NYC and Power Station Studios, Pompano Beach, FL
T2C: What are the next steps?
DS: I’m taking Basie Rocks! on the road! After four years of pouring love into this album, I’m beyond excited to trade the studio for the stage and share the joy with live audiences—across the country and even a few spots across the pond! Don’t get me wrong, the studio will always be my happy place, and I’ll definitely be back in there cooking up some new twist or other. The only problem? Time! If only I could swing it in 4/4!
You can keep up with all my upcoming shows at deborahsilvermusic.com. I’m always creating, always evolving—and yes, more music is on the way!
Also, I have my radio show Silver Linings with Deborah Silver on Legends 100.3 FM and LegendsRadio.com.