By Mark Ambrogi
Deborah Silver had long envisioned an album where classic rock meets classic big band.
Silver, a two-time Billboard No. 1 artist, combined with the Count Basie Orchestra to record the album “Basie Rocks!” The album is produced by Steve Jordan, who replaced the late Charlie Watts as the Rolling Stones drummer in 2021.
Silver will perform several selections from the album at 7:30 p.m. July 24 at Feinstein’s cabaret in Hotel Carmichael in Carmel.
“We want to pay homage to these songs, but we wanted to do them very differently,” Silver said.
Silver said she knew she wanted to do “Baby, I Love Your Way,” a hit by Peter Frampton. John Clayton, who writes arrangements for the Count Basie Orchestra, worked on the arrangement.
Silver said someone sent the arrangement to Frampton, who surprised her with a call.
“He proceeded to tell me that the way I sang and recorded the song was exactly how he heard it in his head when he wrote it,” Silver said. “He then actually played the guitar on the song with us, so (we) had the great honor of recording the song with the great Peter Frampton. It’s really just so beautiful as a melodic tune. Peter’s guitar is just such a perfect touch to the song.”
Silver told Jordan he had to pick the Rolling Stones song.
“He spoke with Mick Jagger, who told him this song was their most played and most popular tune, so we had no choice,” Silver said of choosing “Paint it Black.” “(Jazz musician) John Clayton did the arrangement and it turned into a very Latin, fiery feel. Arturo Sandoval joined us on trumpet.”
In addition, there are reimagined rock songs by The Beatles, Elton John and Sting, among others.
“This is the 90th anniversary of the Count Basie Orchestra we are celebrating with this release,” Silver said.
Silver said she also will have some surprises in addition to the “Basie Rocks!” songs.
“I did an album with the incredible Western swing group, Asleep at the Wheel, from Austin, Texas,” she said. “They are a 10-time Grammy-winning Western swing band led by Ray Benson. The band is still going, and it’s over 50 years old. We took the Great American Songbook and gave it a whole new flavor. It was one of the most fun projects I’ve done.”
The album is called “Glitter and Grits,” which Silver said has become her mantra.
“I’m kind of like a jazzy Dolly Parton without the Grammys,” she said.
For more, visit deborahsilvermusic.com and feinsteinshc.com.