DEIDRE RODMAN QUINTET
Simple Stories (2003)

1. prelude
2. girl with ponytails
3. cobblestone
4. bodhi
5. duo
6. garden suite
7. sleeping ground
8. solo
9. pure one
10. simple stories

To Purchase Click Here
Deidre Rodman: piano/melodica/vocals

Russ Johnson: trumpet/f lugelhorn
Tony Malaby: tenor/soprano saxcophones
Bob Bowen: bass
Mark Ferber: drums/percussion

Luciana Souza: vocals

Recorded April 13 and 14, 2003
Bennett Studios
Englewood, New Jersey

Recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered by Dae Bennett

Assisted by Bran Dozoretz

Produced by Deidre Rodman and Ben Struck

Executve Produced by Francois Zalacain

Photography by:
Ben Struck (beach scenes)
Vaerie Trucchia (portrait)
Paxti (band)

Art Directon/Design by Chrstopher Drukker

All compositions by Deidre Rodman, bodhitones (SESAC)  

In 2001, the Idaho-born pianist composer Deidre Rodman released her impressive Sunnyside debut, Sun is Us. Now, she follows her debut with Simple Stories, which expands upon her unique blend of folk and jazz that is reminiscent of Keith Jarrett's ECM recordings and Joni Mitchell's harmonic colors. On Simple Stories Rodman, who also plays melodica, is backed by a quicksilver quintet consisting of trumpeter Russ Johnson, saxophonist Tony Malaby, drummer Mark Ferber and bassist Bob Bowen. Rodman's special guest on this CD is her Sunnyside labelmate, the incomparable Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza. Starting with an elegiac children's choir on "Prelude," Rodman and company deliver ten tracks that are as pulsating as they are pastoral, ethereal as they are energetic. Her style ranges inside as well as outside, especially on "Girl With Ponytails," the intimate "Duo" and the "Garden Suite." Her unique ability to blend jazz with other idioms comes from her eclectic musical background. Born in 1971 in Boise, Idaho, Rodman earned her BM in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at Brigham Young University, and received her MM in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas. Following her 1997 arrival in New York City, she gigged and toured with the co-founder of The Jazz Passengers, saxophonist Roy Nathanson, and played on his CD Fire at Keaton's Bar and Grill on Six Degrees Records. She then went on tour with the project, which featured Elvis Costello and Debbie Harry. She was also featured as musical director and arranger on vocalist Darius de Haas’ Daydream (PS Classics), which won the 2002 Bistro Award for Recording of the Year. She performs regularly with The Lascivious Biddies, an all-female quartet featuring originals and standards-to-be, and the Raymond Scott Orchestrette. a septet featuring fresh, clever arrangements of Scott’s music. Rodman also performs regularly at various New York City venues such as the Jazz Gallery and the Cornelia St. Cafe.