Helen Sung

p style="text-align: justify;">I’m doing as an artist. It brings the different pieces of my experience together in a way that’s organic and authentic. That kind of clarity is very exciting.” Exciting enough for Sung to fly her colors with a sense of conviction that hadn’t existed previously. “When I hear the word ‘anthem,’ I think of flags or banners,” she says. “This album is my way of planting my flag in the ground. The journey continues, but at this point, I feel a confidence unlike before.”

Some of that confidence evident on Anthem for a New Day comes not just from Sung’s own diverse experience but from the talented crew backing her on this project: saxophonist Seamus Blake, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, bassist Reuben Rogers, drummer Obed Calvaire, and percussionist Samuel Torres (saxophonist John Ellis also lends his bass clarinet on a tune). In addition, guest artists Regina Carter (violin) and Paquito D’Rivera (clarinet) make outstanding appearances.

PERSONNEL:

HELEN SUNG – piano, Fender Rhodes
SEAMUS BLAKE – tenor and soprano sax
INGRID JENSEN – trumpet
REUBEN ROGERS – bass
OBED CALVAIRE – drums
SAMUEL TORRES – percussion
JOHN ELLIS – bass clarinet (#6)
REGINA CARTER – violin (#3,7)
PAQUITO D’RIVERS (#2)

Recorded at Systems 2 Studios

TRACKS:

01. Brother Thelonious
02. Armando's Rhumba
03. Hidden
04. It Dont Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
05. Hope Springs Eternally
06. Anthem
07. Never Let Me Go
08. Chaos Theory
09. Epistrophy
10. Equipoise