The Wish by Julie Hardy

" Hardy's unique and modern approach puts a fresh spin on the standards she sings, helping to bring them into the here and now instead of looking back towards the past. "I chose the songs on this record because they move me and not because it is expected of me as a jazz singer."

Hardy was initially drawn to the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic "We Kiss in a Shadow", the first track off "The Wish", because of the strong lyric content. "The message is so universal and timeless that I think it can appeal to anyone of any generation and can stand up with the best of today's' pop tunes." Hardy makes this classic her own by giving it a compelling re-harmonization and a 7/8 groove. “I've been asked numerous times if I wrote "We Kiss in a Shadow" and I always laugh and say 'I wish!’ This is when I know that I have achieved my goal of making this song my own."

In addition to re-inventing standards, this recent winner of the ASCAP Young Composer award demonstrates her talent as a composer with 6 original compositions. "On the Verge", "Patience" and "Soaring" are the components of a suite depicting Hardy's personal journey as a musician in New York City. These pieces are a good indication of her skills as a composer and showcase her gift for creating stunning melodies set over unique, modern harmonies and grooves. Hardy feels that she can "tell a story with or without lyrics", and her compositions prove to be just as evocative as the great standard songs found on this recording.

"The Wish" draws together an influential collection of musicians who are impacting today's jazz scene. Ben Monder (guitar), Jaleel Shaw (alto saxophone), Sam Sadigursky (saxophones, clarinet), Randy Ingram (piano), Matt Clohesy (bass), and Kendrick Scott (drums) have collectively performed with jazz luminaries such as Roy Haynes, Terrance Blanchard, John Scofield, Paul Motion, Maria Schneider, and Dianne Reeves. "I purposely chose the players of The Wish because I didn't want to have to give them tons of direction. I wanted to capture each musician's unique sound and I wrote music that would provide a platform for them to express themselves".

Hardy’s ethereal composition "August" highlights the complex finger picking technique of guitar genius Ben Monder. "I've been a fan of Ben's playing since his record “Excavation”. What really drew me to him is his ability to be extremely complex and still write melodies that are singable and memorable.” Monder’s collaboration with vocalist, Theo Bleckmann was the main source of inspiration for this tune. Hardy’s dynamic composition "On the Verge" features the explosive drumming of rising star Kendrick Scott. Also a composer, Scott was an obvious choice for Hardy; "Kendrick has the ability to bring life to my compositions and has such a different perspective than other drummers that I have played with. I'm learning to expect that he will do something fresh and new each time we play one of my compositions".

In "The Wish" Hardy explores various ways of using the voice in a jazz ensemble setting. She strives to be an integral part of the ensemble by relating to her instrumental partners as equals, allowing her skills as a composer to be the focal point. "I want to break down the barriers that commonly exist between vocalists and instrumentalists, and use the voice as another melodic texture, no differently than what a saxophone or trumpet would do. At the same time, I don't want to forget how powerful lyrics can be. My goal is to present the music that moves me, be it one of my own compositions or a standard that I love."

This album not only features Hardy as a composer and arranger but as a lyricist having penned the lyrics for two songs on this record. "The Wish" features the premiere of "Song of the Iris" (Wayne Shorter’s composition 'Iris' with lyrics) that was first recorded on the Miles Davis album “ESP”. “I am honored to record one of Wayne Shorter's compositions,” says Hardy. “He has been an incredible influence on my composing, improvising and instrumental in the development of my overall musicianship. It can be rather daunting to write lyrics to such an amazing song, but I tried to be simple and approach it from a place of honesty.”

"The Wish" shows the world a diverse musical figure who expands the limits of modern jazz vocalism. With this recording, Hardy establishes herself as one of the most important young voices of today's vocal jazz scene, and foreshadows what promises to be a prolific and vibrant career.

Biographical info:

Jazz vocalist and composer Julie Hardy grew up in Fremont, New Hampshire, an area not known as a jazz center but one with more than enough resources to nurture her talents. Hardy started singing at a very young age, improvising and writing her own songs. Fortunate to have parents who encouraged music, she began studying classical piano at age 9 and had her first solo singing debut at age 11 in the Ellis School variety show. She was introduced to jazz at Oyster River High School in Durham, NH by her music teacher, Marc Laforce who is an accomplished jazz tenor saxophonist. Here, she continued to compose music and in her senior year, she wrote, directed and conducted a full-length musical.

After high school, she attended the University of New Hampshire, where she studied both classical and jazz composition as well as piano and voice. Here, she began to figure out what it really meant to be a jazz musician. She was already writing wordless music and when she heard Wayne Shorter’s album “Speak No Evil” it opened up a new world of knowledge and feeling which greatly influenced her composing and reinforced the direction she was heading in.

After graduation from UNH with a Bachelors in Composition, she received a scholarship to attend New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Graduate studies allowed Hardy to expand her musical horizons even further, and introduced her to a pool of emerging jazz talents. While at NEC Hardy was introduced to many influences such as Kenny Wheeler, Pat Metheny, and Keith Jarrett. She also had the chance to work with inspirational teachers such as Dominique Eade, John McNeil, Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, and Fred Hersch. Inspired by Dominique Eade, she continued to compose wordless melodies and treat the voice like an instrument. Graduate studies helped Hardy hone her skills and laid the groundwork for life as a professional musician in New York City.

In July of 2002, Julie was one of two vocalists in the nation selected to attend the prestigious Jazz Academy Snowmass in Aspen, Co. directed by Christian McBride. That following March of 2003, Julie attended the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead, a program designed to promote young jazz composers, held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She was one of four vocalists chosen internationally to attend and have her piece performed at the Kennedy Center and broadcasted live on-line across the world.

In June of 2003, four days after moving to New York City, Julie recorded her debut CD “A Moment’s Glance”, featuring two fellow NEC colleagues Robert Stillman, tenor sax and Randy Ingram, piano. Ben Street, bass and Adam Cruz, drums (of the Danilo Perez Trio) completed the ensemble. This record was released on the label Fresh Sound New Talent out of Barcelona, Spain in April 2005 making Hardy the only American vocalist on its roster. This innovative record combines fresh interpretations of standards and pop classics with sophisticated original compositions, and showcases Hardy's diverse talents as an improviser and an interpreter of lyrics.

In April 2005, Hardy released “A Moment’s Glance” to a full house at the Jazz Standard in New York City. She was also selected to perform at the Diet Coke Women in Jazz Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Last year Hardy was acknowledged for her talent as a composer by receiving the 2006 ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award for her composition “No Turning Back” which is featured on her recent Fresh Sound release.

Julie currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with her fiance/pianist Randy Ingram.

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