Rachael & Vilray: Live Performance and 'West of Broadway' Album Discussion

Live Performance and Album Inspiration

• 🎤 Rachael & Vilray performed live, showcasing songs from their new album, "West of Broadway."
• 💡 The album's sound is inspired by the American songbook, classic Broadway showtunes, and West Coast jazz.
• 🎶 Their music is noted for fitting alongside the works of Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hart.

Scatting and Improvisation

• 🗣️ Rachael Price discussed her journey with scatting, starting with memorizing Ella Fitzgerald solos and later studying improvisation.
• 🎓 She credits John McNeil at the New England Conservatory for teaching her to improvise with an understanding of musical changes.
• 🎭 Vilray explained that scat solos are one of the few improvisational options in their duo format, chosen based on what the tune calls for.
• 🧠 Rachael described her scatting as an emotional meditation, often guided by the song's original lyrics.

Musical Influences and Blending Genres

• 🌉 Vilray described Broadway music as versatile and mentioned his recent immersion in classic musical theater recordings, citing Sondheim and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" as influences.
• 🎷 He characterized West Coast cool jazz as dense and melodic, referencing "Birth of the Cool" as a gold standard.
• 🎭 Rachael found inspiration in the lyricism of musicals like "A Little Night Music" and "Gypsy," and was deeply moved by obscure jazz tunes that felt fresh and new.
• 🎶 The album's instrumentation evokes a late 1950s jazz sound, with arranger Jacob Zimmerman capturing the essence of "Birth of the Cool."

Songwriting and Character Studies

• 🎭 Many songs on the album are character studies, requiring the performer to embody specific personas, such as a woman with quirky lighting preferences or someone who believes their lover has transformed into a tortoise.
• 💡 Melodically and instrumentally, the album leans into a late 50s jazz sound, with Rachael channeling Sarah Vaughan.
• 🎶 The song "The Stuff" features a xylophone, adding a playful, cartoony element to its silly lyrics.

Collaboration and Career Paths

• 🤝 Rachael and Vilray's collaboration began after an initial attempt didn't work; Rachael recognized the timing was right later on.
• 🚇 Vilray spent years busking in the subway, a practice that helped him hone his skills and eventually allowed him to leave his desk job.
• 🌟 Rachael was drawn to Vilray's performance of obscure jazz songs, which resonated with her own roots and offered a fresh experience.
• ✍️ Vilray also writes country songs, appreciating the structured conventions within genres.

"Off Broadway" and Guest Feature

• 🎭 The song "Off Broadway" features Steven Colbert, who was invited to guest on the album at his birthday party.
• 🎬 The song's concept is a humorous take on people complaining about Broadway, with Colbert playing a character who advocates for staying away from it.
• 🎤 Colbert generously agreed to record the song, which was written with the possibility of a trio performance in mind.