Coming four years after her self-titled debut, In a Dream finds Parlato embarking on a beguiling journey deep into the heart of both her own compositions and classic material by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and others--all of which she instantly makes her own. Each song emerges as a unique world unto itself, yet there's an undeniable thread linking them all together.
Aligning with a virtuosic quartet she describes as "inspiring, creative, sensitive, musical souls" - Lionel Loueke on guitar, Aaron Parks on piano and Fender Rhodes, Derrick Hodge on acoustic and electric bass, and drummer Kendrick Scott - Parlato brings the warmth and compelling command of her much-heralded live performances to 10 exquisite new peeks into her artistic personality. In a Dream firmly places Gretchen Parlato in the upper echelon of today's vocal artists.
Both Hancock and Shorter are already fans. Hancock has said that Parlato has a "deep, almost magical connection to the music," and Shorter has said "in an inconspicuous way, Gretchen plays the same instrument as Frank Sinatra."
Michele Locatelli, the album's producer and co-founder of ObliqSound, notes that Parlato's desire to blend a broad range of musical influences sets her apart. "Even though her means of expression is jazz-based, it goes beyond that. The defining thing about her, however, is her subtle sense of rhythm and timing: she makes a song seem easy when it's not."
From the opening number, her interpretation of Wonder's "I Can't Help It," best known via Michael Jackson's rendition, Parlato's extraordinary vocal calisthenics, immaculate sense of timing and nuanced phrasing are in full bloom. Parlato transforms the song into a breathy neo-bossa nova, joined solely by Loueke's closely intertwined, sweet guitar lines and vocalized percussion and bass accompaniment. "The song just grew organically and has continued to develop every time we play it," Parlato says.
The song list runs the gamut from classic Brazilian--"Doralice," learned from the legendary singer/guitarist João Gilberto - to the flowing "Turning Into Blue," penned by the bassist Alan Hampton, with lyrics by Parlato based on Buddhist teachings. The way in which she stretches out the word "turning," then catches up with "into blue" is indicative of Parlato's innate ability to work miracles with a lyric and hold the listener's attention via her ingenuity. Ellington's "Azure," says Parlato, "taps into that dreamlike state we can be in when we long for someone and feel completely alone. I love to reveal the beauty in the darkness." Performed in a 5/4 rhythm, the track features a stunning bass solo by Hodge.
Hancock's "Butterfly," she says, "is about the beauty of simplicity and space. I arranged it so that we could play around rhythmically, while still allowing the lyrics to shine through." In this arrangement, Parlato stays on top of the groove without deviating, even while exploring every nuance it has to offer. Shorter's "ESP," not surprisingly the purest jazz track on In a Dream, eases in via meditative vocalizations and ultimately gives way to Parks' spellbinding Rhodes solo and intricate drum work from Scott. The title track, with music by the young pianist Robert Glasper and lyrics by Parlato, is appropriately dreamy, a groove-based, harmony-rich rumination on the otherworldly quality of being in love.
Two tracks, "Within Me" and "On the Other Side," arrived via guitarist Francis Jacob. On the first, Parlato's vocal sneaks in with a whisper, then barely rises, yet remains dynamic and alluring. Appropriately introspective, she drills deep inside of the lyric and instinctively delivers it the way it begs to be delivered. The latter song is more rambunctious, a tight weave of precision, melody and heart. "Weak," which closes the album, was originally performed by the R&B trio SWV in 1992. Says Parlato, "I thought it would be cool to sing this song in a new way and have people say, 'Wait, why do I know this?'"
The theme of the album's title, In a Dream, runs throughout each song. "Every song has a purpose, relates to my life in some way, and tells a story," Parlato explains. Her own story begins in Los Angeles, where she was born into a highly artistic and musical family that shaped her ears. In her youth, Parlato soaked up every sound that came her way, from rock and pop to classical, musical theatre, soul and R&B and, especially, African percussion and the sensuous rhythms of Brazil--all of which worked its way into her nascent style. Jazz gained a special foothold in her musical life because, she says, it forces an artist "to figure out who you are and find your own voice."
Her talent became apparent in her early childhood--in fact, In a Dream includes a handful of snippets of Parlato belting out songs in perfect rhythm and remarkable pitch at age 2! "I thought it was fitting to try to work these early recordings in with my current music, because it shows the first steps of my musical path, who I am, where I come from," she says. "It makes me realize that music was in me since the very beginning, I had no choice but to pursue it and share it."
As she grew, Parlato's musical abilities blossomed. She attended the L.A. County High School for the Arts, later graduated from UCLA with a BA in Ethnomusicology/Jazz Studies, then went on to attend the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, as the Institute's very first vocalist. That was followed by a 2003 move to New York to pursue her dream. A year later, Parlato won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition and, in 2005, self-released her debut.
In the years since, Parlato's star has only risen. She's toured internationally with her own band and as a guest of many A-list artists; notable performances include La Villette in Paris with Wayne Shorter as her guest, the Hollywood Bowl with Oscar Castro-Neves, Gal Costa, Ivan Lins, and Dianne Reeves, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. Her recording credits include Terence Blanchard's 2005 Grammy-nominated album Flow, Kenny Barron's The Traveler, and Esperanza Spalding's 2008 self-titled album. She was recently featured in The Documentary Channel's 4-part series "Icons Among Us: Jazz in the Present Tense," and in a special called "Rising Stars" on Japan's NHK-TV, with a one-hour focus on Parlato. Glowing reviews have followed her around, such as the one from the New York Times' Ben Ratliff that singled out her attention to rhythm and dynamics, and proclaimed, "It's evident that she's an extraordinary singer."
Adds Lionel Loueke, "She is the only singer that I never have to account for or change the way I play; the guitar and the voice are so well balanced that no one is ever out in front." That is in fact true of each of her accompanists. Inherently aware of the leader's ability to find herself within a given song, the musicians instinctively find their place alongside her and serve to accent Parlato's fine-tuned arrangements.
Parlato is understandably proud. "I sing from my heart and soul and hope that people feel that. I just want them to feel something. That could be joy or sadness, as long as it moves them in some way." Anyone who is not moved by In a Dream is quite possibly incapable of moving at all.
Circling
Gretchen Parlato Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
our life’s in circles, never to be done
but all those dreams that circle in your mind
aren’t what they seem,
so let them fall behind
cuz when you think you’ve lost you’ve won
you’ve found another chance
stop wishing on so many stars above
all that you’ve done
just comes from wanting love
what if we’d met some other place in time?
there’d still be rain,
there’d still be sun to shine
your happiness to give away
is so much more
than all the games they play
so be done
blowing away
i’m just pretending
close my eyes
for today’s the perfect ending
In Gretchen Parlato's song "Circling," the lyrics speak to the idea that life is cyclical and full of circles. The first line compares the revolving of the earth around the sun to the circles of life that we all experience. The mention of dreams that circle in our minds implies that we all have desires and aspirations that we keep coming back to, but the lyrics warn that these dreams may not be what they seem. The line "let them fall behind" suggests that it may be necessary to let go of these dreams in order to move forward.
The chorus provides a message of hope, emphasizing that even when we feel like we have lost, there is always another chance to find happiness and see the sun. The lyrics urge listeners to stop wishing on so many stars above and instead focus on the love they already have in their lives, reminding us that everything we have accomplished comes from that desire for love.
The verse about meeting in another place in time speaks to the idea that life is full of chance encounters and random events, but no matter where we end up, we will always experience both sunshine and rain. The outro "blowing away, I'm just pretending, close my eyes for today's perfect ending" speaks to the idea of letting go and finding peace, even if only for a moment.
Overall, the lyrics of "Circling" are reflective and introspective, encouraging listeners to let go of what doesn't serve them and focus on the beauty and love that surrounds them. The chorus provides an uplifting message of hope, reminding listeners that no matter how lost they may feel, they always have another chance at happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
just like the earth revolves around the sun
Life is a constant cycle that repeats itself.
our life’s in circles, never to be done
Life is a never-ending journey, with no clear beginning or end.
but all those dreams that circle in your mind
Ideas and dreams often revolve around the same themes and concepts.
aren’t what they seem,
What seems like a great idea or dream may not be so in reality.
so let them fall behind
Don't hold onto ideas or dreams that don't serve you in reality.
cuz when you think you’ve lost you’ve won
Sometimes, what seems like a loss is actually a gain in disguise.
you’ve found another chance
Persevering through 'losses' presents another opportunity for success.
to see the sun and be done
Attaining success brings clarity and closure to the journey.
stop wishing on so many stars above
Stop searching for external validation or quick fixes.
all that you’ve done
Your past efforts and experiences have shaped who you are today.
just comes from wanting love
The need for love and connection drives our actions and decisions.
what if we’d met some other place in time?
Alternate realities are a common theme in our thoughts and imaginations.
there’d still be rain,
Even in alternate realities, life has hardships and challenges.
there’d still be sun to shine
But there are also moments of joy and beauty.
your happiness to give away
Happiness comes from within and can be shared with others.
is so much more
True happiness is more valuable than superficial pleasures.
than all the games they play
Competing for superficial pleasures is not worth sacrificing true happiness.
so be done
Find contentment in the present moment, rather than constantly striving for more.
blowing away
Letting go of worries or negative thoughts.
i’m just pretending
Denying one's true feelings or intentions.
close my eyes
Blocking out distractions, focusing on oneself.
for today’s the perfect ending
Finding happiness and completion in the present moment.
Contributed by Jake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.