Notes by RCF
I am not a scientist or astronomer just a musician that has always been intrigued with the universe, planets, and unknown galaxies. My interpretation/journey through the solar system was my muse for this album. Thinking about the planets helped me decide the tempo, change of meters, major or minor key centers, harmonic development, types of rhythmic feels, and melodic ideas.
Sun
I thought of happiness and dancing with the all-mighty sun keeping everything growing and embracing all living creatures with her warmth. Sun is a groovy minor blues with a funky beat and trumpet melody that is jumping up with joy. The bridge is like the clouds that move from the atmosphere that sweeps over the sun making shade, then the wind blows the clouds away and once again the sun is back bringing warmth to our cheeks.
Jupiter
Jupiter is named after the Greek gods of Sky and Thunder. and I wanted to compose an open piece that was developed from a melody line on the trumpet. It allows musical space and freedom to develop my solo and avoid the feeling of being suffocated in a complicated chord progression. Jupiter is the fastest-spinning planet in the solar system. The composition is upbeat and gives the quartet a chance to discover how gigantic Jupiter is as an evolving planet.
Planet X
The new Ninth (Planet X) planet is the same size as Neptune yet very dim and hard to see. Marvel’s “Groot” is from Planet X and he is a tree with roots that is caring and empathetic. When writing this I thought of a Brazilian bossa-nova feel to sound like you are in the Amazons. Also, I wanted the vibe to be chill to ease and welcome Planet X into our solar system.
Moon
The moon makes me think of sleeping warm and cozy in my bed at night. I wrote a ballad that basically is a lullaby. In the intro, the piano sets up the mood and the trumpet enters with a simple melody. The moon is powerful and consistently reveals its strength and beauty every night. There are two versions of this composition with the band and a duet with Luis Perdomo on piano and Rebecca Coupe Franks on trumpet.
Mercury
Mercury is the closest planet to the Earth. When composing this I was thinking about starting in Mercury with the change of time meters from 3/4 to 4/4 and 2/4. I thought this would represent when Mercury is in retrograde and seems like everything is out of whack in my day-to-day life. Eventually, it stays in 3/4 time and continues with sprinkles of colorful light tinges of fairy dust and magical dancing unicorns that have a
soulful glow deep in its creator’s core.
Neptune
Neptune is a very cold a planet filled with ice and rock – it takes Neptune 165 days to orbit the sun and it is named after the Roman God of Seas. Neptune’s tempo is steady and strong with a minor blues march/ 12/8 shuffle feel. I wanted to bring in a march feel for a royal effect to the planet and blues format being it is so cold on Neptune. The tempo is steady and strong and the plunger mute was added to the trumpet on the second A section to even go deeper into the blues. There are two versions of this composition – with the band and as a duo with Larry Grenadier on bass and Rebecca Coupe Franks on trumpet.
Venus
Venus is named after the Roman Goddess of Love and Beauty and is the only planet that rotates clockwise when all the other planets rotate counterclockwise. I start the composition in a rubato feel then it goes into 3/4 time which I find very lovely and romantic. The melody winds around wistfully and starts on the second bar of the A section and so it sounds a bit in an altered universe, ending as it starts in rubato feel and then fades into the 3/4 feel leaving you slowly with intrigue.
Uranus
Uranus is named after the Greek God of the Sky. It is the coldest planet in the solar system and orbits on its side. I immediately wanted to write a blues composition, one with some quirky chord changes making it sound like it was a bit different than any other blues. It starts off with a call and response section played by myself and Larry on bass. Then the melody basically goes through the changes with the same melodic pattern which can be a pain in the Uranus!
Mars
Named after the Roman God of War, it is also known as the red planet. Though you would imagine it was hot, it is actually very cold there. Mars has liquid water and would be the next best planet to live on. There is an intensity to the song and mysterious qualities that hint towards my curiosity and wonder if there was life on Mars or will be. The melody is like me walking on Mars for the first time and discovering the beauty of Mars. The composition is an Afro-Cuban feel with a rhythmic melody on top that winds harmonically through chord changes with an abrupt ending that goes through the matrix.
Saturn
Saturn is named after the Roman God of Agriculture.
It starts with an intro that is with drums and trumpet, then the whole band enters with unison hits that imitate rocks being thrown while sitting on the outer rings then it falls into a latin groove. The composition modulates to different key centers to incorporate the rings that are made of ice and rock around Saturn. It has an interlude comprised of intervals of 4ths. The drums interplay with the trumpet melody so that you can envision the 83 moons that orbit Saturn. This evokes the phenomenal power of Saturn.
Earth
Earth is not named after a god- Earth means ground. I composed it from my perspective of living here on Earth. I wanted there to be humor so I added a cartoon-like riff that repeats itself, like the day-to-day routine things that apply to living. This is an up-tempo blues that is somewhat chaotic, busy, and crazy like the world can be. I also wanted a fun vibe since life can be like a bowl of spontaneous mixed-up apples and oranges with a cherry on top. There are two versions of this composition with the band and a duet with Jonathan Blake on drums and Rebecca Coupe Franks on trumpet.
Clubhouse Recording Studio in Rhinebeck, NY May 10 and 11 – 2022
Sound Engineer- Paul Antonelli and Shabum
Producers:
Liz Irons
Rebecca Coupe Franks
Rebecca Coupe Franks – Trumpet/all compositions/arrangements
Luis Perdomo – Piano
Larry Grenadier – Bass
Johnathan Blake- Drums
Special Thanks: The musicians that made this music come alive! Luis Perdomo, Larry Grenadier and Johnathan Blake. Liz Irons for being there through the whole process and helping me produce this album. Samira Khera, Ella Skye Franks, Clay Jenkins, Xuanyue Liu (Bear) and my mother Valerie Coupe Franks.
Rebecca Coupe Franks 