I will admit out front that I am a huge So You Think You Can Dance fan. Every summer I look forward to watching a batch of new contestants fly through cha cha, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop numbers while I scrutinize their every move. Well, while latin ballroom music isn't really my style, some of the contemporary and jazz choreographers use pretty awesome music as the backdrop for their work. It only makes sense that I would discover an interesting artist on this show.
The first time I remember hearing the song "To Build A Home" by The Cinematic Orchestra was when the immensely talented Billy Bell (dancer) auditioned for SYTYCD last season and literally made judge Adam Shankman cry. I put the beautiful solo in the back of my mind and mostly forgot about it until Billy Bell (who is a contestant on the current season of the show) reprised his solo this past week.
As it turns out, jazz and electronic outfit The Cinematic Orchestra has been around since the late 1990s and has released nine full-length albums. "To Build A Home" is on the 2007 release "Ma Fleur." The group's most recent album, "Late Night Tales: The Cinematic Orchestra," was released in April. The group was started by Jason Swinscoe and is currently made up of five other permanent members, though they often collaborate with vocalists, including Patrick Watson ("To Build A Home") and Fontella Bass ("Breathe"). If you're a sucker for heart-wrenching, genre-bending classical-pop, this band is for you.
PS- how amazing is Billy Bell's solo?? It gets me every time!
Kelly Montgomery is a Portland-bred creative spirit and concert addict. While she has loved concerts since her days as a child watching Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and Paul Simon, she has only recently begun writing about music. Kelly is a sucker for bearded folk-crooners, catchy guitar licks, and three-part harmonies. She makes a mean road trip CD and the highlight of her year is always the Sasquatch! Music Festival in George, WA. When she's not scribbling down notes at a concert, Kelly enjoys sipping Chai Lattes, thrift store shopping, late-night baking, reading fashion blogs, and taking photos with one of her 6 cameras.
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