Shirley composes songs in a variety or genres, frequently in Chamber Jazz style.
Through the years she has composed for her own concerts, for theatre, and short film. The types of songs
have ranged from melodic jazz to tango, from musicals to Christmas songs, and much more.
Her latest project, premiering in the spring of 2023 is a song series Dreams of a Butterfly, a set of nine songs inspired by art
and mythology, created together with her husband who has written the lyrics.
Through the years she has composed for her own concerts, for theatre, and short film. The types of songs
have ranged from melodic jazz to tango, from musicals to Christmas songs, and much more.
Her latest project, premiering in the spring of 2023 is a song series Dreams of a Butterfly, a set of nine songs inspired by art
and mythology, created together with her husband who has written the lyrics.
the NEW ALBUM!
To order the CD please contact shirleysparksmusic@gmail.com
TRACK LIST
1. Sands of Time
2. Written in Stone
3. All This Time
4. In the Distance
5. Down in the Dreaming
6. Dreams of a Butterfly
7. The Colour of Your Dream
8. God Where Are You
9. Shadowplay
2. Written in Stone
3. All This Time
4. In the Distance
5. Down in the Dreaming
6. Dreams of a Butterfly
7. The Colour of Your Dream
8. God Where Are You
9. Shadowplay
FEEDBACK
It seems to us to be a blend of classical (in at least the qualities of the vocals - fine tone, control, etc.), jazz, and much that is reminiscent of musicals. Although the entire album works well together - that is, there are no tracks that don’t seem to fit perfectly well into this overall style - we did think there were two somewhat different sorts of track… The jazz influence was very clear in some (In The Distance, Down in the Dreaming, Dreams of a Butterfly) whilst others sound very much as though they could be numbers from a musical (Sands of Time, Written in Stone, God Where are You). One could split these into two categories quite comfortably, though your overall style unifies the album so that none feel out of place together - quite a feat!
One track seemed to straddle the two camps somewhat - The Colour of Your Dream - although the jazz elements were readily apparent we felt the musical feel was the stronger.
Two of my favourites were the waltz - All This Time - and Dreams of a Butterfly. As we discussed before, the waltz had a French feel to it - but if you ask me why, I couldn’t tell you! Something about the lyrical qualities perhaps. The melody really gets stuck in your head - I’ve been whistling it for a week now! It was when I got to that track that I really started to think about the pianist - she has a great touch. Dreams of a Butterfly reminded me of one of those scenes in a classic movie - a dimly lit a smokey bar in 50s/60s Chicago maybe, with the lone singer (aren’t they always in a red dress?) on the stage performing to an enraptured audience.
Shadowplay was interesting; it was the most ‘classical’ sounding to us. Still fits nicely with the rest of the album but at the same time with some distinctive elements.
If there is a word for that combination of melodic and lyrical songs with classical, jazz, and musical influences we don’t know what it is. I’m not sure we would have called it a jazz album; if we just heard the three tracks with the most prominent jazz qualities we would definitely think we were listening to a jazz album, but the influence seems (to our ears at least) much less in the others. It may be that your classical background lends certain unique qualities to this sort of music - one can certainly hear it in the quality of the vocals. That may be why two different sorts of track sound entirely coherent side by side.
Whatever it should be called, we liked it!
- Jonathan & Christina -
One track seemed to straddle the two camps somewhat - The Colour of Your Dream - although the jazz elements were readily apparent we felt the musical feel was the stronger.
Two of my favourites were the waltz - All This Time - and Dreams of a Butterfly. As we discussed before, the waltz had a French feel to it - but if you ask me why, I couldn’t tell you! Something about the lyrical qualities perhaps. The melody really gets stuck in your head - I’ve been whistling it for a week now! It was when I got to that track that I really started to think about the pianist - she has a great touch. Dreams of a Butterfly reminded me of one of those scenes in a classic movie - a dimly lit a smokey bar in 50s/60s Chicago maybe, with the lone singer (aren’t they always in a red dress?) on the stage performing to an enraptured audience.
Shadowplay was interesting; it was the most ‘classical’ sounding to us. Still fits nicely with the rest of the album but at the same time with some distinctive elements.
If there is a word for that combination of melodic and lyrical songs with classical, jazz, and musical influences we don’t know what it is. I’m not sure we would have called it a jazz album; if we just heard the three tracks with the most prominent jazz qualities we would definitely think we were listening to a jazz album, but the influence seems (to our ears at least) much less in the others. It may be that your classical background lends certain unique qualities to this sort of music - one can certainly hear it in the quality of the vocals. That may be why two different sorts of track sound entirely coherent side by side.
Whatever it should be called, we liked it!
- Jonathan & Christina -
SHADOWPLAY
Premiere of Dreams of a Butterfly concert at Espoo Cathedral on May 21st, 2023.
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Stillness of the Night
Christmas Classic Jazz concert at Studio Hilkka, Pori in 2021.
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