Chapter 5: Towards The Sound of You ...

Estelle is in South Africa singing to the sea …

 Chico reaches out to jazz fans telling the story of the Sound of You . . .

Best known for his groundbreaking jazz, multi reedman Chico Freeman has travelled a lifetime of musical adventures. The son of legendary Chicago tenor sax player Von Freeman, Chico's journey has taken him around the world alongside such musical giants as Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Charles Mingus, Jack DeJohnette, Art Blakey and Wynton Marsalis.

What a lot of people don't know is that behind the scenes for the last 13 years Chico has been writing a new songbook for the 21st Century, a lyrical melodic collection of Timeless Classic Songs, written with lyricist, vintage composer/songwriter/multi-media artist Jan Pulsford. Jan's long musical career encompasses electronica to pop, classical to folk, dance to rock. Cyndi Lauper, Darlene Love, Steps, Anthony Head and Ani di Franco have recorded Jan’s songs along with music consistently used by media producers all over the world.

So how did this unlikely partnership come about? 
Jan's appreciation of jazz lyrics and melodies comes from a childhood listening to Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ella Fitzgerald and Nelson Riddle. After touring with the Thompson Twins she worked closely with Keki Mingus, daughter of the great Charles Mingus, on the "Let my Children hear Music' project. Producing tracks for the album she mixed trip hop and hip-hop with jazz, rap and vocals to create a unique sound.

Meeting Chico Freeman through the Rocket Network opened up a new way of writing. Apple asked them to become beta testers for a new platform for creative collaboration online. Through this groundbreaking new medium they started creating - meeting in person only occasionally. Chico and Jan have recorded music for the Audrey Tautou film “Happy End" plus music and songs for several other independent films and albums.

Always looking for a singer to record their ever expanding songbook they eventually found Estelle Kokot, a London based jazz stylist and singer songwriter in her own right. Out of a catalogue of close to 60 songs they whittled it down to 16 to record and Estelle has spent the last year making them her own.

The Freeman/Pulsford musical partnership has spawned some of their most inspired songs, lyrics and music. Jan has written words to some of Chico's previously recorded compositions like Mystery, Ballad for Hakima and Evolution. They also continue to collaborate musically and lyrically on new songs. 

The album, entitled "The Sound of You' is now ready to record and, ever the online pioneers, Chico and Jan are crowdsourcing the making of the album on Pledge Music.


You can hear Estelle Kokot talk in the video about singing and interpreting the song book, along with how you can get involved with this new way of funding the recording of music.

Read the blog here every Wednesday - documenting the story and journey of the Sound of You songbook - a lyrical album rooted in jazz with a sound stretching from Chicago to Johannesburg, New York to London.



Jan is pleased to see ...
the Sound of You made the  London Jazz news!


Thanks everyone for your continued support - we are on the way - only another 30 days left to reach our target!

Jan, Chico and Estelle xx

Ch:4 - Today the South African leg of the journey of The Sound of You starts!

Today the South African leg of the journey of The Sound of You starts!
Estelle Kokot leaves for South Africa to start touring and preparing for the Sound of You Recording.
This is a complete vow of faith as we are still getting people to pre-order the album on Pledge Music along with ordering more goodies like Songbooks and Skype lessons, Private Concerts and Greeting Cards, Exclusive Recordings and Signed CDs.
What an adventure! Come and join us ...

Bon voyage Estelle! We will be there soon and will be eagerly following your African music adventures

Jan +  Chico xx

"Within a few notes you know you’ve hit a jackpot with Estelle Kokot...an indefinably mature combination of meticulously well-chosen notes and a voice to strip you down bare and trembling. With enviable grace and confidence she balances her voice and her piano work and displays her musical wares with such panache you could hear a crotchet fall". Gisele Turner - JazzEye.

Ch:3 - PledgeMusic Campaign launched after Estelle's sold out Vortex Jazz Club Gigs

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Jan writes . . .

So here we are a week into the pledge music campaign to get the Sound of You recorded. Estelle leaves for South Africa in a weeks time to tour and prepare for the recording scheduled for April.

Meanwhile the pledges keep coming in to turn this dream into a reality!
Thanks so much for being part of the journey and  lending your support to this brave new adventure.
We really do appreciate it - more than you can imagine!

"Within a few notes you know you’ve hit a jackpot with Estelle Kokot...an indefinably mat
ure combination of meticulously well-chosen notes and a voice to strip you down bare and trembling. With enviable grace and confidence she balances her voice and her piano work and displays her musical wares with such panache you could hear a crotchet fall". Gisele Turner - JazzEye.