Sandra-Mae Lux Music – SML002CD/LP
International Album release (CD & digital): Friday 30 May 2025
Streaming Link: https://s.disco.ac/
Acclaimed songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist, Sandra-Mae Lux has just unveiled her latest album, Seasons in Jazz. Hailing from Richmond, BC, Canada, and now residing in the vibrant city of London, UK, Sandra-Mae revisits her jazz roots with this album. This collection of original songs marks a return to her first love, jazz, drawing inspiration from the Great American Songbook and the golden era of songwriting from the late 1920s to 1950s, and represents a departure from her 2020 disco-inspired debut, Happily Ever Now. “I love songs that make me feel something. I love songs that tell a story, take me on a journey, that are filled with meaning and can become eternal. Songs that want to be sung,” says Lux. “The Great American Songbook did all of that and more.”
The recording features two stellar bands: one with pianist Rob Barron, Canadian guitarist Tristan Paxton, bassist Calum Gourley and drummer Sebastiaan de Krom; the other with pianist Christian Vaughan, bassist Dave Jones and drummer Tristan Maillot. “Having two different bands brought out two slightly different feels/approaches to the material, which I thought may be a nice way to keep the listener engaged throughout the whole album,” says Lux. “The subtle differences between Christian and Rob especially gave the album some subtle variation.”
Written in collaboration with her lyricist partner and Penticton, BC native, Alan Marriott, most of the songs started from the words – except for ‘When Autumn Calls’, where the melody took the lead. “This approach allowed us to shape each composition with a strong narrative focus,” explains Lux. “As a songwriter, I find something deeply special and inspiring about AABA song structure.”
Thematically, Seasons in Jazz mirrors the changing nature of love, as we turn the pages of the calendar. From the playful excitement of new romance in ‘Are We Having Fun?’ to the wistful longing in ‘When Autumn Calls’ and ‘Everyone Else Knew’ (a personal favourite of both Lux and Marriott), each track captures a snapshot, a close-up of poignant moments in relationships. Some songs celebrate the thrill of the present (‘Love Me Tonight’, ‘Perfect Weather’), while others reflect on love’s fleeting and cyclical nature (‘It’s Only Spring’, ‘Summer’s Coming Again’). The album breathes new life into the canon of the Great American Songbook, with heartfelt odes to deep connection, whether it’s with romance (‘This December Love’) or unwavering friendship (‘There’s A Door’). A special highlight is the bossa nova track ‘Perfect Weather’, presented in two versions – one as an instrumental, showcasing Lux’s expressive saxophone playing, and another with vocals, a tribute to the iconic sounds of Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto.
Website: sandramaelux.com
YouTube: @sandramaelux
Instagram: @sandramaelux
Facebook: @sandramae.lux
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