Video of the Day: Jamie Baum and her Septet+ present 'Sorrow Song' from new album What Times Are These

New York-based composer-flutist Jamie Baum's fifth album with her flagship ensemble The Jamie Baum Septet+ is out now on her long-time label, Sunnyside Records. Titled What Times Are These, this 10-track tour-de-force is the artist’s first foray into melding spoken word and song. To be specific, seven of Baum’s ten compositions on What Times Are These respond to the works by a cohort of eminent 20th and 21st century female poets including Adrienne Rich, Marge Piercy, Tracy K. Smith, Lucille Clifton, and Naomi Shihab Nye. Guest vocalists include Theo Bleckmann, Sara Serpa, Aubrey Johnson and KOKAYI.

One of the highlights from the album is the song “sorrow song”, which features a poignant poem by the great Poet Laureate Lucille Clifton, and lyrical contributions by 2023 Guggenheim fellow KOKAYI. “I knew the moment I finished mixing “sorrow song,” that this would be the perfect song to put out before the full album release,” Baum shared. Pointing to the significant poem, KOKAYI’s stellar performance, the deep groove by the rhythm section, the killing solos and infectious energy from the band, Baum felt that this would be an excellent representation of what else is to come on What Times Are These. “sorrow song” also features vocalist Aubrey Johnson, guitarist Brad Shepik and drummer Jeff Hirschfield.

The official video for “sorrow song” features ingenious stop-motion animation by paper artist Sigmund Washington. “This visual element really adds a whole other dimension,” said Baum.

See the video below and for more info visit jamiebaum.com