Smitty: I love that. Very cool. So you’re quite the romantic type, aren’t ya?
CB: Well, right now I am. I just put out Songs for Lovers (both laugh), so that’s where my mind is. Matter of fact, I think we will be doing a Songs for Lovers issue on Wine and Music. Now, Wine and Music is not all about me. I have mostly other artists on that particular site. Just so you know, we’ve got Chris Botti, we’ve got everybody.
Smitty: Yeah.
CB: But I actually thought, well, you know? Wine’s romantic and the album’s romantic and, shoot, I just added Kenny G’s new song because his album’s romantic. His new album is, Rhythm & Romance, and it’s just kind of the theme that we’re gonna go with in the spring. I just started a family, I have a husband, I was never married before, and I’m looking at romance in a different way. The outcome is beautiful children and it just has a whole ‘nother meaning to me, and so this album I actually dedicate it to my husband and my child, my new daughter, and so, yeah, it has a whole new meaning to me.
Smitty: Yeah. Well, I think it’s great and I guess we should say the title of the the record is Songs for Lovers and, I mean, you stayed with the theme, girl. I mean, this is just incredible. “Sexual Healing,” oh my goodness.
CB: Did you listen to it?
Smitty: Oh, did I ever! How many times? (Laughs.) I love it, I really do. I love the first track, “My Valentine.” I think that is just a very romantic track and it really puts you in the mood for romance, it really does, and I think that’s what the objective is and you captured that. I mean, you were spot on with the selection of songs for this project. It made me want to find someone to fall in love with.
CB: And I probably was somewhat influenced by this WineandMusic.com in that I’ve always written classical music and I put a couple of very simple, very short classical pieces on there. I’ve always written tons of ‘em and I just thought, well, let me just—‘cause they’re kind of romantic and they give you just a change. I was happy to be able to put them on an album and have them out there as a nice little break.
Smitty: Yes, and I love “Brownies and Wine.” That’s one of my favorite tracks on there.
CB: (Laughs.)
Smitty: I just love that song.
CB: Oh, you do? Good. I’m glad. I almost didn’t put that on there. In a way it was a joke because one night my husband and I were visiting my brother and we were having wine and really had had a lot of wine, and his wife served us brownies and I looked at my brother and I went “Brownies and Wine.” I said “I’m gonna do a jazz song called ‘Brownies and Wine,’” and then I just thought, well, let me see what that sounds like. (Both laugh.) That’s how that song came about.
Smitty: I’m so glad you did that song. What I really, really thoroughly enjoyed was “Night Moods.”
CB: Oh, good. You know, it’s funny. I really was kind of scared of this record and I appreciate you being my first interview for it because you’re building up my confidence and often when I put things out I don’t like ‘em and I’m ready to write the next one because I don’t like what I just did. (Laughs.)
Smitty: No, it’s fantastic!
CB: Thank you. That’s just, you know, artists.
Smitty: Yeah, that happens.
CB: But I appreciate that, the confidence you’re giving me, that’s so cool.
Smitty: Yeah, because I got to hear Carol in a whole different way, because I’ve always been so intrigued by your musicianship on the piano and I thought it was just beautiful.
CB: Well, thank you.
Smitty: It has that captivating vibe, it was mesmerizing, and it was really a type that said “You know, I need to pour a glass of wine and just get caught up in it,” you know?
CB: And that’s the one with Hubert on it.
Smitty: Yeah, beautiful song, yeah.
CB: Hubert Laws.
Smitty: And “Passion,” great song, wow. I mean, these are all fantastic songs for lovers or for people contemplating love. (Laughs.) I really enjoyed the entire project and I think you stayed with that theme and this is just a great selection of songs. It’s just beautiful.
CB: Thank you.
Smitty: So now when you think in terms of doing a project like this, and I know you said this is how you were feeling at the time, but what do you want the audience to feel? Or is it because it’s an open street, but I know there’s something there that you’re trying to convey other than the obvious.
CB: What I feel when I put certain harmonies together or certain chords and certain melodies, I hope they enjoy it and it takes them away to another place away from, you know, if they’ve had a hectic day or something like that.
