Jazz Monthly.com Interview with carol duboc

“Jazz Monthly Feature Interview” Carol Duboc

Smitty: My next guest at JazzMonthly.com has enjoyed an incredible career, she’s a highly talented singer and she’s not a bad piano player as well. She’s got a great new album about to be released. It is called Songs for Lovers and it’s my kind of record and I think it will be your kind as well. Please welcome the incredible and amazing Ms. Carol Duboc. Carol, how are you?

Carol Duboc (CG): I’m doing great.

Smitty: Super. It’s been a while since we’ve talked and I still remember All of You and still listen to that record, and I was just so excited to hear that you are about to release another CD, which I think is just fantastic.

CB: Well, thank you. Glad to get the positive response.

Smitty: So now you’ve been very busy and I know you’ve got a radio show now and you’ve been doing some things with Wine and Music, which I think is just fantastic.

CB: Well, yes, in addition to starting a family and moving from one state to another, moving back to the Midwest, we did start WineandMusic.com, which is a place where we pair music with wine. My motivation for that was to kind of create a radio station that defies genres, so it’s not smooth jazz or classical; it’s everything that goes with wine, so that could be John Mayer, that could be Corinne Bailey Rae or that could also be Chopin, you know, or Boney James. So anything that’s smooth and goes well with a wine.

Smitty: I like it.

CB: Thank you.

Smitty: You know, I’m so used to pairing food with wine.

CB: Mm-hmm.

Smitty: But usually music with wine, I know it has happened. I mean, there are those that are doing things like that, but I don’t think to the degree that you are in that it is such a focus. I kinda like that. How do you determine what wine goes with what music?

CB: Well, I’m gonna say we really do try hard to be true. We don’t just make it up. We taste every wine, we listen to every single song, every piece of music, and we actually taste them together, so it’s like, okay, a nice romantic bottle of red cabernet, rich and full, and maybe a little bit musty, and it just goes with the romantic evening of like—I don’t have one of these in front of me, so I’m doing this off the top of my head—but I think we paired that with a Sting album, which may not make much sense to you, but just kind of a moody, romantic setting, so you kind of pair—or maybe something like a little bit more flowery and bright we might have put with Enya, for example.

Smitty: Wow.

CB: And I don’t know because it’s for an afternoon, like you’re in the afternoon, you’re outside, you want something a little bit up, a little bit, you know, not in the way, like that.

Smitty: Yeah.

CB: That’s how we do it.

Smitty: Wow. I didn’t realize that there was such a correlation of my palate and my ears, but now I’m getting an education. (Laughs.)

CB: Well, you know, think about it. How come you can’t have red wine with chicken? Well, it’s because they told you you can’t, you know? (Both laugh.) I drink red wine with chicken all the time.

Smitty: Yeah. How ‘bout that?

CB: But you don’t want like a light, flowery, bubbly wine with a heavy hard rock song, you know, do you?

Smitty: No.

CB: Want a beer or martini, see?

Smitty: Yeah, unless you’re one of those sweet and sour kind of people or something. (Laughs.) I like that.

CB: Right. Anyway, so it’s really fun and one of the main reasons, as I mentioned, was because at the radio station I’m able to pick my favorite music plus some new wonderful music that some people may have never heard about. I’ve discovered people in Europe that just have albums out and it’s just amazing and I’m able to play them because we’re not genre-specific.

Smitty: I like that because I know you’re absolutely right. There’s so much music out there that the public does not hear for obvious reasons, but to have an outlet like yourself with Wine and Music, then we get to hear some of this great music and drink some great wine and celebrate something new, the wine and the music, you know?

CB: Mm-hmm.

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.

Smitty: Nice. I know you’ve been in film. Any opportunities out there to do that again?

CB: Well, you know, I’m in the Midwest now. A girl that worked with me at the record label that I was on, she actually ended up in casting and she’s a big casting agent now, so you never know what she’s gonna come up with, but they’re the ones that—she and her friend got me in that one movie and it was so much fun, I would certainly do it again. I’m not pursuing it, I’m not out auditioning. I wasn’t then, but people know of me and if they want me for that, I’m sure they’ll give me a call again.

Smitty: Yeah, so are you ready?

CB: Sure! I’m always ready. I’ve taken a lot of acting. I never aspired to be an actress because I didn’t like that part of the business too much, but I like performing and so I’m always ready.

Smitty: Yeah, that was very cool.

CB: You gotta stay ready.

Smitty: Yes indeed. Carol, I must say that I am so proud of what you’ve done with this great record and I highly recommend it for people with a bad attitude to people that are just madly in love, and those that just want to chill and settle the soul because these are just great songs. They’re not songs that would put you to sleep, as some people would think, but these are great songs to contemplate your life, to contemplate your future, to contemplate the next day and enjoy the moment, you know?

CB: Well, that’s well put. (Both laugh.) Can I quote you?

Smitty: I’ll send you a bill. (Laughs.) No, but very seriously, I not only love the songs but the design of the album. Man, I tell ya, I love that, what do you call that? The floral design on the disc itself. It’s just beautiful.

CB: Oh yeah, I know, she’s talented. I’m fortunate I have talented people around me. The girl that designed that (Ariana Wills), she does all kinds of graphic design and she came up with it. I just said some sort of design and she did it.

Smitty: Yeah, it’s gorgeous.

CB: Ariana, she’s great.

Smitty: Yeah, and the front cover is very nice, love it.

CB: Thank you.

Smitty: You have a Web site as well.

CB: Yes. It’s www.carolduboc.com

Smitty: Yeah, all right. And people can read more about the record on there and you have a My Space as well.

CB: Oh yes, My Space page, and you can find me through Wine and Music.

Smitty: Yes, and when does the record drop?

CB: April 22nd is the release date.

Smitty: Very cool.

CB: It will be available everywhere.

Smitty: Oh, very nice. Well, I certainly anticipate a lot of great things with this record and I wish you all the best with it and hopefully we’ll get to catch up at some point in person.

CB: Oh yeah, we’re closer now.

Smitty: Yeah, how ‘bout that? Yeah, you’re a Midwesterner.

CB: It’ll be great.

Smitty: Yeah. Carol, thank you so much for just sharing this great project with us and talking about this wonderful record, and I would say to you, keep making great music, my friend.

CB: Okay, thank you so much.

Smitty: All right, we’ve been talking with the fantastic and amazing Ms. Carol Duboc. She has a wonderful new record out and it’s called Songs for Lovers and it truly has songs for lovers, for all audiences of great music. I highly recommend this album. Carol, thank you so much and have a wonderful 2008, my friend.

CB: Thank you. You too.

Baldwin “Smitty” Smith

For More Information Visit www.carolduboc.com and www.myspace.com/carolduboc and www.wineandmusic.com and www.goldnotemusic.com