On A Turquoise Cloud

On a Turquoise Cloud marks the alluring debut album of American soprano Candice Hoyes, in collaboration with two-time GRAMMY® award winner Ulysses Owens, Jr. and an exceptional octet. This song collection has gone virtually unrecorded since Ellington’s originals.

Ellington created these high-flying songs to showcase versatile divas Adelaide Hall, Kay Davis, and Alice Babs, and this gifted ensemble reimagines them with a distinctly contemporary sound. These are the songs where swing first met classical, and they were a blueprint for much of today’s best musical theater, opera, and art song.

Hoyes, a rising star in this generation of vocalists, is devoted to adding this missing piece to the Ellington legacy. “My grandparents were 1940s Harlemites and they danced to Ellington’s big band regularly. That generation is leaving us- my grandmother is 93. It means so much that we can share this album because the music is sensational.” To find the song manuscripts, Hoyes pursued months of archival research. “It was a real hunt, which makes it even sweeter when you find them all.”

The supple vocal lines of On a Turquoise Cloud infuse the signature Ellington harmonies with a sultry femininity, setting these tunes apart in his songbook. On a Turquoise Cloud brings a stunning corner of Ellington to light again, offering a fresh and stylish reading that ensures this music has new life.

Candice Hoyes / Vocalist

Ted Nash / Alto Saxophone, Alto Flute, And Clarinet

Ron Blake / Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, And Flute

Carl Maraghi / Bass Clarinet & Baritone Saxophone

Marcus Printup / Trumpet

Vincent Gardner / Trombone

Adam Birnbaum / Piano

Yasushi Nakamura / Bass

Ulysses Owens Jr. / Drums & Percussion
Special Guests

Joe Temperley / Bass Clarinet (Single Petal Of A Rose)

Wycliffe Gordon / Trombone (Almighty God)