Jackie Myers What About The Buttyfly

There is something intensely alluring, almost addictive, about Kansas City-based artist Jackie Meyers. Known for her innovation and fluidity on the keys and her sultry, bluesy vocals that could spark warmth in even the iciest of souls, she has a way of leaving all your flabbers ghasted and with a voracious appetite for more. Now, 577 Records is ecstatic to present her latest work of art, What About the Butterfly, a technical masterpiece born from the depths of this vocalist/pianist/composer’s beautiful soul and enviable mind. Every sound and beat in these arrangements projects Jackie’s meticulous approach to composition, technique, and innovation. Her use of spectral composition and microtonality pays homage to the French spectral composition movement’s Gérard Grisey and Tristan Murial, who she says has shown us 'how to embrace the perspective that the physics of sound should inform the compositional process'. Although she had envisioned most of the work for this record between 2022 and 2023, Meyers took her time to procure the right band members and refine the arrangements. In What About the Butterfly, she is joined by three members of Fountain City String Quartet, including their lead, Alyssa Bell (on viola), Matthew Bennett on the violin, and cellist Sascha Groschang. She specifically chose quarter sharps and three-quarter flats for the string players, pushing them beyond their norms in a way that required many rehearsals supported by carefully prepared tools and materials. To satisfy her need for an experienced horn section, she turned to her mentor, former member of the Jazz Messengers, Bobby Watson, who was thrilled to be a part of the project. Meyers also extended a special invite to Alaturka tenor saxist Rich Wheeler, thanks to his notable experience in blending jazz and classical music and his knack for microtonal composition. Longtime friends and collaborators, trumpeter Trent Austin and baritone saxist Aryana Nemati, were the perfect fit, contributing much from their multi-genre backgrounds. Keeping time is Project H’s Matt Leifer, while Kansas City’s Seth Lee and Iowa City’s Blake Shaw bring their bass magic to several of the tracks in the new release—all of whom have performed with Jackie many times."—Polly Barnes