Russ Ferrante: Revelation
We start the week with a song from my childhood. My uncle is the pianist in a longstanding jazz fusion band called the Yellowjackets. The band formed in 1977 around the popular jazz guitarist, Robben Ford. In 1991, they collaborated with the the acapella group Take 6 to record the song “Revelation.” The tune was written by my uncle, Russ Ferrante, and has a gospel feel and traditional harmonic structure that is atypical for the Yellowjackets. Russ drew inspiration for this song from his childhood, as he was raised in a family that was highly involved in gospel choral music. Russ collaborated with lyricist Lorraine Perry to create what is now one of the band’s most iconic numbers. It remains one of my favorite jams to this day!
Devony Smith is a versatile soprano excelling in both contemporary and traditional repertoire. This year, she will present a recital in a partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Citywide Concerts. Devony has recently performed Kate Soper’s self-accompanied opera Here Be Sirens at National Sawdust, the title role in the workshop of Matt Aucoin’s new opera Eurydice as a part of Cincinnati Opera’s Opera Fusion: New Works program and the Metroplitan Opera. Devony will be performing the world premiere of a piece from Kate Soper’s new opera, The Romance of the Rose, on March 28 as part of the NYFOS Next series.
Read other posts by Devony Smith.