Cherokee
Deelee Dubé
For your GRAMMY® Consideration
Best Jazz Performance
“Ms. Dubé, the first British recipient of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Award, has a voice of the purest gold.”
Photo by Jacob Blickenstaff
“Most jazz folks can tell you what this track means to jazz lovers, especially those who collect music by lady jazz singers. Deelee has come up with a smashing rendition and added her own pizazz. Her relaxed voice fused with beautifully woven, sharped pitched notes amid her delivery are mellifluous.”
Native Indian Cherokee Dance
“Dubé, whose deft...performance pointed to the power inherent in connecting with one’s own unique voice.
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Dear Recording Academy™
We hope this FYC page finds you well. It is with great pleasure and excitement that we submit our heartfelt recommendation for the exceptional musical talent of Deelee Dubé, for your esteemed consideration.
Deelee Dubé's recording, "Cherokee", represents a sublime amalgamation of jazz, and soulfulness, with classic contemporary influences, seamlessly intertwined to create a truly captivating listening experience. Demonstrating unparalleled vocal prowess and an innate ability to connect with listeners on a profound level, Deelee Dubé has carved out a unique space in the music industry.
Her interpretation of "Cherokee" emanates sheer brilliance. Deelee's rich and velvety voice effortlessly glides through each note, painting a vivid sonic landscape filled with depth, emotion, and vibrant hues that leave an indelible mark on the listener's soul. Supported by a stellar ensemble of accomplished musicians, the single showcases a level of artistry that is both impressive and awe-inspiring.
From the languid, introspective melody of “Cherokee” to the fiery intensity of her vocal performance, Deelee Dubé masterfully navigates a captivating range of emotions throughout the track. "Cherokee" transcends genre boundaries, effortlessly blending elements of classic jazz, soulfulness, and modern influences to create a tapestry of sound as a rare jazz ballad that is both timeless and refreshingly contemporary.
As a standout single, "Cherokee" exemplifies Deelee's ability to transport listeners to another realm. Her evocative vocal performance, carefully enunciated lyrics (originally written by Ray Noble), and the sublime interplay between the musicians make this arrangement a true masterpiece. Another notable highlight of this enchanting rendition is where Deelee's soulful interpretation pays homage to the late, great Ray Noble while infusing it with her unique artistry.
It is not just her extraordinary voice that sets Deelee Dubé apart; her passion for social justice is deeply ingrained in her artistry. Deelee breathes life into the long-forgotten lyrics, highlighting the original narrative and significance of the Indigenous Native Indian Cherokee tribe, and masterfully echoes Noble’s original intention of drawing visibility to those seeking equality, compassion, and freedom, revealing an artist with an unwavering commitment to making a positive impact through her music.
In conclusion, we are delighted to present Deelee Dubé's single, "Cherokee," for your GRAMMY® consideration. This exceptional body of work effortlessly combines musical brilliance, heartfelt lyrical content, and an unwavering commitment to social change. We wholeheartedly believe that Deelee Dubé's talent deserves recognition, and we trust that the Recording Academy™ will see immense value in her contribution to the music industry.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Warm regards,
Team Deelee Dubé
Deelee Dubé Representative
“The first-named is the only British winner so far of the Sarah Vaughan Award. But we can claim her as one of ours, since she’s the daughter of the late pianist-composer Jabu Nkosi and the grand-daughter of legendary bandleader Zacks Nkosi. Her version of Ray Noble’s Cherokee resurrects the song’s lyrics, long neglected in favour of competitively breakneck horn solos that never ever quite match Clifford Brown’s original. Dube lets the song breathe, respects the story it tells, and demonstrates classic but still imaginative vocal technique.”
Behind the Track… #Cherokee
This slow-ballad arrangement was masterfully created by Spanish jazz pianist Juan Galiardo who, along with Spanish drummer Jose Luis Gómez, first collaborated with me back in 2017 for a concert held at the Auditorio Revellín in Ceuta Spain, which was an exciting adventure and awesome debut performance for International Jazz Day organised in collaboration with the association La Coctelera and UNESCO. In 2020 we recorded this unique version of Cherokee which has blossomed into the stuff that dreams are made of!✨
Rafa Sibajas plays on double bass, and the first time we played together was for two special concerts in Malaga and Algeciras. These are the skilled players that you hear on this recording, originally commissioned by the Brecon Jazz Festival in 2020. Thank you all for listening! 🎶
Juan Galiardo’s Trio
Juan Galiardo (Piano / Arranger)
Rafa Sibajas (Acoustic Bass)
Jose Luis Gomez (Drums)
Juan Galiardo, Spanish Jazz Pianist / Arranger
Photo by Alejandro Garcia Hurtado
Behind the Lyrics… #Cherokee
#vocaljazz #jazzstandard #loveballads
Besides the song’s melody and its changes, I have always had a thing for the lyrics. Although the inspiration behind its lyrics is fairly clear, I often wonder where its root of inspiration stems from. Read on. Admittedly I’ve grown quite accustomed to delivering uptempo and medium swing renditions of this Ray Noble classic, but I think I also enjoy singing it as a ballad mostly because I get to savour its words, narrative, and melody with feeling and meaning, as well as utilise space and time as a canvass on which to paint with my voice. Cherokee is a jazz standard written by the British composer and band leader Ray Noble and was published in 1938. It is the first of five movements in Noble's "Indian Suite" (Cherokee, Comanche War Dance, Iroquois, Seminole, and Sioux Sue. To date, there has been no recorded account or interpretation of Cherokee with Noble’s original lyrics performed as a vocal jazz ballad. However, I am aware that the standard has been recorded & performed by various notable jazz, swing, and bebop instrumentalists & musicians in the usual uptempo swing and modern contemporary styles, & the original composition pertains to a form that is played at 150 Beats Per Minute (Allegro), or 38 Measures/Bars Per Minute. Time Signature: 4/4 with a 64-bar AABA construction. The B-segment segues from B Major to A Major to G Major before going to the B Flat tonic, which many early soloists found difficult to improvise on. It has since been recorded by over 300 performers. (Wiki) I've often wondered what really underpinned Noble’s inspiration to write these remarkably beautiful lyrics that resonate so deeply & it goes without saying that the narrative is one of love and protection directed to that of the leading protagonist; the brave Native Indian Cherokee.
Nominations
This was my first-ever visit to Johannesburg and it was met with so much excitement and emotional overwhelm; the love was real and I am so pleased to see how well Cherokee is being received on an international level! I am equally thankful for the unforgettable moments, meetings, and nominations.✨Congratulations to all the winners and nominees at the 7th Annual Mzantsi Jazz Awards. @zajazzawards @sowetotheatres 🙏
I truly feel my late Father, Jabu, and Grandfather Zacks Nkosi smiling from on high✨
Cherokee promotional video (Artistic layout)
“An unusual treatment of the Ray Noble song “Cherokee”, delivered here as a jazz ballad, with Dube singing the now rarely heard lyrics. Her sensual and soulful vocals were complemented by Galiardo’s lyrical piano solo, it was so good to hear him on a ‘proper’ grand piano, and the sensitive backing of bass and drums, with Gomez’s deft brushwork a notable feature. I’m so used to hearing “Cherokee” played at breakneck speed in the bebop idiom by Clifford Brown and others that it was a bit of an eye and ear opener to hear it performed like this.”
Cherokee (YouTube Music Video)
“As a vocalist [Dubé] increasingly sings with integrity, the potential for her performance to touch audiences—and judges—rises exponentially.”