The first single release from Chris Murray's "Classics (featuring Gabe Preston)" which is set to release in January 2025. Inspired by Johnny Hartman's original take of the same ballad.
Lead vocals: Christopher Murray
Tenor saxophone: Gabe Preston
Piano: Christian Smith
Upright bass: Omeed Nyman
Drums: Jack Thomas
Mixing/mastering: Glenn Barratt from Morningstar Studios in East Norriton, PA

I Just Dropped By To Say Hello

The debut album of rising star jazz vocalist Chris Murray, CLASSICS exemplifies the sheer versatility of his performance capabilities through a wide variety of modernized arrangements of classic standards of different styles of jazz ranging from blues to gospel to latin to smoky to pop. Backed by his band, Soul Frequency, the album also features a spotlight on woodwind multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire Gabe Preston on every track of the album (except for the last), and plays a significant role in the structure of the arrangements through melodic approach. This album aims to have something for everyone no matter what the jazz background may be, and sets the foreground for future performances of the dynamic lead vocalist to come.
credits
released January 24, 2025

LEAD VOCALS

Christopher Murray

GUEST RAPPER

Donte Young AKA “RC”


RHYTHM SECTION

Christian Smith - keyboard

Christopher Farrell - 1st guitar

Louis Lobron - 2nd guitar

Bill Rupp - electric bass guitar

Omeed Nyman - upright bass

Youba Cissokho - kora (track 10)



PERCUSSION

Chino Figueroa - congas & bongos

John Bogansky - auxiliary perc.

Matthew Chenery - auxiliary perc.



DRUMS

Matthew Chenery - tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, & 10

Jack Thomas - tracks 3 & 6

John Bogansky - track 8



HORNS

Gabe Preston - soprano/alto/tenor/baritone saxophones, flute, clarinet

Daniel Spearman - trumpet

Owen Thorndike - trumpet

Omeed Nyman - trombone

Lawrence Galloway - trombone (track 3)

Evan Harris - alto saxophone (track 3)



STRINGS

Gabe Miller - violin

Vilmé Joselin - violin

Zebadiah Coombs - viola

Marcela Reina - cello



BACKING VOCALS

Matthew Chenery

Ayesha Wilkerson

Damon Wilkerson

Don Juan

Leanna Lilee

Christopher Murray



ARRANGEMENTS

Christopher Murray

Matthew Chenery

Gabe Preston

Bill Rupp



ENGINEER

Glenn Barratt



PRODUCER

Christopher Murray



CO-PRODUCER

Glenn Barratt & Gabe Preston



EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Christopher Murray

Nature Boy

Night In Tunisia

My Funny Valentine

Summertime

God Bless The Child

Smile (feat. Leanna Lilee)

Nature Boy (acoustic, feat. Stephen Eshewsky)

Intro

My Way

Jazz & blues from Philadelphia arranging classics such as "Summertime" and "My Way" to a modern twist

ChrisMurraySoulFrequency

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