Minding The Modern

George Clooney's 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck is set in New York City during the '50s, and the director decided the right music to go with the black-and-white cinematography was jazz. More specifically, current recordings from vocalist Dianne Reeves and a small combo featuring some silky smooth tenor and alto sax from Matt Catingub, Peter Martin on piano, and Jeff Hamilton on drums with Robert Hurst and Christoph Luty splitting bass duties. The tunes are mostly classic ballads and smoky standards (all picked by Clooney) that Reeves and the group handle with a satisfyingly light touch. She gives the songs plenty of emotion but never over-sings, lending the recording a very intimate feel.

" I had songs recorded in the 80s, in the 90s, in the 2000s, and 2010s, but I never once had the joy of hearing one of the songs that I wrote from the perspective of a Black woman recorded by a Black woman. With this project…I hope to change that." - Alice Randall

" I had songs recorded in the 80s, in the 90s, in the 2000s, and 2010s, but I never once had the joy of hearing one of the songs that I wrote from the perspective of a Black woman recorded by a Black woman. With this project…I hope to change that." - Alice Randall. Alice Randall is a New York Times bestselling novelist, award-winning songwriter, and educator. She is widely recognized as one of the most significant voices in modern Black fiction. She lives in Nashville where she writes country songs. We are honored to partner with Alice Randall and a community of Black, female musicians to bring you My Black Country - The Songs of Alice Randall. Alice Randall has written songs performed by Glen Campbell, Moe Bandy, Marie Osmond, Jo-El Sonier, Judy Rodman, Radney Foster, Holly Dunn, and Trisha Yearwood. She is the first Black woman to have a number-one hit on the country charts. Her influence in country music and as a voice in the Black community is immense. Here we present a collection of Alice's songs re-imagined and re-recorded by Black female artists from around America.