With BLUER THAN BLUE, O’Doherty honors Lil Hardin Armstrong’s legacy while adding her own voice to the conversation, thoughtful, fresh, and true to the spirit of the music.
Outside In Music
Caili O’Doherty – Piano, Arrangments; Tamir Shmerling – Upright Bass; Cory Cox – Drums; Nicole Glover – Tenor Saxophone; Tahira Clayton – Vocals; Michael Mayo – Vocals
I was excited to hear that Caili O’Doherty was releasing an album dedicated to Lil Hardin Armstrong’s music. I knew Lil had been a key member of Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven, as well as King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band. What surprised me was learning about her long and successful career afterward, even writing hits for artists like Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin.
What really makes BLUER THAN BLUE stand out is the care behind every musical choice. O’Doherty not only nails the arrangements but also shows a keen sense for selecting the right tunes from Hardin’s catalog. She strikes a balance between the familiar and the rarely heard, offering listeners a mix of what they know and fresh discoveries that only add to her artistic stature.
The core trio of the album includes bandleader Caili O’Doherty on piano, bassist Tamir Shmerling, and drummer Cory Cox. O’Doherty added an impressive group of musicians, including tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover and vocalists Tahira Clayton and Michael Mayo.
‘Let’s Call It Love,’ the album’s first single, was composed by Hardin in 1937 and released on Decca Records. O’Doherty reimagines the original by shifting the rhythm to a more syncopated, flowing Cuban 12/8 beat. She also doubles the bassline, using both the upright bass and the piano’s left hand. You might not even notice the subtlety of this, though, as Michael Mayo’s vocals and scatting easily steal the spotlight. Mayo has a gorgeous, soulful voice, but he’s not afraid to stretch its limits.
On ‘Clip Joint,’ the piano rumbles under Mayo’s humming, setting a moody foundation before the piano breaks into a playful little rhythm. Tahira Clayton sings, twisting and stretching notes on the spot, reshaping them in the moment. Nicole Glover steps in with a sharp, hard-bop-tinged tenor sax solo, while bassist Shmerling and drummer Cox lock in with tight, dynamic rhythms. Clayton’s scatting mirrors her singing, molding sounds like a potter shaping clay, turning raw notes into something fluid and beautiful. O’Doherty, ever intuitive with singers, connects deeply with Clayton; each piano phrase feels like an extension of her voice.
Louis Armstrong made Lil Hardin Armstrong’s composition ‘Struttin’ With Some Barbecue’ famous, and it’s a perfect fit for solo stride piano. O’Doherty plays it true to the original, her left hand pumping out a steady, percussive pulse while her right hand delivers sharp, syncopated melodies.
I asked O’Doherty what she would ask Lil Hardin Armstrong if given the chance. “I would ask her what advice she would have for women musicians today,” she said. “I’d also ask what it was like as a Black woman in the early 1900s, playing in nightclubs. What adversity did she face, and what inspired her to keep going? I would also thank her for paving the way.”
With BLUER THAN BLUE, O’Doherty honors Lil Hardin Armstrong’s legacy while adding her own voice to the conversation, thoughtful, fresh, and true to the spirit of the music.
