FYC Best Arrangement, Instruments & Vocals

John Finbury, Thalma De Freitas, Emilio D. Miler

Ring The Bells

Ring The Bells

Credits

Music by John Finbury & Thalma de Freitas
Lyrics by Thalma de Freitas
Vocals Thalma de Freitas
Piano John Finbury
Arrangement John Finbury, Thalma de Freitas & Emilio D. Miler
Produced by Emilio D. Miler & John Finbury
Mix Engineer Ari Lavigna
Mastering Engineer Carlos Freitas
Vocals Recorded by Daniel “Vago” Galindo at Heritage Recording Co.
Piano Recorded by Bob Patton at Thin Ice Productions

Cover Art – Mayra Muniz
Creative Direction – Patrick McDonough
Graphic Design – Michael Gurley

FYC Best Improvised Jazz Solo

Camille Bertault / Vocals

Look at What a Mess You Made of Me

Look at What a Mess You Made of Me

Credits

 Music by John Finbury
Lyrics by Ned Claflin, Patty Brayden & John Finbury
Vocals Camille Bertault
Bass Christian McBride
Produced By Emilio D. Miler & John Finbury
Mix Engineer Ari Lavigna
Mastering Engineer Alan Silverman

Cover Art – Patrick McDonough
Creative Direction – Patrick McDonough
Graphic Design – Michael Gurley

On February 11, 2021, Chick Corea’s passing was announced.

John Finbury sat at his piano in Massachusetts that night and responded to the sad news by playing a somber, repetitive passage that seemed to provide solace. He made a phone recording and sent it to his friend, singer Thalma de Freitas. The next morning, Thalma woke up in Los Angeles, listened to the music, and was inspired to improvise a melody and lyrics on top of John’s piano motif. She sent a voice recording back to John, and a song was born.

“Look At What A Mess You Made Of Me” is the first single to emerge from the artistic collaboration between French Jazz prodigy Camille Bertault and Grammy and Latin Grammy-nominated composer John Finbury.

With lyrics by Ned Claflin, Patty Brayden and the composer, this music features Finbury’s blend of Jazz and Vaudeville traditions with a nod to the “Roaring 20s”, past and present. The song needed a singer who could bring just the right playful approach to interpretation, which led the composer and his producer, Emilio D. Miler, to reach out to Camille Bertault, who quickly embraced the project.

The bass chair belongs to Christian McBride, who achieves a stunning balance of brawny playing with a sense of humor.

Ring The Bells

Lyrics by Thalma de Freitas

All the praises all the feelings
Ring the Bells
From beyond until the sunrise
Ring The Bells
Body vessel of a masterpiece
Ring the Bells

Man of good and simple righteousness
Ring The Bells
Key for life
Ring The Bells

Look at What a Mess You Made of Me

Lyrics by Ned Claflin, Patty Brayden & John Finbury

Look at what a mess you made of me
I’m a crossed-eye, rambling wreck
You made me fall in love with you
and really made a mess of me

Look at what a mess you made of me
Love took us for a spin
We went so fast, you made a pass
and really made a mess of me

Your eyes just drive me crazy and,
Your voice it makes me smile
Your shoulders, your countenance, etcetera
You just drive me wild, oh

Look at what a mess you made of me
My buttons are all undone
You made me fall in love with you
and really made a mess of me

Look at what a mess you made of me
My life is on the bedroom floor
I’m all apart, and half-way crazed
for every bit of hell you raised
I love you but I’m still amazed
What a horrible, beautiful,
mess you made of me.