Drawing us in with a delicate jazz-adjacent soundscape and the lyrics, “I had a crush on your back then, now your message makes me smile, you say you’d like to see me again…”, The Cumberland River Project set the tone for Turquoise Blue with elegance and intrigue.
The opus expands with cinemas allure as we are taken on an intimate journey with notions of relatability and instrumental mastery. We appreciate the narrative based songwriting, and the high emotional quotient that manifests with metaphorical depth and poetic prowess.
Valen‘s vocal performance is sublime, with soaring moments and a tender, warmth. We learn that the song was written and produced by Frank Renfordt and also features Josue Garcia’s trumpet, which adds a smooth and emotional layer along with a sensational solo, whilst Lucio Cheli’s drums give the song drive.
The arrangement is expressive and atmospheric, genre expansive at its core – blending soul, jazz, and Americana influences. Renfordt himself plays acoustic guitar, bass, piano, and programs drums. Turquoise Blue feels perfect for a 007 James Bond film or a majestic movie set in Monaco.
Starting at age ten with his first guitar chords, stepping back for family life, and returning to music later in life, Frank brings authenticity to his work. Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added Turquoise Blue to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of The Cumberland River Project, including Pictures Of The Past, and Let It Rain, and anticipate future releases from the collective.