For those unaware, the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra (CJRO) is releasing its most ambitious and soulful project yet — Golden Lady (releasing August 8th, 2025) is a genre-defying album that showcases the power, passion, and virtuosity led by vocalist Tatiana LadyMay Mayfield.

This electrifying album reimagines Stevie Wonder’s Golden Lady and Jill Scott’s Golden in a soulful mashup that sets the tone for the entire project. Brimming with groove-forward arrangements and original compositions, Golden Lady highlights the artistry of Black women songwriters and showcases the vibrant talent of the CJRO’s full jazz orchestra.

With standout moments like Metamorphosis (a personal and musical evolution by Mayfield), Hold Tight (featuring saxophone icon Bob Reynolds), and Red Cedar Road (a heartfelt tribute by composer Jared Cathey), the album pulses with life, joy, and improvisational fire.

Arranged and produced by CJRO Artistic Director Drew Zaremba, this release proves that a modern big band can honor the roots of R&B and gospel while forging a fresh, contemporary sound.

Whether you’re a jazz aficionado or discovering CJRO for the first time, Golden Lady is a must-listen: emotional, danceable, and deeply expressive.

1. Hold Tight
2. Golden Lady
3. Side Step
4. Dreamcatcher
5. Metamorphosis
6. Red Cedar Road
7. It’s Whatever
8. Living All Alone
9. Tundra
10. You’ll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)

This groove-forward, joy-filled celebration of songwriting opens on the frenetically-charged Hold Tight and then we get the soulful title cut Golden Lady, the luxuriantly mid-tempo Side Step, the heartfelt Dreamcatcher, before the impassioned Metamorphosis is brought forth.

Along next is the propellently catchy Red Cedar Road which is itself backed by the elegant It’s Whatever, a dutifully stirring Living All Alone, the set coming to a close on the veritably cinematic Tundra, closing on the foot to the musical dancefloor, swirls and twirls of the upbeat and joyful You’ll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart).

Golden Lady / CJRO (mashup arrangement by Drew Zaremba)

www.coloradojazz.org

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