Jazz Beauty: Vocalist Sherine Wong bodes to romance American hearts with her first US album, “3 & More,” a trio-based project culled from the Great American songbook.
Beauty, romance, and jazz. Former Miss Malaysia Universe winner Sherine Wong fell in love with the romance of the Great American songbook and became a jazz singer. After releasing two albums in Asian territories, she now has her sights set on seducing the American market with the release of her first US release, “3 & More,” an acoustic jazz album now available from Universal Music Hong Kong.
“3 & More” is a collection of ten standards that began with Wong accompanied by a trio. From there, various world-class producers, musicians, arrangers, and engineers - Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar Competition winner Jesse van Ruller, Japanese vocalist and flugelhornist TOKU, trombonist Dree Peremans, guitarist Eugene Pao, trumpeter, flugelhornist, and drummer Stéphane Belmondo; and Paul Pouwer (Power Sound Studios) - added the rich color and crafted lavish backdrops decorated by horns, enhancing the trio into lush ten-piece band productions. Front and center is Wong’s bewitching voice, which ranges from soothing and sensual to graceful, impassioned and lovelorn.
As she worked on the album comprised of timeless classics from such iconic composers as George & Ira Gershwin, Richard Rogers, and Bill Evans, Wong shared glimpses into “3 & More” with the release of the singles “On Green Dolphin Street” last November, “Tenderly” in June, and “Moonglow” last month. Now comes the complete collection mastered by three-time GRAMMY® winner Bernie Grundman, poised to introduce the US to this captivating chanteuse who reimagines songs made famous by such legendary jazz vocalists as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, and Julie London.
“3 & More” opens with “Waltz for Debby,” which features Pao.
“I remember hanging out at Eugene’s (Pao) place, randomly listening through his exquisite vinyl collection. The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans album ignited our collaboration on ‘Waltz for Debby.’ My daughter, Elizabeth, is turning four this November. I have this fear of missing precious moments with her. I want to be present to witness her every journey. She is growing up so fast, perhaps too fast. The lyrics in this song speak to that,” said the Hong Kong-based Wong who is from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Elizabeth also factored into Wong’s decision to record “On Green Dolphin Street,” a tune that has been recorded by such seminal artists as Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Nancy Wilson, and Mel Tormé.
“What drew me to this song is the melody. But at the same time, Elizabeth was very much in love with anything to do with dolphins and she still is. So, I suggested the song to Jesse (van Ruller), and he worked his magic by producing, arranging, and playing guitar on the track,” Wong recalled.
On “Moonglow,” Wong shares the spotlight with TOKU, who sings, produces and plays flugelhorn on several tracks on “3 & More.” She explains, “I genuinely enjoy learning new music. TOKU recommended that we perform this particular song as a duet, and I must say, the warm tone of his flugelhorn really enhanced the arrangement. I am genuinely excited to add this beautiful romantic ballad to our set.”
Chet Baker’s version of “Everything Happens to Me” fueled Wong’s desire to record her own version.
“The captivating melody combined with Chet’s soulful vocals draws me in every time. The juxtaposition of melancholic lyrics against such a beautiful melody makes this song one of my all-time favorites.”
First introduced by Fred Astaire, Wong elected to record the Gershwins’ “A Foggy Day” for personal reasons.
“My husband (musician and the album’s executive producer Clem Fung) always requests that I sing ‘A Foggy Day.’ I am deeply moved by its beautiful melody and the lyrics as they echo the sentiments of our own love story,” said Wong.
Another standout track is “A Beautiful Friendship,” one of four numbers produced and arranged on the album by Peremans.
“I can still vividly recall stumbling upon one of the earliest renditions of this song, beautifully performed by Alexis Cole and Bucky Pizzarelli. The song has remained with me ever since, captivating me with its intimate instrumentation and romantic lyrics. When Dree (Peremans) proposed the idea of interpreting this song with his large ensemble, I initially struggled to envision the outcome. However, to my surprise, Dree presented a remarkable arrangement that I simply couldn’t turn down,” shared Wong.
“3 & More” builds on the evolutionary concept of Wong’s second album, “Two For The Road (Duo Concept Album),” which dropped in 2021. Her self-titled debut disc was released in 2018. Wong studied, trained, and learned jazz through mentorships with top musicians in Hong Kong, Japan, Europe, and New York City. As a teenager, she was a track and field athlete who competed in the Asian Junior Games. An exquisite and stunning beauty, Wong won the Miss Malayasia Universe crown in 1998. A model and an actor, she has been the face in print and television ads for such global brands as HSBC, Vidal Sassoon, Levi’s, Samsung, Shiseido, and the Malaysian Tourist Board.
Wong, who launched the album with a performance last Sunday (October 27) at the Hong Kong West Kowloon Jazz Festival on a marquee topped by GRAMMY® winner Herbie Hancock, is excited about her first American album release.
“I’ve always dreamed about releasing a jazz album in the U.S. and hopefully performing there, too. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with an open heart. Keep the dream alive!”
“3 & More” contains the following songs:
“Waltz for Debby”
“On Green Dolphin Street”
“Tenderly”
“Don’t Be On The Outside”
“Moonglow”
“September in the Rain”
“Everything Happens to Me”
“A Foggy Day”
“A Beautiful Friendship”
“My Heart Stood Still”
For more information: https://www.sherinewong.com https://umhk.lnk.to/3andMoreOD?lf_source=qr
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