Life is a journey in which we encounter many things- love, loss, joy, despair, hope… Art mirrors life, the human experience. But it doesn’t just represent the experience, it is also very much a part of the experience. It is my mission to present music to the world that is a representation of my life experience, and to evoke a feeling of humanity in my audience. While I continually strive for excellence as a composer & player in technique, it is the message behind the music- the emotional communicate-- and the delivery of that message that is most important to me. The whole idea behind In Faith is that everything that has happened to me in my journey as a musician to this day, every person who has affected my life (whether they know it or not), every pitfall, struggle & setback, every word of encouragement, every defining moment, has led me to present this music to the world and has become a part of the music at the same time. Philo’s Groove was originally concieved as the soundtrack to my day-dreams of the time I spent in New York before moving there in August of 2007. My first encounter with the New York jazz scene was back in January of 2006. I reluctantly returned to Pittsburgh for the start of my fourth semester of college, and while I was in my Philosophy of Religeon class, zoned out to the music in my head with a sheet of manuscript paper while the professor gave a lecture about a hellenistic philosopher named Philo… airgo, Philo’s Groove. The title track of the album, In Faith, represents the idea of humanity- reaching out to one another. Everyone has a dream; In faith, all things are possible. This song was inspired by & is dedicated to my close friend & mentour Sean Jones, who played an instrumental part in showing me my potential as a musician as well as the importance of being a good person, and he lead by example. In Faith (Mobetta Remix) the result of my musical collaboration with and is dedicated to my other close friend & mentour, Maurice “Mobetta“ Brown. Maurice is another amazing young trumpet player and rising star on the music scene as both a player & producer, and he picked up where Sean left off when I moved to New York & started working on this project. Sentiments of Solitude is a love song inspired by the writings of the German philosopher & poet Rainer Maria Rilke. Rilke says that between the closest people, infinite distances will always exist, and if you really love someone, you will make yourself the guardian on your partner’s solitude. Sometimes it can be difficult to give someone the space they need when you really love them. I wrote this song as I was dealing with that difficulty, and in the midst of my own reflection, realized how important my own solitude was to me, especially as a musician & composer. This song is dedicated to my teacher, Branford Marsalis, who turned me on to Rilke’s work. 601 is a song about desire. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can’t get that certain someone (or something…) off your mind and it can drive you crazy. This is one of my earliest compositions and was inspired in part by some of my favorite contemporary band leaders- Jeff “Tain” Watts & Roy Hargrove. Letting Go is a song I wrote after experiencing love for the first time. When the relationship was over, I spent a long time feeling helpless, as though I had let it slip through my fingers, and I thought that it would be the end of me. As time went on, I realized that the only way we can move on to bigger & better things & make progress in life is to let go of the things we get hung up on- whether it’s a relationship, a job, an addiction, a bad habit, even a comfort zone that’s holding you back from your true potential. Doing so can pose great difficulties, but if you have faith in yourself & in your cause, you will weather the storm and be better for it in the end. Lovers’ Lullaby is a song written by Sean Jones, It’s about a typical evening between two lovers and the rise, fall & climax of making love. Compositionally, Lover’s Lullaby is the resolution to Letting Go; I was compelled to write Letting Go and to move on from my own loss after hearing this song for the fist time under the sentiment that as long as there is love, there is hope. This song is dedicated to Sean & his wife Greer. ‘Burgh Holla! is a tribute to my hometown, Pittsburgh: The city of bridges, steel-town, black & gold. This is how we get down back home: we root for the Steelers & we play the blues. The title is inspired by Pittsburgh native Jeff “Tain” Watts. This song is dedicated to anyone who is proud to say they’re from Pittsburgh. Water No Get Enemy is a tribute to Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Fela was a tenor saxophonist, composer, human rights activist & political maverick from Nigeria, and was the pioneer of afro-beat music. Corey Wilkes introduced me to Fela’s music during the summer of 2006 when I was in Chicago, and after I proposed the idea of doing this tribute to Maurice Brown, he put the horn to his lips & pulled out all the stops. Philo’s Groove………………..Chelsea Baratz Featuring Renee Nuefville on vocals Chelsea Baratz- tenor & alto saxophone Corey Wilkes- trumpet Andy Hunter- trombone Mike Murray- fender Rhodes Richie Goods- bass Jevon Rushton- drums In Faith (Mobetta Remix)….Chelsea Baratz Chelsea Baratz- tenor saxophone Maurice Brown- trumpet Raymond Angry- fender Rhodes Chris Rob- Moog synthesizer Jason Stewart- bass Sentiments of Solitude…Chelsea Baratz Chelsea Baratz- tenor saxophone Orrin Evans- piano Luques Curtis- bass Obed Calvaire- drums 601…………………………………..Chelsea Baratz Chelsea Baratz- tenor & alto saxophone Corey Wilkes- trumpet Andy Hunter- trombone Mike Murray- fender Rhodes Richie Goods- bass Jevon Rushton- drums Letting Go………………………Chelsea Baratz Chelsea Baratz- tenor saxophone Orrin Evans- piano Luques Curtis- bass Obed Calvaire- drums Lover’s Lullaby…………………….Sean Jones Chelsea Baratz- tenor saxophone Orrin Evans- piano Luques Curtis- bass Obed Calvaire- drums In Faith……………………………..Chelsea Baratz Chelsea Baratz- tenor saxophone Maurice Brown- flugelhorn Craig Handy- flute Orrin Evans- piano & Korg Triton Luques Curtis- bass Obed Calvaire- drums ‘Burgh Holla! (interlude)…….Chelsea Baratz Chelsea Baratz- tenor saxophone Corey Wilkes- trumpet Mike Murray- piano Richie Goods- bass Jevon Rushton- drums Water No Get Enemy……………….Fela Kuti Featuring Chris Rob on vocals Chelsea Baratz- soprano saxophone Corey Wilkes- trumpet Maurice Brown- trumpet Meilana Gillard- tenor saxophone Andy Hunter- trombone Raymond Angry- fender Rhodes Mike Murray- piano Richie Goods- bass Jevon Rushton- drums Butter- percussion *Bonus Track: Body & Soul……………..e. Heyman/J. Greene Featuring Raymond Angry on piano Chelsea Baratz- tenor saxophone Thanks To the creator: For the great blessing that is music, may we glorify life & spread love through this gift. To my family: Mom, dad, Katie Chris- thank you for all the unconditional love & support you’ve given me & for having faith in me. To my producer, Maurice Brown: “Mobetta makes it…” Mo, thank you for going above & beyond; for all the late nights in the lab, long days in the studio, and for taking my vision to another level & making it a reality. To my musicians: Corey, my brother from another mother- thank you, fam. Here’s to the rich future of music ahead of us. Mike, thanks for always being there for me & for all the time you put in to help me get to this point. Jevon, I’m so blessed to have come up with you back in Pittsburgh. Richie, you make me so proud to be from Pittsburgh!!! Raymond, I’m so lucky to have you n my life. You’re amazing; don’t ever change. Craig, you play so, so much flute, man. To Luques, Orrin & Obed- I couldn’t have made this music happen with out you. Orrin, it’s an honor to have you on this record. Thanks for looking out for me. Andy, thanks for holding me down. Meilana, thanks for giving me the support & information I needed to move out here. *To my special guests: Renee, thanks for your support & Friendship. Chris, you’re a musical force. TO ALL OF YOU thank you for bringing your amazing talent to the table. I love you all. To the masters: Branford Marsalis, Roger Humphries, Dwayne Dolphin, Sean Jones, Stacy Dillard, Roy Hargrove, Marcus Strickland,- Thank you all for reaching out to me & guiding me in my pursuit of the music. *Sean, thank you for all the inspiration & for having faith in me, you’re the big brother I never had & I love you! To my teachers: Glenn Wayland, Craig Madge, Frank Eisenreich, Jim Guerra, Steve Hawk, Terry Steele- thank you all for planting the seed of knowledge. To the Pittsburgh crew: Kenny Peagler, Tony DePaolis, Tony Campbell, Lou Stellute, Max Leak, Tim Jenkins, Howie Alexander, Chris Hemingway, Jacob Yoffee, James Johnson III, Clayton DeWalt, Jim Germann, and anyone else I left out- You’re my second family & I love you guys. Thank you all for your contributions to the Pittsburgh scene. In faith, all things are possible.