We Speak Music

Cold Blue launches Cold Blue Records with ‘Redemption’

Published

2 years ago

February 3, 2023

The exact relationship between Cold Blue’s name and Tobias Schuh’s affection for chillier titles & imagery (none more evident than on ‘Winter’ – his 2019 debut artist album) is still tbc. This is a time of year however that clearly appeals to both Tobias’s outward-bound sensibilities and creative drive.

In keeping, Cold Blue kicks 2023 off with a new floor-entrancing production, the catalogue number of which (CBR001) may lend a significant clue to the label it’s arriving on. Today, with ‘Redemption’, Tobias opens the doors of Cold Blue Records with a track set to delivers shivers of the singularly uplifting variety!

Of the move, Tobias says, “a record label bearing the Cold Blue name has been a dream of mine for many years. It would allow me to expand artistically and carry not only my own music direct to fans, but also that of other artists, whose studio work speaks to me. Therefore, I’m thrilled to announce that with ‘Redemption,my first single of 2023,’, this has come to fruition. I’m greatly looking forward to all the possibilities that will come along with it, and in bringing Cold Blue Records’ music to your floors and doors!”

Behind ‘Redemption’s sombre winter-scape exterior lies a track with peak time on its mind and the tempo, tone and trajectory to send it there! Superheat the season at hand with ‘Redemption’ on Cold Blue Records – available now through all major streaming and sales platforms here [https://cbr.complete.me/redemption].

Tracklist:
01: Cold Blue – Redemption (Original Mix)
02: Cold Blue – Redemption (Extended Remix)

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We Speak Music

Canadian Jazz Vocalist Heather Ward Releases New Album Gilded & Silver, A Tribute to Musical Mentors and Legacy

Published

13 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Olivia Long

Following the success of her debut solo album Honeysweet, Canadian-born, Seattle-based jazz vocalist Heather Ward returns with a luminous new collection, Gilded & Silver. The album is available now on all major streaming platforms.

“I had several tracks still in the can after releasing Honeysweet,” Ward explains, “so I decided to add a few more and release a second album.” With this spirit of continuity and creativity, Gilded & Silver emerged — blending original compositions with artful arrangements, and once again showcasing Ward’s nuanced voice and deep musical roots.

Once again, Heather partnered collaboratively with Dave Houghton, and recorded under the expert mixing of Ben Lange at Lange Recording Studios. The ensemble includes John Hansen and Aidan Ward-Richter (who also helped reharmonize several tunes) on piano, Moe Weisner and Shaina Ward Siegel on bass, Luca Cartner on drums, with Kate Olson and Jory Tindall on saxes and flute, and Carey Rayburn on trumpet.

The album’s title is drawn from a lyric in one of Ward’s originals, “Into the Music,” a song written in tribute to her Canadian jazz mentor, Hugh Fraser, and her uncle, Joe Edmonds — both of whom passed away from cancer during the pandemic. “Hugh often said, ‘I’m just so into the music,’” recalls Ward. “This track honors both him and my uncle Joe, who were huge musical influences on me.

Ward’s journey from visual arts to jazz began while performing at gallery openings, which led her to formal music studies at Vancouver Community College and Capilano University, where she earned a degree in Jazz Performance. She has trained with legends like Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, and Hugh Fraser through programs including the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Vancouver International Jazz Orchestra Workshops.

Since relocating to Seattle in 1997, Ward has made her mark as a performer, voice teacher, and mentor. She teaches privately as a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and regularly performs at jazz venues, cabarets, and theater productions throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Gilded & Silver stands as both a celebration of personal artistry and a heartfelt homage to the teachers and loved ones who shaped Ward’s musical life.