Real Good for Free: Spencer Day @ Hudson Waterfront Park, 8/21/09

A year ago, Spencer Day was singing at the Tanglewood Jazz Weekend. Now, with his new album slated to drop on Tuesday, September 8, the up-and-coming vocalist-songwriter-pianist is headed into the Hudson Waterfront Park in Hudson for a free concert at 7pm on Friday, August 21.

The new 14-song album, “Vagabond,” marks Day’s debut for the Concord Jazz label, but he doesn’t seem too concerned about sticking strictly to the confines of jazz.

“I wanted to create a musical hybrid,” says Day. “I’ve drawn from the Great American Songbook quite a bit in the past, but I really wanted to infuse this album with a more contemporary aesthetic and also draw on some influences from the early ’60s, like Burt Bacharach, Roy Orbison and Dusty Springfield.

“I wanted to create a sound that could stand alone and not be easily put into one category, but at the same time appeal to a broad range of listeners.”

Indeed, while Day’s earlier efforts were primarily concerned with standards, with “Vagabond” Day has asserted himself as a songwriter, penning a dozen of the songs himself and co-authoring the other two.

And while there’s definitely an element of jazz to his music – especially in Day’s nimble phrasing – nobody’s ever going to confuse him with Mark Murphy or Jon Hendricks. In fact, it’s safe to say that Day’s new album isn’t jazz at all, but rather straight-forward adult pop that would be at home alongside Rufus Wainwright or Nellie McKay.

In case of rain, the concert will be moved indoors to the Hudson Opera House.

Previously:
Real Good for Free: David Malachowski and the Woodstock Allstars @ Athens Riverfront Park (8/21/09)
Real Good for Free: C. Ryder Cooley’s “Singing Tree” @ Dorsky Museum, New Paltz (8/20/09)
Real Good for Free: Lake George Jazz Weekend (9/19-20)
Real Good for Free: Central Avenue Farmers Market (Saturdays)
Real Good for Free: LarkFEST!!!!!!!! (Sept. 19)
Real Good for Free: Castleton Library (Thursdays)
Real Good for Free: Riverfront Park, Athens (Fridays)
Real Good for Free: Albany Jazz Festival @ Riverfront Park (Sept. 12)
Real Good for Free: The Fabulous Folk Fest @ Bolton Landing (Sept. 6)
Real Good for Free: Spencer Day in Hudson(Friday, August 21)
Real Good for Free: Big Soul Ensemble @ Tess’ Lark Tavern (Tuesdays)
Real Good for Free: Lake Luzerne (Thursdays)
Real Good for Free: Dutchman’s Landing, Catskill (Thursdays)
Real Good For Free: The Crossings in Colonie (Thursdays)
Real Good For Free: Rensselaer Riverfront Park (Wednesdays)
Real Good for Free: Kids’ shows in Troy (Wednesdays at noon)
Real Good for Free: Valatie’s Glynn Square (Sundays)
Real Good for Free: Schaghticoke Town Hall Gazebo (Thursdays)
Real Good For Free: Brunswick Community Center (Tuesdays)
Real Good for Free: Thurman (Mondays)
Real Good for Free: Sharon Springs (Wednesdays)
Real Good for Free: Rock-It in Schenectady (Fridays)
Real Good for Free: Bethlehem Public Library (Wednesdays)
Real Good for Free: East Greenbush Comm. Library (Wednesdays)
Real Good for Free: Stony Creek Town Park (Tuesdays)
Real Good For Free: RiverLink Park, Amsterdam (Saturdays)
Real Good For Free: Halfmoon (Wednesdays)
Real Good For Free: Chestertown (Thursdays)
Real Good for Free: Bolton Landing (Tuesdays)
Real Good for Free: Greenport Park, Hudson (Fridays)
Real Good for Free: The Sounds of Salem (Saturday mornings)
Real Good for Free: Latin Fest @ Washington Park (Sat. Aug. 29)
Real Good For Free: Schenectady Central Park (Sunday afternoons)
Real Good For Free: Clifton Park (Sundays)
Real Good for Free: Albany Public Library (Third Fridays)
Real Good for Free: At The Plaza, Albany (Wednesdays)
Real Good for Free: Skidmore’s Tang Museum (Fridays)
Real Good For Free: Freedom Park, Scotia (Various days)
Real Good For Free: Jazz on Jay (Thursdays at noon)
Real Good For Free: Cook Park, Colonie (Tuesdays)
Real Good For Free: Lake George (Wednesdays)
Real Good For Free: Guilderland (Thursdays)
Real Good For Free: Powers Park (Saturdays)