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For the past year, pianist Tomás Jonsson & vocalist Elijah Thiessen have been collaborating to record and produce an exciting new album prospectively entitled The Unsung Sinatra. Everybody knows “Fly Me to the Moon” and “My Way” but far fewer have had the opportunity to appreciate his more obscure “deep cuts,” forgotten songs that also deserve their place in the Great American Songbook. This album creatively reimagines these hidden gems in a way that honors the past without recreating it, breathing new life into them for contemporary audiences.
So far, arranging and recording (Stage 1) have been fully completed with the generous support of previous donors. Through institutional grant funding, we are well on our way to finishing the mixing process (Stage 2). However, in order to successfully release this project, final mixing and mastering (Stage 3) still needs to be done. After that, we will move on to distribution and promotion (Stage 4), vital components of any successful release.
Releasing an album of this scale is an immensely ambitious task. This album will feature 10 tracks …
Track List
1. Impromptu Overture
2. The French Foreign Legion
3. Should I?
4. Sheila
5. Deep in a Dream
6. Interlude
7. All I Need Is The Girl
8. Maybe You’ll Be There
9. Why Try to Change Me Now?
10. I Guess I’ll Have to Dream The Rest
In addition to Elijah’s vocals and Tomás’s piano playing, this album will feature some of Dallas’s finest jazz musicians …
- Brad Leali (Count Basie, Lyle Lovett, and Harry Connick, Jr. bands) on alto and tenor sax, bringing fiery virtuosity and soulful blues inflections.
- Henry Beal (session musician on projects including House of Cards) on Double Bass, asserting his driving swing feel and warm tone.
- Steve Barnes (ABC TV, Tommy Dorsey Big Band, Sonny Stitt) on the drumset. We picked Steve for his clever touch and creative orchestration of the drumset.
- Jeffery Chaidez (rising star Dallas-based conguero) on auxiliary percussion. We picked Jeffery for his resonant tone on the congas and tight rhythmic feel.
- Recording/Mixing work by industry veteran Kent Stump of Crystal Clear Studios (NPR, Charlie Puth, Kirk Franklin). We picked Kent for his speed and attentiveness, along with his studio’s ideal recording environment for acoustic jazz.
- Recording/Mixing work by industry veteran Andy Bradley of Wire Road Studios (Willie Nelson, Herb Ellis, Itzhak Perlman). We picked Andy for his mastery at recording the solo piano (featured on tracks 1 and 6).
Thanks to our previous donors, we have been able to record an album that represents the best work of our professional lives so far. We are so excited to share it with you, and with continued support through the final stages we are confident that this project will be a success.
About the Artists…
Tomás Jonsson
Described as “extraordinarily talented” by Houston Public Media, Tomás Jonsson is an internationally recognized pianist and composer based in the Baltimore Area and an alumnus of the legendary One O'Clock Lab Band®. In February of 2024, Tomás won 2nd Place (and Best Jazz Ballad) at the UNISA International Jazz Piano Competition in Pretoria, South Africa. In May of 2023, Tomás won 1st Place at the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition. He is known for his ability to perform with any lineup, in any genre, for any audience. His experience in historically-Black Baptist churches has infused his playing with a gospel sensibility that is uncommon for a classically trained musician. Tomás has performed or recorded with celebrated artists including Benny Benack III, Ulysses Owens, Jr., Reuben Rogers, Caity Gyorgy, and Nick Finzer.
Elijah Thiessen
Known for his warm tone, inventive phrasing, and deep love for the Great American Songbook, Elijah Thiessen is a jazz vocalist, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist from Marshalltown, Iowa. He currently studies jazz voice with Rosana Eckert and Jennifer Barnes at the University of North Texas. Elijah has been recognized seven times by DownBeat Magazine across multiple categories and has performed at national conferences including the Jazz Education Network and the American Choral Directors Association. He sang with the UNT Two O’Clock Lab Band during the 2023–2024 season and is a current member of the UNT Jazz Singers.