Give Way by Emily Mikesell & Kate Campbell Strauss

Emily Mikesell - trumpet and flugel horn
Kate Campbell Strauss - soprano, alto, tenor, bari saxophones

Give Way, a six-track album marks the debut collaboration between New Orleans musicians Kate Campbell Strauss and Emily Mikesell. Simple, sweet motifs and unexpected twists make the album sound like a fairytale, resplendent with new discoveries, moments of peril, and, above all else, an abiding tenderness. With each track, Campbell Strauss’s choir of saxophones and Mikesell’s layered trumpets cultivate a rich soundscape that both use as a canvas for musical exploration. Narrative cinematic tones reminiscent of Davis’s Sketches of Spain collide with the contemplative inflections of Philip Glass, as the restrained styles of Mikesell and Campbell Strauss leave ample space for the listener to join in on their sonic journeys.

The album, which originated as a project at the University of New Orleans during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, is a stunning tribute to the power of organic spontaneity in art – stitched into the album’s tapestry is the blossoming of the friendship between the two musicians. Drawn to one another’s musical versatility, and their affinity for subtlety over displays of technical mastery in their own art, the two quickly recognized a creative compatibility. Perhaps most remarkably, their first meaningful encounter beyond class discussions and a local jam is captured in the album’s first track, “Cloud Castles.” And while each of the six songs is its self-contained vignette, the sequencing of the songs tells a larger story, of two unfamiliar but kindred musical voices coalescing into a symbiotic whole.

From the collaboration’s outset, the two used an original compositional process prioritizing affirmation over criticism. Quarantined to their respective homes during the height of the pandemic, Mikesell or Campbell Strauss would start by selecting an abstract written prompt from which a new musical idea – a simple melody, a catchy hook, a wandering introduction – would germinate. This initial sketch would then give way to a complete song over time, as the two sent new drafts back and forth, building on each previous version by either adding a new part or extending the track. As the recording was continuously passed along, the song would grow in depth and length, revealing a composition that could only have come from these two voices during this unprecedented moment.

While developing each song, Mikesell and Campbell Strauss celebrated the power of creative impulse by trusting their first instinct whenever adding to a track, and completing each song within two weeks of starting. This creative process, grounded in personal intuition and mutual trust, freed them both to find inspiration in the music itself, rather than using theory-infused assumptions to dictate what “should” come next. The result is a series of lush, original soundscapes that land firmly in the space between the big band and contemporary classical genres, with a sprinkling of influences from the lush tone of Dexter Gordon and Bjork’s ethereal pop.

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Kate Campbell Strauss is a saxophonist, composer/arranger, and activist with musical roots in New England and New Orleans. Kate plays saxophone in a wide array of contexts, from parades and backyards to concert halls and festivals. As an arranger, Kate has had new works commissioned by Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra – pieces that have featured voices such as Cyrille Aimée, Renee Neufville, John Boutté, and Irma Thomas. Kate’s production work has most recently been featured at the New Orleans Jazz Museum and on Anna Laura Quinn’s 2022 album, Open the Door. Kate is a 2024 alum of OneBeat, a global music exchange program run by the U.S. Department of State and Found Sound Nation. Kate’s creative life is grounded in the power of music to build community, and Kate's collaborations promote empathy and inclusivity. Kate studied music formally at Pomona College and the University of New Orleans, and informally with numerous mentors. Kate currently serves as the Director of Jazz Ensembles at Bowdoin College.

Emily Mikesell is a trumpeter and composer based in New Orleans. In addition to leading her band Smiloh, she plays regularly in The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and Trumpet Mafia, and has performed with renowned artists such as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Lonnie Holley, and Neal Francis. Emily brings her passion for writing boundary-defying music to both her projects and her arrangement work for many New Orleans ensembles. Raised in a musical family in Orlando, Florida, she started playing the trumpet at the age of 11, and went on to study Jazz at Florida State University and the University of New Orleans. She has taught at the University of New Orleans and currently teaches for Girls Play Trumpets Too, a local nonprofit.

Give Way, a six-track album, marks the debut collaboration between New Orleans musicians Kate Campbell Strauss and Emily Mikesell. The result is a series of lush, original soundscapes that land firmly in the space between the big band and contemporary classical genres.

Kate Campbell Strauss
Smiloh
katecampbellstrauss.com