Juno-nominated jazz bassist Jodi Proznick is launching a new, self-produced album that was eight years in the making.

Sun Songs pays tribute to life鈥檚 bittersweet rises and falls, and will officially be unveiled at a launch party on Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. at Frankie鈥檚 Jazz Club, 755 Beatty St. in Vancouver.

Proznick is a professor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and the recipient of numerous national jazz awards. From a young age, the bassist, composer and bandleader was recognized as a promising young artist, earning a scholarship for bass studies at McGill University.

Since returning to Vancouver, Proznick has also worked with a long list of jazz icons, including Oscar Peterson, whom she opened for in 2004, as well as Michael Bubl茅, Peter Bernstein, George Coleman, Sheila Jordan, Bucky Pizzarelli and the late Mark Murphy.

Proznick鈥檚 recordings are broadcast on jazz networks the world over. She can be heard as a featured performer on more than 40 albums, and her 2006 debut release, Foundations, was received by critics with wide acclaim. In addition to securing a Juno nomination for 鈥楾raditional Jazz Album of the Year,鈥� it took the National Jazz Award for 鈥楢lbum of the Year.鈥�

But in Sun Songs, Proznick is taking her music to a more personal level.

鈥淲颈迟丑 Sun Songs I wanted to share a deeper part of myself with the world,鈥� she said.

鈥淐oming off the wonderful high after releasing Foundations, I found myself swept up by two events that would forever change me 鈥� the joyous birth of my son, and my mother鈥檚 tragic diagnosis of early onset dementia. This album is a metaphor for those experiences 鈥� the sunrise and sunset of life reminding us that each day is a gift.鈥�

During the composition of Sun Songs, Proznick drew from the overwhelming emotions that arose from becoming a first-time mother while grappling with the gravity of her own mother鈥檚 condition. The resulting eight original works 鈥� and one cover 鈥� Proznick recorded for Sun Songs reveal a warm resilience heard in her signature pop and jazz sound. Filled with lush harmonies and fresh rhythms, and layered with exquisite melodies, each track on Sun Songs offers a unique beauty and solace.

Proznick鈥檚 own prodigious quartet featured on Sun Songs includes West Coast artists Tilden Webb (piano), Jesse Cahill (drums) and Steve Kaldestad (tenor saxophone).

Luminous vocals performing Proznick鈥檚 moving lyrics are by Vancouverbred star Laila Biali.

Highlights from Sun Songs include Beautiful Again, inspired by Indigenous author Richard Van Camp鈥檚 children鈥檚 book, Welcome Song for Baby, and Ancient Yearning with text by Vancouver poet Celeste Snowber. Proznick expresses her longing to keep connected to loved ones in So Near, So Far. The album closes with the song famously covered by Peter Gabriel, The Book of Love written by Stephin Merritt.

The official release date for Sun Songs is Dec. 8. The album is available for pre-order at .

Tickets for the release party are available at .

Proznick will also perform in 91原创 on March 2, 2018 as part of Kwantlen Polytechnic University鈥檚 music faculty showcase. For more information, click .