Cécile McLorin Salvant released her first fully orchestral album, "With Every Breath I Take," on Nonesuch Records on June 26, 2026. This album features the Netherlands' Metropole Orkest, conducted by Jules Buckley, with arrangements crafted by Darcy James Argue. Salvant's regular trio, including pianist Sullivan Fortner, bassist David Wong, and drummer Kush Abadey, also joins her on the album. The recording process was carefully orchestrated by engineers Todd Whitelock and Dirk Overeen, who used high-resolution digital recording and unique mic placements to capture Salvant in the live presence of the orchestra while minimizing bleed from nearby instruments.
The album includes a curated selection of songs, focusing on a woman's perspective and experience. These include reinterpretations of standards like Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns" and Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady," as well as more obscure tracks such as Buddy Johnson's "Ever Since the One I Love Has Been Gone." Salvant also revisits her own composition "Left Over" from her 2015 album "For One to Love."
Darcy James Argue's arrangements are noted for their subtlety and wit, bringing a vibrant, lush sound to the 46-piece Metropole Orkest, which consists of 30 strings, 12 horns, 3 percussionists, and a harp. Despite the large-scale production, Salvant's performance is praised for maintaining intimacy, particularly on ballads like "Sophisticated Lady" and "Lush Life," where her voice cuts through the orchestral shadow. Salvant stated that she chose the songs not for their beauty but because they are "crucial" to her, reflecting a decade and a half of her artistic journey.
