New Release Cynthia Felton Freedom Jazz Dance STREET DATE: June 1, 2012

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African American, Cynthia Felton, Cyrus Chestnut, Ernie Watts, Female Jazz vocalist, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Patrice Rushen, Robert Hurst, Terri Lyne Carrington, Wallace Roney

Cynthia Felton, Freedom Jazz Dance

Dr. Cynthia J. Felton serves as Artistic Director of The Ethnomusicology Library of American Heritage, a library that features a collection of sources that explores the study of music from a social and cultural aspect.

Currently based in Los Angeles, Cynthia is active as a performer and an educator. Her background prepared her well for both career areas. She has a Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music, a Master of Arts degree from New York University in Jazz Performance, and a Doctorate in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California.

Legendary Vocal Artist Cassandra Wilson Signs with eOne Music

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Cassandra Wilson, Female Jazz vocalist

[ACCESSWIRE] NEW ALBUM, “ANOTHER COUNTRY” TO BE RELEASED ON JUNE 5, 2012

Cassandra Wilson

New York, NY – eOne Music proudly announces a new, worldwide deal with Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter/arranger Cassandra Wilson. Wilson’s new studio album, “Another Country,” will be released on June 5, 2012.

Signaling a new direction for this most creative of artists, a majority of songs on “Another Country” are penned by Ms. Wilson herself, or co-written with her collaborator, guitarist and producer Fabrizio Sotti. Recorded in Florence, Italy and New Orleans, the new collection establishes an intimate, romantic mood, driven largely by a guitar-based concept.

Chuck Mitchell, VP of Jazz, Classical and Adult Music, states, “Cassandra Wilson is one of the greatest vocal artists of our time, and it’s our pleasure and privilege to welcome her into the eOne family. ‘Another Country’ is a very special album, and a formidable addition to her body of work.”

Shirley Crabbe -][- HOME -[MaiSong Music & Entertainment, 2011]

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African American, Female Jazz vocalist, Jazz, Shirley Crabbe

Shirley Crabbe, Home

Shirley Crabbe -][- HOME –MP3– [MaiSong Music & Entertainment, 2011]

Jazz vocalist Shirley Crabbe sings songs that speak to the heart. As a teenager, Shirley was inspired by a performance of Ella Fitzgerald singing the song “A Tisket, A Tasket” in an old Abbot and Costello movie. “I’ve always had a passion for singing, but when I heard Ella sing, I knew that “jazz singing” was what I really wanted to do.”

Following her passion, Shirley pursued her dreams first to Illinois to earn a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University, and then back home to New York, to study Voice at the distinguished Manhattan School of Music (MSM). During the day she studied classical music uptown at MSM, but in the evening, she traveled downtown to sing jazz in the clubs. Shirley has performed at festivals, jazz clubs and concert series in New York City and it’s surrounding area. Her most recent appearance was at the Metropolitan Room. She has also performed at the world-famous jazz club Birdland, appeared as a soloist at Madison Square Garden in its renowned Paramount Theater and opened for the jazz icon Abby Lincoln. She has also performed with the celebrated jazz pianist Harold Mabern and bassist Jamil Nasser. -[Biography]-

..:: SOURCE: Shirley Crabbe.com::..

Abbey Lincoln, Jazz Singer and Writer, Dies at 80

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Abbey Lincoln, African American, Female Jazz vocalist, Jazz

Abbey Lincoln - RIP 8/14/2010

Abbey Lincoln, a singer whose dramatic vocal command and tersely poetic songs made her a singular figure in jazz, died on Saturday in Manhattan. She was 80 and lived on the Upper West Side.

Her death was announced by her brother David Wooldridge.

Ms. Lincoln’s career encompassed outspoken civil rights advocacy in the 1960s and fearless introspection in more recent years, and for a time in the 1960s she acted in films with Sidney Poitier.

Long recognized as one of jazz’s most arresting and uncompromising singers, Ms. Lincoln gained similar stature as a songwriter only over the last two decades. Her songs, rich in metaphor and philosophical reflection, provide the substance of “Abbey Sings Abbey,” an album released on Verve in 2007. As a body of work, the songs formed the basis of a three-concert retrospective presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2002. —NATE CHINEN

..:: Source: NYTimes.com ::..

Pyeng Threadgill | Portholes To A Love & Other Short Stories

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African American, Female Jazz vocalist, Jazz, Pyeng Threadgill

Pyeng Threadgill | Portholes To A Love & Other Short Stories – [Stray Dog Music, Inc. 2009]

Pyeng Threadgill - Portholes to a Love & Other Short Stories

… On her soon to be released third album, Portholes To A Love & Other Short Stories, Pyeng Threadgill explores concepts of reality and magic, humanity and nature. With Pyeng’s vibrant, caressing vocals and her band’s rolling rhythms and revolving countermelodies listeners are enveloped in the clouds and put under a spell. From the lulling sensation of locomotion, to the secrets of the sea, the hopeless romantic, to the immigrant experience Pyeng uses lyrics lush in metaphor to depict a wondrous universe.

Judging from Pyeng Threadgill’s childhood her musical destinations seem a natural outcome. Threadgill was born into an artistic family on the Lower East Side of New York in the 1970’s at a time when Polish and Puerto Rican, Black, Chinese, and Jewish were all living in close proximity. Much of Pyeng’s childrearing years were spent in black box theatres, community gardens, Jazz night clubs or on the road with her dancer/choreographer mother. These experiences proved just as influential as the early Soul/Jazz stylings of singers like Sam Cooke and King Pleasure that emanated from the stereo.

Visit the talented vocalist/lyricist web site www.pyeng.com …

..:: Source: MySpace.com ::..

Dianne Reeves | In The Moment

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African American, Dianne Reeves, Female Jazz vocalist, Female Vocalist, Jazz

In The Moment, inhabits a symphony of enchanting, vibrant, lush, and spontaneous songs by the remarkable Dianne Reeves. Once you listen, you can’t help but marvel at the virtuous tapestry of tones and colorful phrasings of Ms. Reeves caught live. While in concert, Reeves reaffirms herself presence spiritually by lyrically expanding her unparalleled voice in an evening of astounding songs driven by her indelible vocal artistry. I usually, don’t like to recommend purchasing live recordings. In this case, “In The Moment” is the exception … if by chance you haven’t acquired any of her previous recordings this is without a doubt a wonderful place to begin a magnificent journey that encompasses her unmatched testimony of emotional, poetic, soulful, and complex songs unleashed by her amazing vocal symmetry. ~ The Urban Flux

Dianne Reeves | In The Moment – [Blue Note Records, 2000]

Dianne Reeves, In The Moment

Once again Dianne Reeves demonstrates with her music she’s one of a kind, one of the very few vocalist that really say something new and, no matter what the critics say about her not focusing on pure jazz, SHE IS the perfect incarnation of what the spirits of jazz is: challenging the boundaries of music, pursuing freedom,improvisation, cultivating an exquisite taste with a sensibility that goes deep down into gospel, soul, r&b, Afro, reggae to find a reveal new treasures. Above all this, naturally, stands her voice: warm, deep, rich in coulour and expression contralto,a voice guided by a sense of rhythm and technical mastership going from moaning, caressing, soaring, roaring, culminating with an ability to scat that leaves you speechless. This time Diane’s been caught in the rapture of a live performance, possibly her best dimension. She sing her heart out and kills you with a brilliant Brazilian trip: the acoustic reading of “Triste” is magnificent, matched by Nacimentos’ “Bridges” that is already “the definitive cover” of this beautiful song. Then, she and her extraordinary band sweep you away with a salsa-Latin flavoured “Love for sale” that will have even Cole Porter surely nodding with satisfaction from high above. What a voyage.. and then he comes George Duke playing the piano and dressing an old Dianne’s hit “Come in” new, soulful and smooth and caressing and… beautiful… Each of the the songs of this superb set are simply stunning: a perfect collection to appreciate the art of Dianne Reeves, indeed.

After her first, sensational “New Morning” live in Paris, this is the second chance to travel on the wings of real live jazz with one of the truest and best artists on the music scene today : when you’re done, you just want to stand up and cry: Bravissima Dianne! —Roberto Ballati

Source: Amazon.com

Mimi Jones | A New Day

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African American, Bass, Female Jazz vocalist, Jazz

As of late, it seems unknown talent appears on this blog regularly. That said, the gifted instrumentalist [bassist] and vocalist Miranda “Mimi” Jones is about to stir things up with her stunning new album “A New Day.” Watch out for this radiant talent on the horizon, Mimi is at the top of my lists for newcomers in 2009. ~ The Urban Flux

Mimi Jones

Mimi Jones | A New Day [Hot Tone Music]

Mimi Jones, multi talented bassist, vocalist and composer, brings her beacon of musical light to the world while embracing a positive future with her inspiring messages. Mimi’s elegant sound is an eclectic mix of genres based in a strong jazz foundation that leave room for funky bass grooves, world beat rhythms, gentle textures and the soulful cries of the Wurlizer. “My music taps in directly to the senses using elements of jazz, folk, rock, blues and different sounds from around the world which have all had such a profound effect on me.”

Her inspiring debut recording,” A New Day” is bursting with original compositions seamlessly melting from one song to another and caressed by the warmth of Mimi’s sultry voice. The music is a rich assortment of rhythmic statements, musical textures, and compositional variations all flawlessly executed by Mimi Jones (acoustic bass, electric bass, vocals, composer, arranger, and assistant producer), Marvin Sewell (acoustic and electric guitars), Miki Hayama (piano, key board and Wurlitzer), Marcus Gilmore (drums), Lucianna Padmore (drums on tracks 1 and 11) and Ambrose Akinmisure (trumpet). The title of the CD speaks of embracing a changing world with a positive point of view while maintaining the courage to move forward just as the new persona and alter ego, Mimi Jones, was transformed from “side man” Miriam Sullivan in order to fully express her individual messages of change and personal evolution.

Source: CDBaby.com, also visit her site mimijonesmusic.com for more information about this upcoming talent.

Gretchen Parlato | In A Dream

Tags

Brazilian, Female Jazz vocalist, Jazz

If you dig vibrant, jazzy, and sensuous vocals with depth that yields only to her sensitivity, then do yourself a favor and checkout the talented Gretchen Parlato …

Gretchen Parlato

Gretchen Parlato | In A Dream [Obliqsound, 2009]

“‘In a Dream’ belongs in the 4-5 Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album…”

“There’s an enigmatic quality to Gretchen Parlato’s singing, a mysterious brew of sound and breath, of simmering inner rhythms and phrasing that curls seductively around the words. The first track, Stevie Wonder’s “I Can’t Help It,” immediately announces that the album is going be an extraordinary musical experience.

Parlato has been blessed with extraordinary talents — an unerring sense of pitch, utterly relaxed rhythmic clarity, an open ear for harmony. Other singers have similar abilities. But what makes Parlato so unique is the imaginative way in which she uses those skills to rove deeply within the instrumental sounds, while still retaining her presence as the vocal center of the music.”

Source: gretchenparlato.com

Also, please visit “Checkout Studio Session: Gretchen Parlato” interview as she performs three live cuts in WBGO Studios. ~ “Checkout Studio Session“

Dianne Reeves | I Remember [On The Flipside]

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African American, Dianne Reeves, Female Jazz vocalist

The beauty of jazz is captured within the art of improvisation, henceforth each artist interprets each song with a stroke of sensitivity, passion, adventure and the desire of creating a fresh rendition for music lovers to embody their lyrical spirit through sound. As you know, there’s a joy in collecting and listening to music. If you haven’t check out Dianne Reeves’s – “I Remember” …. listen to and embrace this timeless masterpiece by her!

Dianne Reeves

Dianne Reeves | I Remember [Blue Note Records, 1991]

Dianne Reeves must like a challenge. for 1991’s “I Remember” she selects songs associated with several members of the jazz pantheon: Abbey Lincoln, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Miles Davis. Reeves uses her total musicality to build upon, consolidate, and re-imagine the songs of her predecessors.

Added to this mix are Sondheim’s poetic “I Remember Sky”, the Brazilian standard “Like a Lover,” and McCoy Tyner’s beautiful ballad “You Taught My Heart to Sing.” These songs (with the holiday “In Satin” warhorse “for all we know”) show the gentle yet direct ballad style reeves employs. on “like a lover,” her sonorous voice glides through the verses and then rollicks off Kevin Eubanks’s’ guitar in an ecstatic ad-lib duet. “You taught my heart to sing” is stated with simplicity; the lyrics, so aptly fitted to Tyner’s mood and melody, are sung without the excess drama that would cheapen their sentiment. on “i remember sky” reeves conjures the crispness of paper, sharpness of thumb tacks, and the enigmatic blue quality of the sky. Reeves’s artistry, expertly supported and enhanced by pianist Billy Childs, is on full display here.

Source: Amazon.com [Unknown Reviewer]

Cassandra Wilson | New Moon Daughter

Tags

African American, Female Jazz vocalist, Jazz

Cassandra Wilson

Cassandra Wilson | New Moon Daughter [Blue Note Records/Classic/1996]

Her luscious alto has the depth and texture of a great tenor saxophonist, but Cassandra Wilson’s defining asset is a postmodern song sense that enables her to surf through Son House, Neil Young, Johnny Mercer, Billie Holiday, and (gasp!) the Monkees in pursuit of strong songs that can provide that instrument with a canvas. Her second Blue Note album extends Wilson’s seductive pilgrimage beyond the conventions of jazz repertoire and accompaniment, yet it’s her instincts as a jazz singer that inform these brilliant readings. The settings again step away from traditional small group jazz (for starters, there’s no piano) to evoke the emotional core of these songs. Anyone who can turn the Monkees’ “Last Train to Clarksville” into a slow-burning erotic vignette deserves your attention. ~ Amazon.com/Sam Sutherland