by vivrant thang on old school friday
*note: second post for today
**note:I wrote this entire post before remembering the “before 1993” requirement. Technically, she has been in the game that long but first album wasn’t released until after 1993.
As someone whose list of favorite songs stands at almost a thousand and counting, it’s virtually impossible for me to narrow down my list of favorite female singers to just one. If I were to start making a list, of course it would include the usual suspects like Mary, Jill, and Erykah; classic soul singers like Patti, Anita, and Stephanie. Artists I miss from my favorite decade in music like Faith, LBoogie, and Aaliyah; underrated artists like Conya (Doss), Hil (St. Soul), N’Dambi….or my choice for today’s spotlight:
Ledisi closed out the Capital Jazz Fest this weekend and tore the stage down! I first saw her perform about five years ago on the pre-Capital Jazzfest cruise. I didn’t know much about her then…and probably neither did most of you. Although she was nominated for a 2008 “Best New Artist” Grammy, there is nothing new about this super-talented songstress.
She’s been perfecting that voice since the age of eight. Although her first album, Soulsinger (cop that!) wasn’t released until 2000, in the early 90s she was part of a group that tried to get a music dea – to no avail. She had also lent her talent to a various projects, including an album by deep house artist, Miguel Migs. Her voice lends itself very well to house music.
Ledisi is one of the few female artists who awes me with her voice (Jill is also on that very short list of course). The sounds that come out of her mouth can’t be anything but heaven-sent. When she gets to scatting, you just can’t stay still. You gots to break your MLK church fan out and yell out “Go head with your bad self!” You can train all you want and study with the best. But voices like hers and Jill’s are straight up blessings from God.
If you don’t know about Ledisi, I suggest you run, don’t walk, to your nearest record store and pick up her latest release, Lost and Found. After that, track down Soulsinger.
Not convinced? Press play. I dare you to tell me she ain’t the truth!
Alright (from Lost and Found; also one of my Top Songs of 2007 – this will get you through some things – TRUST ME)
Think Of You (also from Lost and Found)
Ledisi happened to be in the house at the Bilal concert in DC last month. He closed the show with “Soul Sista” and had her to come out and put the stank on the finale.
Want to know more about the woman behind the groove, check out SoulBounce’s interview with her right after the release of Lost & Found.
Be sure to check out the other participants’ favorite female singers. I just know you’re going to see something good.
Electronic Village | Chatting Over Cocktails | Mrs Grapevine | Quick | Marcus LANGFORD | Cassandra | Danielle | Lisa C | Chocl8t | DP | Kreative Talk | MarvalusOne | Regina | LaShonda | AJ | Sharon | Invisible Woman | Believer 1964 | Dee |SJP | sHaE-sHae
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 
you just don’t know how rewarding it is to see fellow ledisi fans that were with here from the beginning. i will have to admit i am LOVING the mainstream success that she is experiencing now, but the grassroots beginning is where the story begins. i discovered a little late in the game, 2005 i think, but it has been a love-affair since then. the first song i remember hearing from her was ‘in a sentimental mood’ on her ‘feeling orange, but sometimes blue’ album and i was awe-struck. so thank you for spreading even more word on one of the most talented people i’ve ever met or heard in my life.
*smiles*
Vivarant Thang,
ledisi tore it up this osf! Great choice.
Nice choice! I just recently came to hear her and totally love her sound! I have been on a totally anti BET kick for a long minute now but my daughter had Ledisi on BET Jazz one morning when I woke up. Very nice!
Happy OSF!
I have loved Ledisi from the beginning! True talent always shines through, and she is gifted!
BTW, that last clip of her at the Bilal concert had me up out of my chair!
I never knew who Ledisi was, until BET immortalize her in my brain with the short song skit. Shes a pretty good artist.
I first learned about Ledisi last year and I am impressed. She is a true talent and it’s nice to see her rise and be appreciated and acknowledged.
I like! I like! I like!
I picked Chaka Khan this week!
SjP
@joshua – I agree. Grassroots is definitely where her story begins. That’s why I don’t like that Best NEW artist nod because she’s been grinding in this industry for years. In any event, at the Jazz Fest she just asked that we keep her mainstream and I hope that this helps a bit. And thanks for mentioning the collector’s item album. I still need to get my hands on that!
@hagars – She surely did!
@regina – glad you discovered her. make sure you cop her albums. you won’t be disappointed!
@marvalus – glad you were in the know girl! and didn’t that last clip just give you chills! every time i watch it…
@ don – short song skit? and what is up with mtb? hope all is well?
@sdg – it is nice…and it’s about time!
@sjp – well let me come on over and get my chaka on then! i hope you have my song…
This is my first experience with Ledisi, thanks something new to add to my itunes list.
I have an award for you at my spot!
@ vivrant: that song where they played about 10 seconds of the song. i can’t remember the name of the song.
and u know i closed my blogs down. LOL.
Great choice in my opinion!!! I love Ledisi and my love for her is even stronger after seeing her perform at Capital Jazz Fest. That was my first opportunity to see her live and she definitely blew me away!!! I’m still telling people about her performance. Sometimes people are blessed with talent but aren’t able to translate that in to a stage performance but she has it all, talent, stage presence, personality that comes through her performance, etc. I didn’t hear about Ledisi until maybe around 2003. A friend mentioned her name and then she was featured on Raphael’s live cd. You know I’m a Raphael stan so when he mentioned her I knew she had to be the truth and I had to find out more. I remember trying to find her cd “Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue” on amazon and at that time it was going for like close to $100. I knew then I had somehow missed out on something special (and I was definitely right on that note). I’m happy that she is receiving mainstream love and getting the love and recognition she so truly deserves! Okay guess I wrote more than I comment but I am still that excited about her after the Capital Jazz Fest and couldn’t contain myself. LOL!
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