Judging by the response to my Old School Friday post spotlighting one of my favorite 90s girl groups, Zhane, I figured you might like to see more of what one half of the dynamite sangin duo is up to these days.
I had the opportunity to see Jean Baylor perform music from her solo album, Testimony: My Life Story at the Can A Sista Rock A Mic Festival back in October (yes, I know I’m late!). It was a simply beautiful set, just Jean and the guitar or behind the piano, sharing seven songs from the project that’s been in the works for 8 years.
Although we reminisce over the days when we had classy girl groups that could sang circles around most of these chicks that are hot in the streets today, I am really glad that Jean came back on the solo tip. The beauty of this woman’s voice is well-matched with the material. It was perfect for the intimate setting the venue provided. Since I did it backward and saw her live before hearing her album, I was more than excited to get my hands on a copy. I was in luck as I won a free copy of her EP after correctly guessing the artist she was channeling in “Made To Love You” (can you guess?)
The EP wasn’t enough. I had to get the entire album. I think you’ll see why.
Love Poem
Morning Time
Come Go With Me
This is the first project that Jean and her husband Mark (yea fellas she’s happily taken!), a fellow musician, put out under their Be A Light label. You can download it from her website for the low low price of $9.99.
I just love it when I get the opportunity to be a lazy blogger, particularly after the day that I’ve had. A glass of wine and a couple hours of mindless television are calling my name.
Before I left yesterday evening to stalk Phontigallo see Little Brother in concert, I started another spotlight post about Tamara Wellons, an artist I had the opportunity to see live for the first time at the Can A Sista Rock A Mic festival earlier this month. She has long been yet another artist whose music is on the never-ending list I need to give a listen to.
What I appreciate about Tamara is that while she is a teacher, a wife and mother of three, in all the spare time she has left she is actively doing what she loves. She has tangible products of her passion. Members of Procrastinators Anonymous, time’s a wastin.
Anyhow, back to my laziness.
Lucky for me, Butta over at Soul Bounce, has done all the work for me and posted a sampler of Life Is, Tamara’s new album released today on Ocha Records, along with details of the release party tomorrow night in DC. Head on over and take a listen. Fans of soulful house and jazz, this one’s for you!
Here’s a taste of some of the musical delights you can expect to hear at the release party. If you’re not local, these live performances from the album should clear up any doubts you may have as to whether to add this one to your virtual shopping cart.
“New” feature here on Songs In The Key of Life where I’ll shine the spotlight on artists from my underrated singers lists. Whenever I am fortunate enough to catch any of them live, I’ll be sharing the experience under the new category, “Artist Spotlight.”
Liv has long been on my radar but with such an overwhelming amount of music on deck right now, I hadn’t yet pressed play on her 2006 release, Embrace Me. Can I get a late pass?
From the moment she stepped on the stage that night and grabbed the mic, I knew all we would be able to do was hold on for the ride. Her self-assured stage presence said loud and clear, “I was born to do this.” “Embrace Me”damnit!
Growing up in Illinois in a household that didn’t embrace musical expression, Liv instead filtered her talent into excelling in track and field. I can’t imagine what it must have felt like to hide such a voice. After moving to Portland, Liv honed her skills in part by performing karaoke. She began performing with a hip-hop band in 2002. In 2004, The Liv Warfield Project took the Portland music scene by storm. Embrace Me hit the shelves tin 2006. Oh but if she would have stayed on this biannual schedule, we should have been due a new album this year!
Until that day comes, check out the live performance of some songs from Embrace Me. I must admit while I love the studio album, the live version of the songs are what pulls me in. The raw passion and soul she brings to the words on stage reminds me of one of my all-time favorite artists (and one of Liv’s musical idols) Mary J. Blige. Much like when I see Mary, Liv makes you want to get up out your seat, wave your Martin Luthada Kang church fan and get to shouting. She takes you to chuuuuch. Let’s hope this underrated soul singer sees even half the success that Mary has had. It’s truly well-deserved.
Stay tuned for spotlights on some of the other super talented artists I saw at CASRAM who are responsible for the “new” flava in my ear.
My Ipod is literally about to explode with all the good music I’ve been listening to lately and I’m going to do my best to share as much as I can here.
I chose these two artists because I don’t believe in coincidences. Riding back into town on Sunday evening, I heard a song on the radio that had me grooving and wondering “Who is that?!” When the announcer said it was Leigh Jones, I made a mental note to check her out since I hadn’t heard of her before.
Today, while cleaning out my e-mail box, I found a note a friend sent a few days ago advising me to check out Leigh’s music and pointing me to her Myspace page. You don’t have to tell me twice!
Meanwhile, as I was checking out one of the music sites I frequent, they were talking about Tawiah, a female UK singer. I already found out that she was Bounceworthy earlier this year and since then, her EP has been on my radar. After the reminder, I made a mental note to push it to the top of the list. Wouldn’t you know one of my favorite readers from the UK must have been getting his Dionne Warwick on because the EP just happened to show up in my box the other day.
Vivrant doesn’t believe in coincidences so obviously I need to bring this music to somebody out there.
Many would call Leigh Jones’ music “blue-eyed soul. ” That’s what they call it on her official website. Blue-eyed, brown-eyed or purple-eyed, this is plain good music. She was “mentored” by Berry Gordy and Stax records exec Al Bell and her album, Music In My Soul, dropped on September 9th.
Great mix of jazz , soul and a little funk thrown in make for an album with absolutely no skips. She has an edge that I like and many of her lyrics are sassy and in your face. She even dared to touch one of my top fifty songs, Debarge’s “All The Love” and I was still grooving.
Check out a few of my favorite tracks from Music In My Soul. You can check out the entire album on her Myspace page.
“Music”
“Sick Of Fools”
“Cold In L.A”.
You already know I got love for UK Soul. You should remember Tawiah from that list. Now that I’ve finally got my hands on her EP, In Jodi’s Bedroom, I am checking for her even harder. I first heard her on Eric Lau’sNew Territories and loved her soulful sound over his dope beats.
In Jodi’s Bedroom is six tracks of pure hotness. Check out a couple of songs from the EP as well as a song from Eric Lau’s album. Visit her Myspace page to cop your own.
“Broken Heart”
“Boy From Da Endz”
“I Don’t Do It To It” from Eric Lau’s, New Territories
Last Wednesday, I was reminded that I never got around to compiling a list of my favorite underrated male soul singers after the female singer post got so much love. The Soul Bounce crew and I had dinner with Anthony David, a highly underrated soul singer whose music I’ve been enjoying since his debut solo album, Three Chords and The Truth was released four years ago. (Thanks to DJ YZO over at Industry Soul for making it happen).
After dinner, we headed up the street to see him perform songs from his latest release, Acey Ducey, which is in stores today. It’s a “best of” CD of sorts, compiling songs that appeared on his first two releases. Now he’s signed to India.Arie’s Soulbird label and I expect he will be getting down to the business of bringing us some new hotness very soon. Meanwhile, Soul Bounce got the exclusive on a new track to tide us over until then.
I have to say I’ve never met a cooler cat. Felt like I was hanging with one of my boys when he teased me about nursing my drink. I mean, I was trying to be on my best behavior and all. Under normal circumstances…
I’ve seen him live four or five times and I have to say he was at the top of his game with this performance. Not sure if he is more comfortable in intimate venues or if being newly signed to a major label has caused him to step his game up! However, I was torn between recording the whole show and wanting to get up there and rock with him and the band. Seriously.
Check him out:
Spittin Game
Krooked Cop
More of his concert video over on my You Tube channel, which is up to over 300 videos now! Ya’ll have no idea of the blood, sweat and tears I’ve put into that thing. Be sure to check it out and subscribe. I’m working on a page on this site that will have all the video listed and categorized. Stay tuned!
So did you enjoy those performances? Well here are some of his other soul brethren I think you should know that don’t be getting no airplay. Again, this list is by nomeans exhaustive. Like you did on the underrated female soul singers post, I need you to hip me to artists I may have overlooked.
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 