Underrated Soul Singer Spotlight: Debórah Bond

21 Tuesday Apr 2009

Posted by in Feeding The Music Jones, Underrated Artist Spotlights

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I vividly remember the first time I saw DC-based songstress Debórah Bond perform live. It was back around 2004 and I was just starting to sporadically attend live shows. I was at a spot called Takoma Station and she performed several songs from her debut album, Day After. I was so enraptured by her performance that I immediately copped her album after the show, something I rarely did back then, and got her to sign it. As we chatted and I shared how much I enjoyed the show, I noticed her warm and genuine energy as she wrote a simple note thanking me for supporting the music.

Now, some five years later,  in anticipation of the release of her second album (of original material), I truly have a platform where I can tell the hundreds of people that stop through here daily to support the music of this underrated female soul singer.

The Connecticut native  cites her early musical influences as The Eurythmics, Janet and Michael Jackson (no Tito?), and Loose Ends. She studied the vocal stylings of Anita Baker, Sade and and Chaka Khan and their spirits are very much present in her live performances. 

With her band, Third Logic, she released DayAfter in 2003.  AfterDay followed three years later, which was an album mixed by DJ Stylus and featuring a cast of uber talented producers. From what I can hear, this is a must own. I should have copped it when I saw it at Moods Music.

Deborah has shared the stage with acclaimed artists such as Julie Dexter, Dwele, Mint Condition, Rahsaan Patterson, Ledisi and Omar. In other words, artists that wouldn’t allow no mess on their stage so you know she is the truth!

Still don’t believe me? Check out some video of some live performances.

Recently, here in DC, she warmed up the crowd before Omar took the stage (review coming this week). Check out her cover of Soul II Soul’s“Keep On Movin.'”

Here are two songs from her album DayAfter.

“Love’s Been Waiting”

Recently released official video for her hit song, “See You in My Dreams.” You may have seen this one on BETJ.

 Find out more about Debórah and her upcoming project at her official website. Meanwhile, support her past projects and those of other underrated artists that appear on this site and those right over there —-> on the blogroll.

photo credit: Debórah on Facebook.

Blog Checka: Ayah, Yazarah, Diamond District, and Tiye Phoenix Buzz

17 Friday Apr 2009

Posted by in Weekly Round Up

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  • Shits and giggles+plus good music all in the latest episode of Gordon Gartrell Radio: The Wedding Bells edition. [via GGR]
  • Get to know half woman, half amazin femcee Tiye Phoenix. I’m digging her flow. [via Beatlife]
  • Be sure to cop Ayah’s new release, 4:15, and check out her snazzy new website.
  • Missed out on the World Music Conference again this year? Yea me too. Check out DJ Stylus wrap up with live video.  [via VC]
  • Paging Joy Denalane. Audio Diva has been revisiting her 2006 album Born and Raised. This is the last time we saw her. Let’s hope she hurries up this way again. [via AAA]
  • Watch video of songstress Maiysha’s road to the Grammys. [via Nu Soul]
  • Download for free.99 the album that DJ Stylus calls “the best hip-hop album of 2009,” Diamond District’s In The Ruff. [via Pinboard]
  • After checking hard for Yazarah’s 2008 EP The Prelude, I’m ready for the main course! Check out her interview with This Is Real Music.
  • Since this is the DJ Stylus edition of Blog Checka, I’ll also point you in the direction of the retrospective piece on his first 50 mixes  posted on his site for downloading.
  • While you’re downloading mixes, check out the Bama Love Soul podcast. Plenty of SITKOL-approved artists on this one. [via Bama Love Soul]

Chrisette Michele Live in DC

16 Thursday Apr 2009

Posted by in Let's Rock: Concert Reviews

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Last night I was invited to attend an industry event where Chrisette Michele was performing in support of her sophomore effort, Epiphany.

I was anticipating this event in part because as you know, I totally adore her and love seeing her perform. I have been looking forward to a strong comeback after what I consider to be a five star debut. I must admit after listening to the sampler recently, I wasn’t blown away None of the songs grabbed me on first listen so I needed her to sell me by killing it live.

She didn’t disappoint.

The mini-set only consisted of three songs, which wasn’t enough for me to evaluate what we’ll see on May 5th. I really wish they would have played the album in the background before she hit the stage. However, I can say that for me, her performance just cemented what I’ve always felt: that I am ride-or-die for CM. As long as she doesn’t do a track with T-(esticular) Pain, I will support anything she does. Or adhere to the “if you can’t say nothing nice” rule of thumb. I will always support artists that study and hone their God-given talent.

I also must say that I take back what I said about them photoshopping the album cover to death. Although I’m still not in love with it, as you can see from the picture above, she has been hitting the gym hard and looks great. That’s always a good thing. With a full schedule ahead in support of the album, she needs to be in the best shape possible I would imagine.

Here are the videos I captured of “Epiphany,” “What You Do,” and “Blame It On Me.” These are far from my best work but pretend it is and enjoy anyway!

“What You Do” doesn’t need Neyo. It’s a much prettier song with just her and the keys.

What do you think?

“Blame It On Me” is the perfect example of a song that didn’t grab me when listening to the sampler. However, now I’m playing video on repeat so I can hear the whole thing. I also loved how she connects directly with the audience. And you know how excited I get when an artist sangggs to my camera. It feels loved.

Thanks go out to DJ YZO for keeping this cool kid in the loop.

Remember folks, Epiphany drops May 5th. Support the music.

For day-to-day updates, follow CM on Twitter @epiphanygirl. She’s quite the entertaining tweeter. She talks to us like we’re her peeps. Gotta love that. She also has a You Tube channel as well. Subscribe!

Rewind Selector: Raheem Devaughn Performing at Bilal Show

15 Wednesday Apr 2009

Posted by in Feeding The Music Jones, Let's Rock: Concert Reviews

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You’ll be seeing a lot of “rewind selectors” here in the coming weeks as I’ve discovered a ton of concert videos that I never uploaded to the You Tube channel and shared with you.

As you know, I spent Valentine’s night stanning for Bilal. He rolled solo that night, sans his back up singers. Raheem Devaughnwas in the house and all too happy to rock with “one of the most talented muhfuckers in the game.”

He helped Bilalout on backing vocals for a few songs and then took the stage and freestyled over “White Turns to Grey,” the panty-dropper on his lost album, Love for Sale.

Rah, you’re doing it right here. Cut the crap and get back on task. And did I hear mention of he and Bilal on tour? Well, we would need to get an album from Bilal first of course. Imagine that. 0_O

I wasn’t in the mood to play Mata Hari that night so I actually obeyed the no recording rule for the most part. Besides, I’m a lover not a fighter at heart. Other than capturing Raheem, I only pulled the camera out to get the end of what turned out to be the last song. Sound problems on the venue’s janky system brought about an abrupt end to “Make Me Over,” which Bilal soulfully mixed with “Planet Rock.”

Stay tuned for a mini-review with video of Omar in concert. If you’re in DC and missed this one for no good reason, I don’t really get you.

Also get ready to go inside the artist’s studio with Erik Rico. You don’t want to miss this cat preaching the gospel of industry rule number 4080.

Jazz 101: Become an True Aficionado

13 Monday Apr 2009

Posted by in Feeding The Music Jones

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Last week, I put out the call and it was answered big time.

As a jazz music virgin of sorts, I asked the connoisseurs to introduce me to the pivotal artists, songs, and albums that define this thing we call “jazz.”

The knowledge-dropping started in the comments with outstanding suggestions from two people whose musical acumen I have come to deeply respect and admire, DJ Stylus and T Grundy of Rhythms in Black Satin.

T Grundy took the discussion to a broader audience on Twitter, where folks have been weighed in all last week with the music that has been integral to their journey as true jazz fans. He then went on to create the first of two Jazz 101 podcasts, which was the perfect writing soundtrack for this piece.

Along with excellent commentary and suggestions on what it is to know and love jazz, he created a masterful mix that I have since listened to twice. I have now moved Oliver Nelson, Freddie Hubbard, Wes Montgomery, Nancy Wilson, and Herbie Hancock to the top of my list of jazz artists I need to study.

I particularly appreciated his suggestion of one way to get started with jazz appreciation is to choose your favorite instrument and then start listening to and collecting the music of the seminal artists who play that instrument.

Here are his personal favorites:

  • Trumpet: Miles Davis [more]
  • Saxophone: John Coltrane [more]
  • Guitar: Wes Montgomery [more]
  • Vibraphone: Lionel Hampton [more]
  • Big Band: Count Basie [more]
  • Drums: Max Roach [more]
  • Keyboards: Duke Ellington & Herbie Hancock [more]

Since my first loves are the guitar, sax and the drums, I’ll definitely be looking into the music by the artists he suggests. However, in terms of where I’ll start the next time I go digging (which I think I’ll do for my upcoming birthday), it will definitely be with albums by John Coltrane and Miles Davis. Every single Trane  and Miles song or collaboration I hear resonates with me deeply and thus represents a gaping hole in my music collection.

I’ll be sure to share my acqusitions here.

Meanwhile for those not on Twitter, let me share some of the fruits of our discussion. Here are some tracks mentioned that should be added to any “Jazz 101 Starter Kit”:

  • Thelonius Monk: “Blue Monk”
  • Wayne Shorter: “Juju”
  • Freddie Hubbard: “Open Sesame”
  • Billie Holiday: “Strange Fruit”
  • Louis Armstrong: “I Cover the Waterfront” 
  • Charlie Bird Parker: “The Bird” 
  • Lester Young: “D.B. Blues” and “These Foolish Things”
  • Ramsey Lewis: “The In Crowd”
  • Charles Earland “More Today Than Yesterday”
  • Cannonball Adderley“Somethin Else”
  • Andy Bey “Tuesdays in Chinatown” and “Shades of Bey”
  • McCoy Tyner “What the World Needs Now”
  • Blossom Dearie “My Gentleman Friend”

Other artists mentioned were Bob James , Ornette Coleman, and Jackie McClean.

So if you’re looking for musicians and songs to get you started, take a listen to the ones listed here and those included on the RIBS Jazz 101 podcast.  Need to research discographies for some of the artists listed here, visit the Jazz discography website before you go digging. You can also look up jazz standards, or the most well-known (to some!) songs within the genre.

I know jazz isn’t everyone’s “thing” so I appreciate those of you kept an open mind and read this post anyway. I’ve talked before about how I’m going to start spending more time with the classics in order to become an more informed “music critic.” I want to be able to recognize the influences as I enjoy a lot of the jazz fusion and subgenres  that are more popular today.  While you’re rocking to Brand New Heavies, Jazzanova, Lalah Hathaway, or The Roots, what you’re hearing can likely be traced back to a sound created by someone right up there.

Get into this!