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