"I'm lovin me some Ledisi right now? Here sound is so real...and a breath of fresh air...I need to cop the album for real. I've been putting it off. I'm gonna download it from itunes today. "

Comments by soulfulone78 (1 day ago) www.youtube.com

•          The past year has been a whirlwind for Ledisi: Grammy® Award nominations for Best New Artist and Best R&B Album, an appearance in the feature film Leatherheads (staring George Clooney and Renee Zelwegger), TV appearance on CBS Saturday Early Show and two appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with Prince and Sergio Mendes, three hit tracks – “Alright”, “In The Morning” and “Joy” – at Urban and UAC radio, and an extensive touring schedule.

•          The new 12 track Christmas album includes many holiday favorites. Also includes 5 original songs written for the album.

•          An extensive tour supporting It’s Christmas to be confirmed soon.

Track List:

1.         I'll Go *

2.         Children Go Where I Send Thee

3.         Give Love on Christmas Day

4.         Be There for Christmas *

5.         This Christmas (Could Be the One) *

6.         Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

7.         What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?

8.         It’s Christmas *

9.         What a Wonderful World

10.        Please Come Home for Christmas

11.        Silent Night

12.        Thank You *

The Words of the Chorus of the Song Should Motivate Anyone That's Having a Down Day!

Life can bring us through any changes, its alright
Just dont give up and know its going to be alright
People come and they go thats just the way that it goes
Everything is everything, its alright
everything is everything
Its gonna be alright
Everything is everything
Its going to be alright

Andrew sits down with Christian music vet and singer/songwriter extraordinaire Nicole C. Mullen, Cindy Morgan and Big Daddy Weave and reviews former Lonestar front man Richie McDonald's first inspirational album, Randy Travis' brand new record, Amy Grant's 20th anniversary release of her classic "Lead Me On" and critiques Ledisi's content.

Also look for worship leader Carmen D'arcy, Petra legend John Schlitt, Tammy Trent and CMCentral's Kutless review online now.

Read them here:
Nicole C. Mullen, ChristianMusicPlanet.com
Big Daddy Weave, CMCentral.com
Randy Travis "Around the Bend", ChristianMusicPlanet.com
Amy Grant "Lead Me On: 20th Anniversary Edition", CCMMagazine.com
Nicole C. Mullen "A Dream to Believe In, Vol. 2, ChristianMusicPlanet.com
Big Daddy Weave "What Life Would Be Like", ChristianMusicPlanet.com
Tammy Trent "Stronger", ChristianMusicPlanet.com
Ledisi "Glimpses of God: Lost & Found", Christianity Today
Cindy Morgan, ChristianMusicPlanet.com
Richie McDonald "I Turn to You", ChristianMusicPlanet.com
Kutless "To Know That You're Alive", CMCentral.com
John Schlitt "The Grafting", ChristianMusicPlanet.com
Carmen D'arcy "A Place Called Grace", ChristianMusicPlanet.com

Or visit Andrew's "Words" page here.

"For the last 10 years the singer, whose name means "to bring forth" in the Nigerian Yoruba language, has been bringing a sizzling gumbo of lovelorn R&B, juke joint funk and straight ahead jazz to music lovers from the Bay Area and beyond. A New Orleans native, Ledisi had gained a loyal following, including kudos from heavyweights like Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and Rachelle Farrell, and released two critically acclaimed independent CDs (2000's “Soul Singer” and 2002's “Feeling Orange But Sometimes Blue”), but says she was getting fed up with the daily grind and the constant pressures to fit into an industry that favors image over talent. "I was trying to listen to everyone else — ‘lose this amount of weight and do this with your hair and you can be the next this’ and I was like ‘Ewww,’” she says."

So an article I wrote on Oakland jazz and soul singer Ledisi went live a couple of days ago. She's been grinding for years, pushing CD's and gigging in back rooms and Jazz clubs around the country, but ever since getting a couple of Grammy nods last year sis has been mad busy trekking the globe and getting all famous. After a long road it's good to see her getting her due.

After trying to get a hold of each other for damned near a year, we finally chopped it up for a couple of hours on one of her few off days. All I can say is that it was worth the wait. Sis is hands down one of the most down to earth, humble and determined people I've come across in or out of my professional life. I was impressed by how at ease she was and she talked this during the interview, saying how she was glad she was getting the attention now that she was ready for it, rather then a few years back when she was still figuring things out-her self. her sound, the world. Y'know.

Check the interview on the here.

And if you haven't got a listen to her new album yet I suggest you put it high on your too buy list. Some funky gut bucket jazz for that ass.

*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

Get your dance on with these hot remixes of some of our favorite summer songs! You'll find remixes of Estelle and Kanye's American Boy and even new music from Maxwell!

• CASAMENA: Casamena Radio Hour 5/30 (Estelle, Ledisi, Heather Johnson) [CMRH]
• SOUNDNEXX: Party Gruvs Vol. 1 (Patra, Janet Jackson, Toni Braxton, Zhane) [SN]
• ROY DAVIS, JR & FRANKIE KNUCKLES: Live at Sunday Best, 5/25/08, WBMX 11/21/86 [FADER]
• VIBEMISTRESS: Funky Stuff (Amel Larrieux, Mint Condition, Nina Simone) [SSR]
• TUXXL: That Soul Show 6/3 (Anto Vitale, Groove Armada, Tortured Soul) [TSS]
• TY G & MAX: Music is My Art, Vol. 9 (Santogold, Jeru, Sylvia Striplin, Gil Scott Heron) [HVW8]
• AKILI/ONE: Groovyclectic 5/30 (Groove Theory, Consequence, Rahsaan Patterson) [GVC]
• VIBEMISTRESS: The Original SSR 6/2 (Sy Smith, Fertile Ground, Q-Tip, Cee-Lo) [SSR]
• JAY LOBO: What U Hear (Da Soul, Groupo X, Vision Questa) [DS]
• CAKESFACTORY: Butterfly Effect Vol. IX (Glenn Underground, Glenn Lewis, Maxwell) [DS]

(Rahsaan Patterson/Love Is Stronger Than Pride)

 Some of my Comebackers want to know why I am such a stanfan of Lalah Hathaway. I've written about her for several months now. And many of you know that since highschool I was singing "So They Say" in the bathroom with my sony boombox on record (am I old?).

But Comeback Kids, Lalah Hathaway also represents a movement. I was thinking about this when I went for my morning walk/jog. If there's anything you want to know, there is something about nature and God being in it, that will answer, if you just listen.

Comeback Kids, I'm sure yall wanna know what God told me. (:)) Alot of the artists that I absolutely adore including Lalah, Rahsaan, Ledisi, Angie Stone, Amel,etc...have been doing this for A VERY LONG TIME. Its in their blood. The music runs through every fiber of their being. Its in their heartbeat. Its TIME. NOW. TODAY. That they have the same acclaim, freedom, financial wherewithall, that any other "mainstream" artist would have. I think the internet is helping to make that possible. But we must show our support not JUST through clicking on a few youtube links, we must do it with our purchasing power. WE MUST BUY THIS MUSIC. OUR FRIENDS MUST BUY THIS MUSIC...Your Mama, Daddy, and nem..must BUY THIS MUSIC (it acknowledges the younger version of their tradition). And when you support what you believe in, the universe/God/source blesses you too. Its win win Comeback Kids. Its win win. And I'm a living testament to this.

This vision I have is apart of my calling. Not just trending and forecasting and drawing network diagrams Comeback Kids. I feel like its apart of my purpose, my passion...Love is Stronger Than Pride.

St. Lucia

update 2 on May 29, 2008

Channeling the words of St. Lucia Star Online writer Toni Nicholas, St. Lucia Jazz 2008 resounded with such stellar performances that the political drama, orchestrated by St. Lucia's tourism minister Allen Chastanet, was effectively drowned out.  The Minister had earlier cast doubt on the future of the festival citing a downturn in J-Fan arrivals. 

It is well documented though that the festival began to suffer midway into this decade when the Jazz concept was overly diluted with R&B.  But due to the increased amount of true Jazz fare this year, St. Lucia Jazz saw a resurgence in patronage, thank you.

Following a low-key opening at Fond d'Or in the south of the island, St. Lucia Jazz cranked it up with the funky Maceo Parker of James Brown fame at the Gaiety on Wednesday, May 07, the empress Diane Reeves on Thursday 09 and the majestic voice of left-handed guitarist Jonathan Butler on Friday, May 09 when attendance records fell as heavily as the music itself.  That set up what Nicholas called an "exhilarating climax" on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 amidst the ruins of Pigeon Point.

Butler was tight!  He ran the gamut from his home country, South Africa, paying tribute to "Mandela" and Miriam Makeba ("Pita Patta") to the Caribbean (Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry").  Being a born-again Christian, Butler also served up the gospel ("Falling in Love with Jesus") with his classic Contemporary Jazz hits ("Lies" and "Sarah, Sarah").

Wanting to fit into the Jazz theme, Michael Bolton fronted an orchestra to deliver a set of Jazz standards in between the tried and true repertoire that his fans had expected.  Disappointed, they walked out on him.  What can I say?

 Barbara Cadet

Come Saturday 10, Barbara Cadet and Friends started a flame that burned brightly through the respective performances by the Jazz Explosion featuring Najee, Alex Bugnon, Nick Colionne and Ledisi as well as David Sanchez and Anita Baker.  

Ledisi performing "Alright" with Najee, Alex Bugnon & Nick Colionne

Anita Baker threw down those sultry Jazz inflected ballads ("Sweet Love," "You Bring Me Joy," "No One in this World," "Same Old Love," "Fairy Tales," "Body and Soul" and "Caught up in the Rapture)  from the days when she rode the Quiet Storm in cahoots with Sade. 

Anita Baker performing 'Mystery' at St. Lucia Jazz; Anita Baker performing 'Sweet Love'

Then on Sunday 11, it was back to the Pigeon Island National Landmark for a last dose of straightahead Jazz compliments of Martiniquan saxophonist Eric Ildefonse and his St. Lucian counterpart Luther François.

The St. Lucia Tourist Board may have had a question mark placed on the 17th Annual St. Lucia Jazz festival 2008.  But from the looks of it, by injecting more pure Jazz into the ten-day roster than in the previous few years, the question mark was removed and replaced with an exclamation point.  Bravo!

_______________________

Previous Posts: St. Lucia Jazz opening, a mixed success

                           Eric Ildefonse in SKB

You can't speak of Brazilian music without mentioning the maestro, Sergio Mendes. His latest album, Encanto brings together the musical styles of Rio and Bahia in a beautiful way.  If you want to go on a musical journey through Brazil with the help of an international crew, here is your opportunity. 

Mendes gives the album a global flavor by featuring artists such as Latin superstar Juanes from Colombia, multi-talented Carlinhos Brown and Vanessa da Mata from Bahia,  Belgium’s Zap Mama, and Italian rapper Jovanotti,as well as American stars like Ledisi, Fergie, will. i. am, Natalie Cole and Herb Alpert.

The album is not available in stores yet as it is scheduled to be released on June 10th.  That's why I have a little taste for you in this post.

Check out Funky Bahia by Carlinhos Brown and will.i.am

If you happen to be in Philadelphia you can see Mendes live at World Live Cafe.

Monday, June 23rd, 2008| Doors 6 pm | Show 7:30 pm | Downstairs Live

3025 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-222-1400

Click here to check out more Latin concerts at World Live Cafe. 

http://www.bet.com/ontv/betjshows

Click here For more on this wonderful event

Ledisi is one of these unique talents that seems to creep pass the masses sight unseen. Two time Grammy nominee Ledisi might be another sleeper, but she is not short on talent. Hollywood hates talent.

During his performance, Prince turned it loose, performing a song that has never been performed on TV before and with good reason.  Accompanying the band was Ledisi and members of Grupo Fantasma along with the return of Renato Neto. Prince did a  few station i.d.'s with Jay and Jay called  him  the Pop Idol, which Prince rather liked. 

After the station i.d.'s, "The P.I." came out and did two more songs for the lucky fans and guests who were able to attend.  He did "Guitar" and "1999" as Leno crew came from behind the scenes to watch Prince own it.  We were told by a Tonight Show insider that it's been since the Johnny Carson days of the Tonight Show since there was that much excitement for a musical performer.

Prince ended the show saying "See You At Coachella". Yes, we will.-Dr.FB

I absolutely love this song, I'm glad to see a video was made for it.

 "Lost & Found" is the debut album by Grammy-nominated soul artists - Ledisi. This album came out last year and again, was one of those great albums that got loads of critical acclaim but didn't make much of a splash in the mainstream.

We've been playing this album for a while now and just wanted to share it with everyone who hasn't yet heard of Ledisi or heard the album. It's hard comparing these kinds of artist because you end up saying the usual Nu/Neo-Soul names like Jill Scott, Angie Stone and Erykah Badu etc, when in fact, non of the mentioned actually sound the same at all...But she's def on the Nu-Soul tip. Great voice.

"Think of You" is our recommended track:

Ledisi - "Lost & Found"

Peace, Love & Soul

Once again, this is not the post I planned for today.  However, this is probably a good way to round out Women's History Month. Normally, I would give ya'll some rudimentary collage of pictures and some videos. I just don't have it in me today.

I am coming down with a case of the nasties and I can tell it's going to be a bad one if I don't nip it in the bud. I don't even know if getting that 'Tussin down in it is going to work. Ya'll pray that it does. A sista is on the move. I got a date with Sy Smith tomorrow night and will be up in NYC this weekend enjoying Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The show has got to go on.

I came up with the idea for this post while riding home today, berating myself for the fleeting thought I had last week that it would be "nice" if I got sick again like I did a couple of years ago when I lost 12lbs in three days.  I couldn't hold anythingon my stomach, not even water. Folks, be very careful what you let enter your mind.  Lizz Fields' excellent album, By Day, By Nightwas caressing my ears and I got to thinking about how I wish I could hear more of the soul sistas (and brothers) with true talent on the radio instead of the bs they play fifty eleven times a day.

I don't have the energy for that rant.

Anyhow, here's a list of female soul singers that I enjoy. Not an exhaustive list BY ANY MEANS. It's just what I captured from the 'pod and my Myspace friends list. I didn't even go through my cd's. We would have been here all night!

• Algebra Blessett
  myspace | 'Behind the Groove' interview
• Angela Johnson
  myspace
• Ashley Phillips
  website | myspace
• Brown Baby Girl (female member)
  website | myspace 
• Carol Riddick
  website | myspace | interview on Honeysoul
• Choklate
  website | myspace | interview on Honeysoul
• Conya Doss
  website | myspace | interview on Honeysoul
• Deborah Bond
  website | myspace
• D'Nell (female member)
  website | myspace
• Goapele
  website | myspace | interview with Honeysoul | "Closer" post
• Hil St Soul (new album hit stores 4/29!!!)
  myspace
• Jaguar Wright
  website | myspace
• Joy Denalane
  website | myspace | interview on Honeysoul
• Joi
  website | myspace | interview on Honeysoul
• Ledisi
  website | myspace |interview on Soul Bounce | "Take Time" post
• Leela James
  website | myspace
• Lina
  website | myspace
• Lizz Fields
  website | myspace
• Lizz Wright
  website | myspace
• Liv Warfield
  website | myspace
• Marie Tweek
  myspace
• N'Dambi (the beautiful inspiration for my profile pic)
  website | myspace
• Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
  website | myspace | concert review
• Stephanie McKay
  website | myspace
• Sy Smith
  website | myspace | interview on honeysoul
• Teedra Moses
  website | myspace | concert review | "Cut Buddy" or "Celibacy Blues" post
• Trina Broussard
  website | myspace
• Vivian Green
  website | myspace | "Affected" post 
• Yazarah 
  myspace | concert review

If you haven't already, get into these artists. Purchase their albums. Support real music.

Again, this is not the list. It's my list and it's not exhaustive, by any means. Please feel free to add your favorite underrated female soul singers in the comments. I am always looking for new inspiration. Look out for more posts using songs from artists like these.

Ledisi - Alright

"I was running away from the love you gave me/Wanted a life but everything was crazy/Unsure of love, I needed love/Then came you, you were like the springtime/You make everything new … You were there for me/You never left one." —from "The One

Recording artist Ledisi Young knows a little something about being lost. After nearly ten years, two independent records, a brief stint on Broadway, and a faulty record deal, the Bay area singer was still largely unknown, underground, and underpaid. Having slowly made a name for herself in regional black music circles, the neo-soul singer first introduced her golden pipes to the mainstream when she covered Luther Vandross' "My Sensitivity" on the 2004 tribute album Forever, For Always, For Luther.

It wasn't until 2007 that Ledisi (pronounced Led-duh-see) really began to gain ground. Verve signed the indie phenomenon and gave her enough attention to elicit the national recognition she had been working towards. First there were contributions to a couple other tribute albums from the record label: We Love Ella and Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth Wind & Fire. Then, a few months later, Ledisi upped the ante—and her profile—by finally dropping her major label debut Lost & Found, a slick soiree of traditional soul and modern R&B that garnered her two Grammy nominations in 2007 for Best New Artist and R&B Album of the Year. Three years in the making, Lost & Found marries the tasty sounds of her native New Orleans with a proper UC Berkley training to deliver sixteen distinct tracks on life and love, combining wily jazz licks and streetwise R&B hooks.

The title cut sets the tone, as well as Ledisi's meaningful search for love and purpose. A lone piano and distressing violin form a haunting accompaniment for her exquisitely raw vocal, personifying the often lonely quest for greater meaning: "Lost not yet found, breathing in misery/Hope lurks around, when will the sun ever shine on me/I need love to come and carry me, take me away/Please someone find me."

"I can talk about the lost side of things—spiritually, musically, and personally," Ledisi told Lee Bailey's EURweb in an interview after Lost & Found's release. And her complicated path from itinerant songstress to paid professional rarely followed the straight and narrow, as reflected in her album's title. "It's from 'Amazing Grace': I once was lost, but now I'm found. It has a lot to do with having faith."

In a song her official bio describes as "so reverent that it really couldn't be about anything else but loving the Lord," "Think of You" pays homage to God's omniscient qualities, recounting the practical and supernatural ways he is daily present: "I can't help but feel you all around me, feel you everywhere/You bring me peace of mind, you bring joy to my soul/Everywhere that I go every day every night/I think of you/You're the air that I breathe, you're the love of my life/I think of you."

With a thick acoustic groove, "The One" (excerpted above) almost recalls the Parables of the lost sheep (Matthew 18:10-14), in which Jesus uses the metaphor of a shepherd and his flock to depict how much the Father is concerned for each individual's well being.

With vocal chops rivaling Patti LaBelle, scats often comparable to Ella Fitzgerald, and the sheer soulfulness of Chaka Kahn (with whom she appeared on AOL's "The Bridge" last fall), Ledisi is performs with vocal adlibs so passionate, they convict even when the lyrical content is spiritually less specific. In "Upside Down", a fitting commentary on the state of society and its need for repair, the spirited singer admonishes, "World are you listening?/World pay attention/World, where is your heart?/World, love gave us this start …Preachers, tell us about the light so we can learn to live right/I see everybody's looking for the answers."

Despite her strong personal convictions, Ledisi's statements of faith appear more frequently in interview than in song. The soul singer readily admits her third disc focuses less on an alliance with God and more on the connectivity of human relationships in the here and now, though an undercurrent of spiritual belief deliberately supports this polished set. The album's first single, "Alright" is positively upbeat with infectious urban hooks and contagious melodies supporting lyrics of hope amidst adversity, a light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel type of mindset that works well for the once down and out diva.

However, the experienced songstress at times foregoes her morally centered insights for more suggestive fare. "Joy" surrogates its spiritual dimension with the sexual dalliances of two young lovers. Provocatively professing her desire to redeem a man with the kind of compensation only God can truly issue, Ledisi sings: "Can we do this, make love by the moonlight?/Let me hold you, give you what you need/There ain't nothing I wouldn't do to please you … Can I be the one to bring you joy?"

It can be easy to mix messages in a genre often dominated by themes of sex and self. But as her career continues to bloom, Ledisi seems increasingly determined to submit to the Almighty and let the rest fall into place. "I've learned to move with my gut feeling, and to ask God for guidance," she told USA Today early this year. "My mom always told me, 'Just focus on one thing at a time and finish it, and everything you want will come to you.' And here it is, coming to me."

Hopefully, that trust in God will further guide this talented singer in her career decisions and song subjects. Because in light of all her recent accolades and attention, as told in an interview with AOL's Black Voices, Ledisi still knows who to attribute her success to: "All I had to do was move out of my own way and let God take over."

ChristianityToday.com, July 2008
Ledisi.com

Ledisi.doc

This video is actually Ledisi singing with Chaka Khan on her famous "You Got The Love". As you know Chaka Khan is a living legend. But Ledisi is also one in the making. I love her spirit. Back in 2000 when she broke on the DC scene with "Take Time" off of her first project, Soulsinger, I was so impressed at how after some failed attempts to get signed she decided to independently make her first two projects.

And two Grammy nominations later (on the major label Verve), Ledisi really does typify what it means to take control of your passion and create real beauty, meaning and music on her own terms.