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06/04/09 Atlanta, GA The Loft
Discography
06/06/09 Columbia, MD Capital Jazz Fest 07/09/09 New York, NY BB Kings 07/10/09 Philadelphia, PA Keswick Theatre 07/13/09 London, England Jazz Café 07/14/09 London, England Jazz Café 07/16/09 Ghent, Belgium Jazz Festival 07/17/09 Copenhagen, Denmark Vega Jnr 07/18/09 Stockholm, Sweden Jazz Festival 07/19/09 Oslo, Norway Victoria Theatre 07/21/09 Koln, Germany Stadtgarden 07/22/09 Zurich, Switzerland Kaufleuten 07/23/09 Luxembourg Den Atelier 07/25/09 Nice, France Jazz Festival 07/26/09 Paris, France Trabendo 07/28/09 Hamburg, Ger Manderin Casino 07/29/09 Amsterdam, Netherlands Melkweg 07/30/09 Amsterdam, Netherlands Melkweg 08/09/09 Long Beach Jazz Fest, CA 08/12/09 Seattle, WA 08/13/09 Seattle, WA
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In a musical climate, that has made international stars of artists, and I use the term artists lightly like Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus. Its refreshing to come across someone as refreshing as Leela James. Hannah and Miley take note, if you want to know how to SING and stir people’s souls, listen to “Let’s Do It Again”.
For those of you reading this review and are unfamiliar with Leela James, this Los Angeles, California native and resident Houstonian has a voice that makes your heart take notice and makes chills run down your spine.
She may be an unknown to most of the music masses, but she has been involved in the music industry for some time. If you are a fan of hip hop, and the brilliant work of Pete Rock of Pete Rock & CL Smooth fame, you would have heard Leela’s voice as a feature vocalist on his 2004 release “Soul Survivors Part II” and she has toured as an opening act for The Black Eyed Peas and Macy Gray.
Leela, was signed by Ruff Nations Records shortly, that imprint had a distribution deal with Warner Brothers Records, but that label shortly folded and Leela was cast into the music industry’s black hole of artists that see their careers come to a sudden halt. Thankfully, Warner Brother’s was smart enough to realize they had a talent and in 2005 her debut album “A Change Is Gonna Come” was released. This project was executive produced by Commissioner Gordon, and featured production by Kanye West, Raphael Saadiq, Wyclef Jean, James Poyser and Chucky Thompson.
The success and positive press of this debut album, had kept Leela and her band on the road for three consecutive years, and contributed to her second release taking so long to be completed.
It’s rare for an artist to do something to creative and daring, but Leela’s decision to record this album completely live with her backing band was brilliant. This album of cover songs by artists as far ranging, as Angela Bofill, James Brown, The Rolling Stones, Phillis Hyman and Foreigner takes on a life of its own. Upon first listen, my first impulse was to turn up the volume. I am a huge fan of Foreigner, Lou Graham’s voice was an original and it took Foreigner to great heights in the 70s and 80s, but Leela James’ version of “I Want To Know What Love Is” is taken completely to church and the live arrangement manages to take this song to places that would make Mick Jones and Lou Graham quite proud.
“You will hear a variety of range as a vocalist,” Leela James said about what the listeners will find on the CD. “I love all kinds of music, if the song is good, it's good!”
There are many highlights on this album, but a special note should be made of Leela’s backing band. This group of musicians are air tight and in the pocket and they bring a flavor to the arrangements that truly bring out the best in Leela.
Some of the tracks on the album include The Rolling Stones’ “Miss You,” Angela Bofill's “I Try” and Bootsy Collins’ “I’d Rather Be With You.”, Al Green’s “Simply Beautiful and James Browns’ “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World”.
Just when I start to lose my faith in REAL SOUL MUSIC, I stumble across a project as emotionally stimulating as “Lets Do It Again” and I am reminded as to what music can do to stir the soul.
I encourage all music fans to listen to the wonderful CD and support this artist, because she is a hidden diamond, in a sea of crystallized glass.
04/21/2009 00:47:56 ♥ carl (
) ♥ www.leelajames.com ♥ myspace.com/leelajames
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