hi folks:
yikes, thanks all for the birthday messages folks. i'm sorry it's taken me
so long to respond. it was a great weekend, though i too thought about
kenny grant. i've been so crazed, with yet another job change and more,
that i've become insufferably rude and never contribute to the list. i
apologize.
we had a smaller joni gathering a couple of weeks after lahmfest, just 5 of
us out for dinner and to see 'eli's coming', the recent review of laura nyro
songs. jerry notaro in town was the occasion (as it always should be).
great company, and while the nyro show wasn't perfect, it did showcase some
of the most incredible singing i've heard in a while. judy kuhn, who's a
pretty successful broadway type already, was fantastic and featured the
most, but i lost it for a very pretty young black singer who seems to have
every possible corner of a great voice: a growl like etta james with legit
high notes like audra mcdonald. sounding nothing like either, though. just
a great voice. i think her name is anika noni rose (the program is a little
unclear).
speaking of great voices, i've also been wanting to add my voice to the
sherelle fan club. i've heard and loved her singing in pittsburgh at a
jonifest and on the 'tape of you' project, but these demos are on another
level, vocally. sherelle, i want you to make it because you're a sweet and
talented person, but more selfishly i want the damn cd. i am obsessed with
the three vocals you've put down here. they are so beautiful.
sherelle's voice has something of anita baker, and julia fordham, two very
different musicians. i'm not a musician so it's hard for me to describe.
julia has an amazing range, yet her voice sounds deep, even when she sings
high notes. it's very unusual, kind of buzzy, and beautiful. you always
feel that your whole ear is asked to listen... anita's voice doesn't
_sound_ as good tone in tone and she rightly hangs out in a lower and
narrower range, but she's much more interesting than fordham rhythmically.
sherelle seems to have the best of both: a gorgeous rich tone like a low
cello string that's ringing the higher strings, balanced with a sure but
inventive rhythmic sense. and when she cuts loose, especially in 'eleanor
rigby', sherelle puts fordham and baker to shame, both in technique and in
taste.
ok, sounding like a reviewer, which i didn't mean to do. i just wanted to
say, i like it. please give us more.
patrick
np - sherelle smith - do what you love
