We are pleased to welcome Blues Journey to Our Family of Independent Music Shows.
Tommie Brewster has been a musician all her life, since reaching up to the piano keys before age 4 and going on to study classical piano and gain a doctorate in music. She plays several other instruments and creates, sings and plays her own original music. She has released two blues albums, a double album of other genres and a spoken word album all on CDBaby. Find Tommie on Facebook.
Blues is the genre that speaks loudest to Tommie and she is proud to be an inducted member of the US Blues Hall of Fame and have her work added to the National Cultural Archive of New Zealandwhere she lives. She also is a professional member of the British Academy of Songwriters and has a catalogue of over 400 songs.
Tommie has been broadcasting blues shows and interviews for eight years and is particularly keen to present to her audiences the many different styles and eras of blues from way back when to right now, with an emphasis given to including her fellow independent musicians in the shows. There is a dedicated website at ttmradionetwork for her Blues Journey shows.
Douyé (pronounced Doe-Yay) pays homage to the mellow blend of silk and soul made iconic by artists such as Sade, Dianne Reeves, Chanté Moore, Regina Belle, and Rachelle Ferrell. Featuring the musical prowess of fellow Nigerian and multi-platinum producer Dapo Torimiro (John Legend, Justin Bieber, Toni Braxton), Grammy-nominated multi-platinum British songwriter Terry Shaddick (Pointer Sisters, Diana Ross), guitarist/ producer Chris Sholar (Beyoncè, Mariah Carey, Kanye West), JR Hutson (Jill Scott, Musiq, Lalah Hathaway) and Grammy-nominated jazz keyboardist/ producer Philippe Saisse (Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau), So Much Love is a breathtaking tour de force that adeptly revisits the sound of early 90s Urban Adult Contemporary radio with a unique spin. Laced with Douyé’s smoldering vocals and seasoned with elements of jazz, R&B, and a dash of spicy Afrobeat, it goes without saying that So Much Love is destined to be one of the more feted independent releases of 2013.
The Nigerian born singing Princess joined me on Conversations almost 2 years after I heard her sultry soulful voice. (WDGP apoligizes for the substandard audio at the beginning of the interview. It seems that night we had gremlins in the machine) The conversation was so much better than I imagined. She is thoughtful and funny and a whole lot fun. Best of all she is so talented and humble. I hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as I did. I am such a “fan” of this beautiful lady. If you haven’t heard her, or if your a long time fan, you will enjoy this program. When your done listening keep up with Douye’ via her website, Facebook and Twitter and more importantly, add her music to your personal library.
I first met Ms. Collins in October of 2013. She was supporting other Indie Artists at a showcase in Washington, DC. I became aware of her because of a friend who was visiting. He heard her voice and said to me that he would love to have her do a drop for his Radio station in the UK. I convinced him to ask her and we found out that she was also an Indie Artist in her own right. Carl had offered her his phone to record on. She said that she would do the drops for him and for me and send them to our respective email addresses, which she did as well as a few of her tracks. Once I heard her sing, I was an instant fan. Gwendolyn is sweet, talented and down to earth.
It is incredulous to me that she she has only been a solo Artist since August 2013. She is a generous performer, who happily shares the stage with her talented friends. If she ever comes to your town, be sure to get your ticket. It was such a pleasure speaking with Gwendolyn on Conversations. The interview below is from January 11, 2014. She has been on the show since then and I can hardly wait to share the second one with you, but for now, enjoy this one and then visit her website, Befriend her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter and most importantly, add her music to your personal music library.
It was such a pleasure to welcome Frank McComb to Conversations, It was like seeing an old friend after a long absence, even though we’d never met. That’s the personality of the Man. He is a people person. He has been on stage and in studio with some of the Musical Elite, yet, he’s just Frank McComb. Take a listen to the interview, then check out more Frank McComb via these links,
Kathy Yolanda Rice hails from Huntsville, Alabama, where her passion for music and art was recognized at an early age. Kathy writes her own lyrics and musical compositions. Most of her original tunes are based on real life experiences and emotions, from childhood throughout her adult years. Kathy is a gifted vocalist with a style of her own while she captures the hearts of many with her precious voice and original compositions.
Kathy Yolanda Rice tells real-life stories of love, faith and hope in musical compositions. Her debut CD, “After All These Years” released in 2004, is seasoned with a flavor of jazz and consists of 10 timeless contemporary tunes.
Through her networking with other women musicians, Rice was a featured artist on the Women in Jazz South Florida Volume III compilation CD, released in December 2012. Her classic jazz piece, Cloak and Dagger Affair, heads the lineup of this eclectic mix of jazzy tunes. In 2011, Rice performed her mellow vocals on Marc Lacy’s Narcoleptic CD on the track entitled, “Exodus.” In December 2010, Rice collaborated on a Soulful House project entitled, “Feeling the Heat” with world renown Dance/House music record producers Fabio Tosti and Francesco Tarantini on Music Plan Records out of Bari, Italy.
August 2012 marked the release of a beautiful gospel project…the recording of the Walter Hawkins remake of Jesus Christ is the Way, by Nuove Mystique. Rice is the lyric soprano in the group. The jazzy rendition was released on Audio State 55 and is distributed by the Warner Music Group.
Kathy’s latest 2013 release is a collaborative smooth jazz project with songwriter Gary Swann. The tune, Love is Like a Sunny Day, features Kelley O’Neal on Saxophone. Rice joined several other women musicians on the Bobby Pin Diaries movie soundtrack, which features her up-tempo tune, I’ve Gotta Find a Love for the February 2013 release.
We became aware of Kathy after hearing her duet with Phillip Michael Thomas, Flesh Of My Flesh.
Flesh of My Flesh is a powerful duet, written by Philip Michael Thomas. Kathy Yolanda Rice and Philip Michael Thomas capture the essence of true love with the magical blending of their voices, beckoning the listener to make an emotional connection to each romantic note. Accompanied by Kelvin Wooten’s Cool Jazz/Gospel/R&B track, their unique sound excites the soul and spirit! This anointed love song will cause you to fall in love over and over again, and renew your vows, and keep your commitment to your significant other.
If you missed the Conversation with Ms. Rice, or you would just like to hear it again, Enjoy it now. Then connect with Kathy and keep up with her goings on via her website. Purchase her music at most online music sites like CDbaby, or iTunes
Alison Crockett has paid her musical “dues” in full… She is perhaps the quintessential nu jazz/progressive soul singer of her generation and yet you may not have heard of her – – but you’ve no doubt heard her voice… On seminal recordings by King Britt, Blue Six, Us3, Landslide, John Wicks, Mathematics and a whole host of others, Alison’s voice has provided the velvety, sensual sound of tomorrow’s yesterday’s…a captivating tone which evokes both the music of the past and that yet to come. A voice dripping soul with generous helpings of jazz, gospel and blue, Alison has taken the baton from divas of the present and past such as Lizz Wright, Rachelle Farrelle, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Donna Summer, Diana Ross and Sarah Vaughn and forged a uniquely personal and singular musical vision.
Here are a few quotes about Alison:
Mix Nina Simone’s urgency, Betty Carter’s chops and Jill Scott’s sass, and you’ll get the bold and bravura vocalist and Temple University alum Alison Crockett. Her songs about the system feature Philly’s Ursula Rucker, first on the Badu-bounced “Depression” and on a haunting solo rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Come Back as a Flower.” Crockett’s jazz cred comes through loud and clear on the midtempo Shirley Horn favorite “The Old Country” and a futuristic take on Nat King Cole’s “Nature Boy.” Simply put: She’s the real deal. – Eugene Holley, Philadelphia Weekly
Alison Crockett is serious. – Howard Dukes, Soul Tracks.com
Crockett’s musical ideas find a wide range of expression. To call her an R&B vocalist would be too limiting; to call her a Soul artist is too conjure a tradition she is indebted to, but not defined by. On Mommy, What’s a Depression? Crockett’s gestures to Go-Go, Jazz, Santigold-styled Funk, gut-bucket Blues, Trip-Hop, Tin-Pan Alley, and what I like to refer to as “Cosmopolitan Soul” – Mark Anthony Neal, New Black Man(inExile)
Sat back, relax and enjoy the conversation between Alison Crockett and host Diana Broomfield, and met the Woman behind the music.
I had the privilege of being at Sugar Bar when some of these scenes were shot, unfortunately I was all the way in the back having gotten a late start from Maryland but I saw it and I did get to meet Valerie Simpson, I would have loved to meet Natalie Cole but Sister had an early morning back in the DMV. I am so pleased with the way it turned out. Take a look and a listen and then go get your copy from CDBaby.
