Rachelle Ferrell - Individuality

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:51
Size: 138,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:53)  1. Individuality  (Can I Be Me?)
(3:59)  2. Sista
(6:17)  3. Will You Remember Me
(5:30)  4. I Forgive You
(5:06)  5. I Gotta Go
(5:30)  6. Why You Wanna Mess It All Up
(5:44)  7. Gaia
(4:04)  8. Run To Me
(5:10)  9. Reflections Of My Heart
(5:32) 10. Satisfied
(8:02) 11. I Can Explain

Rachelle Ferrell is back, if not with a vengeance, at least with an attitude. An attitude of confidence, perseverance and hope. Jazz enthusiasts couldn't help but be bowled over by Ferrell's extraordinary technique on her 1995 Blue Note album, First Instrument. And then, nothing. Reports of occasional performances here, irregular publicity there. What happened to her? We may never know, except that Ferrell has moved from Philadelphia to New Mexico and has attained the peace that many find in the union with nature there. Individuality (Can I Be Me?) , though, hints strongly that Ferrell has gone through some tough times. Not only that, the titles of the tunes imply an identity crisis. No wonder. Her work on Blue Note was one-of-a-kind, but was it jazz, or was it overcompensation? Was it scat, or was it gimmickry? It seems that her audiences were divided in their reactions, although they agreed on the astounding depth of her talent. 

Well, Ferrell's identity seems to dwell within an R&D sensibility. All of the vocal techniques that Ferrell employed earlier gutturalisms, purrs, peeps, siren-like cranking up of intensity, growls and moans are appropriate to the material she wrote for Individuality (Can I Be Me?). The coquetry and hurt that seep through her delivery assume consistency with meaning on "I Forgive You". In contrast, Ferrell's irrepressibility sometimes overpowered the wholeness of her expression in the jazz idiom, which depends on group interplay.Perhaps "Reflections Of My Heart" stands out as the most melodic and expressive of the tunes on the CD. Ferrell and her younger brother Russ Barnes create a dialog of like-mindedness and belief that certainly should gain attention on the nation's R&B stations.

Rachelle Ferrell has found her own truth, it seems. Yes, she can be herself now. The convergence of self and music has led to the album that Ferrell was destined to make, jazz or no and one that is congruent with her personality. ~ AAJ Staff  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/individuality-can-i-be-me-rachelle-ferrell-capitol-records-review-by-aaj-staff.php
 

Personnel: Rachelle Ferrell, vocals; Jonathan Butler, guitar, vocals; Russ Barnes, vocals; George Duke, keyboards; Jef Lee Johnson, Tony Maiden, guitar; Byron Miller, bass; Lil' John Roberts, drums; Lenny Castro, percussion

Individuality

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Rachelle Ferrell - Rachelle Ferrell

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:09
Size: 155,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:08)  1. I'm Special
(5:39)  2. Welcome To My Love
(6:02)  3. Waiting
(4:41)  4. It Only Took A Minute
(6:23)  5. With Open Arms
(6:16)  6. 'Til You Come Back To Me
(3:46)  7. You Can't Get (Until You Learn To Start Giving)
(6:26)  8. Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This
(3:56)  9. I Know You Love Me
(3:39) 10. Sentimental
(4:38) 11. Could've Fooled Me
(4:11) 12. Too Late
(4:19) 13. Peace On Earth

Rachelle Ferrell wore two hats in the 1990s: straight-ahead jazz singer and commercial R&B/pop singer along the lines of Anita Baker, Miki Howard, and Angela Bofill. Produced mostly by George Duke, this self-titled album is an example of her R&B/pop side. With this smooth, classy effort, Manhattan/Capitol was obviously intent on appealing to the more adult-oriented tastes in the urban contemporary market. While artists like Mary J. Blige, Bell Biv DeVoe, Babyface, and Janet Jackson were making R&B relevant to hip-hoppers, Ferrell opted for maximum quiet storm appeal with this album. 

If you were buying a lot of Baker, Luther Vandross, and Freddie Jackson albums in the early '90s (along with some Grover Washington, Jr. and Joe Sample, perhaps), you were exactly the type of listener Manhattan/Capitol had in mind with sophisticated numbers like "It Only Took a Minute," "'Til You Come Back to Me," and "Sentimental." Most of the songs are appropriate vehicles for the Philadelphian's big, rich voice, but while this collection of mood music isn't bad, it isn't the gem that Ferrell had the ability to deliver. As pleasant and likable as much of the material is, one got the impression that she was capable of a lot more. ~ Alex Henderson  

http://www.allmusic.com/album/rachelle-ferrell-mw0000084207

Personnel: Rachelle Ferrell (vocals, piano, keyboards, horns, strings, organ); Will Downing (vocals); Michael J. Powell (guitar, percussion); Paul Jackson, Jr., Kevin Eubanks, Mike Campbell, Carlos Rios (guitar); Oscar Brashear (trumpet); George Bohannon (trombone); Barry Eastmond, Vernon Fails, Brian Simpson (keyboards); George Duke (keyboards, strings, percussion, background vocals); Freddie Washington, Al Turner, Larry Kimpel, Anthony Jackson (bass); Ricky Lawson, Buddy Williams, Doug Nally (drums, cymbals); Paulinho Da Costa (congas); Steve Thornton (percussion); David I. Ward II, Paul D. Allen (programming); Jim Gilstrap, Carolyn Perry, Lori Perry, Darlene Perry, Sharon Perry, Lynn Fidmont-Linsey, Josie Jones, Alex Brown (background vocals).

Rachelle Ferrell

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Rachelle Ferrell - First Instrument

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1990
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:54
Size: 130,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:07)  1. You Send Me
(5:14)  2. You Don't Know What Love Is
(4:25)  3. Bye Bye Blackbird
(6:01)  4. Prayer Dance
(2:21)  5. Inchworm
(6:24)  6. With Every Breath I Take
(1:33)  7. What Is This Thing Called Love
(7:15)  8. My Funny Valentine
(5:15)  9. Don't Waste Your Time
(4:59) 10. Extensions
(8:16) 11. Autumn Leaves

Rachelle Ferrell made her name performing R&B, but this strictly acoustic jazz CD is her earliest recording. Her voice is quite soulful, making her later shift to R&B less of a surprise in hindsight, but Ferrell seems quite unsure of how to use her wide range, and her improvisations are often quite eccentric. Her lack of warmth and subtlety (along with a tendency to scream and screech in unexpected spots without a buildup) makes it difficult to listen to several of the numbers on this standards-oriented set. Trumpeter Terence Blanchard and Wayne Shorter on tenor make worthwhile cameo appearances, but Rachelle Ferrell at that point in her career did not really sound ready for prime time, despite her potential. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/first-instrument-mw0000124970

Personnel:  Rachelle Ferrell (vocals, piano); Alex Foster (soprano saxophone); Wayne Shorter (tenor saxophone); Terence Blanchard (trumpet); Gil Goldstein (piano, synthesizer); Eddie Green , Michel Petrucciani (piano); Doug Goldstein (synthesizer, drums); Pete Levin (synthesizer); Doug Nally, Lenny White (drums).

First Instrument

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