In a crowded field of new music and young artists vieing for attention it is a pleasure to tell you of YolanDa Brown, a brilliant self taught saxophonist, singer and composer who releases her début album this week.In a career that has already found recognition with MOBO awards,Yamaha endorsement and the experience of being invited to play for Russian President Mediev in the Winter Palace, stardom and success are promised with the classy April Showers May Flowers.
This music is life based and is created by an artist of great quality and depth who plays saxophone as beautifully as she sings.
From the opening note on the album the listener is in the spell of someone and something special.
Confident and alluring the effect is spellbinding.
Academic and articulate YolanDa is as fluent in words as she is in music as she cheerfully confirmed when I talked to her last week.
Excited about the release of the album she is looking forward to touring, meeting new musical friends and returning to perform at The Sage Gateshead.
This is the début album from double MOBO winning British jazz saxophonist and singer who has been making a name for herself on the Jazz Urban Contemporary scene.
In an apprenticeship that has entailed working with The Temptations, Errol Brown, Alexander O Neal, Monty Alexander and Otis Williams, YolanDa has earned her spurs and been embraced by performers in all areas of music performance.
A musician’s musician she has the common touch that speaks to the heart; A believer of music as a healing force of life.
Rightly considered to be an exemplary person of inspiration for young people I believe that Yolanda’s time has come with this confident and charming collection.
This is an artist at the top of her game composing and playing music that is sophisticated and resonate of elegance and grace.
This album will delight fans and have crossover appeal to music lovers generally. The music is warm, harmonious and embraces jazz, soul fusion and classic Reggae.
Concert favourite ‘Nothing to Say’ sounds fresh and dazzles with sonic wonder.
In lovely vocals on ‘Without You’ we are seduced while on ‘Bittersweet’, charmed. ‘Yesterday’ is haunting.
‘Dear John’ is a musical thank you to her “understanding” Phd tutor who knows YolanDa must follow her instincts and devote time to music which is clearly her calling.
Academia’s loss is culture’s gain with the arrival of this new talent. If you buy one album this month make sure you buy this one.
Amid the snow and ice I see some flower buds appear.
For more information join YolanDa on her website www.yolandabrown.co.uk
Fabulous music and fabulous musicians and fabulous singers and fabulous performers and fabulous songwriters and, fabulous communicators of all these things, bring May flowers to everyone, everywhere. Thank you YolanDa and you too, Seamus for your perception and fabulous description. PS The album is fabulous too. You can see and hear YolanDa talking you through the inception of each track here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ6SHUGyBS4&list=UU73BuRhvzvcfp1xxM1S_3_g&index=1&feature=plcp.