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Welcome To The Soul-Patrol Newsletter
Maysa
There's been a whole lot going on here lately. We have had a historic Presidential election, we are mired in two wars, and the world economy is in a financial meltdown and more. In fact there has been so much happening on the world stage, that has a direct impact on our everyday lives, that we have missed out on one very important thing that should be of interest to you if you are reading this.
2008 was a GREAT year for new releases in Black music, however since many of us were rightfully distracted by the events around us a couple of weeks ago we made note of those releases and you can check them out at the following link: http://www.soul-patrol.com/newsletter/2008/news7/bestof2008.html
You will note that Soul-Patrol.com selected the new release from Maysa called "Metamorphosis" as one of the top albums of 2008. That certainly shouldn't come as any surprise to any of you. Maysa has consistently delivered great albums over the years. And the proof is in the pudding. Over the years Maysa has also proven to be one of the most popular artists that we have featured on Soul-Patrol, her internet radio broadcasts here are always among the most highly rated. In addition Maysa puts on some great live shows, we caughter as a part of Jason Miles "Soul Summit" @ the Berks Jazz Festival a few years ago and I am told that she will be back again this year @ the Berks Jazz Festival, where we hope to catch Maysa.
This issue of the Soul-Patrol Newsletter features reviews of Maysa's albums; "Metamorphosis" and "Sweet Classic Soul", her official biography and two Soul-Patrol.Net Radio broadcasts based around the albums "Metamorphosis" and "Sweet Classic Soul."
Check it all out and thanks in advance for your consideration...
Bob Davis - Soul-Patrol
798 Woodlane Rd
Suite 10264
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
earthjuice@prodigy.net
Listen To a Soul-Patrol.Net Radio Exclusive -Maysa: Metamorphosis, Hosted by "nightrain"
Listen To a Soul-Patrol.Net Radio Exclusive -Maysa: Sweet Classic Soul, Hosted by "enorman"
BIO - Maysa
 Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, Maysa discovered that she wanted to be a musician at six when her parents took her to see the musical Purlie. She recalls, “The moment Melba Moore took the stage an opened her mouth I made my decision that music would be my fate.” A graduate of Morgan State University with a degree in classical performance, Maysa met Stevie Wonder while still a senior in college.
Upon graduating, she moved to North Hollywood to perform with Stevie Wonder’s Wonderlove, with whom she performed with for the next year. While with Wonder, she appeared on the Jungle Fever soundtrack and performed on such television shows as Oprah and The Tonight Show.
In the early 90s, Maysa auditioned over the phone to become a member of the acclaimed British jazz/funk/R&B band Incognito and in 1992 she relocated to London and recorded Tribes & Scribes, featuring the hit single "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing." Since then, Maysa has appeared on over seven Incognito recordings including their latest CD, Bees and Things and Flowers.After being "discovered" as a solo artist by Carl Griffin the then VP of A&R at GRP Records,Maysa recorded her self-titled debut in 1995, followed by her solo sophomore effort All My Life in 1999, Out of The Blue in 2002, Smooth Sailing in 2004, Sweet Classic Soul in 2006, and now Feel The Fire, 2007.
Maysa has also collaborated with Rick Braun, Will Downing, Jason Miles' Soul Summit, Rhythm Logic, Jonathan Butler and Pieces of a Dream. And has been produced by George Duke, Rex Rideout, Mike White(Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly),Chris “Big Dog” Davis, Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick of Incognito, Richard Bull (Acoustic Alchemy).
MAYSA is a singer/songwriter/activist. She is a spokesperson for RSV, a disease that can be fatal to premature babies. She is featured in a nationally televised PSA, sponsored by the March of Dimes.
For more info, check it out here:
http://www.maysa.com
Listen To a Soul-Patrol.Net Radio Exclusive -Maysa: Metamorphosis, Hosted by "nightrain"
Listen To a Soul-Patrol.Net Radio Exclusive -Maysa: Sweet Classic Soul, Hosted by "enorman"
NEW RELEASE - Maysa: Metamorphosis
 Maysa - "Metamorphosis"
(Black American Standard Music) http://www.soul-patrol.net/maysa.ram
Random House Unabridged Dictionary:
met-uh-mawr-fuh-sis; a profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism
It's a thing that I like to do every so many years (whether I need it or not). And I fully realize that I am not alone. Especially this year. The results of the recent US Presidential Election has caused not only the United States to "hit the reset button", but also many people that I know to tell me that they have decided to recommit themselves in not only their own personal search for excellence, but to also helping those around them to achieve their own personal journey's.
In the liner notes of the album, Maysa says; "I am changing, re-arranging, my mind, body and soul, growing better, feeling stronger.....slowly, but surely, my metamorphosis has begun."
Maysa has been for quite sometime, one of the best artists around......PERIOD. Everybody and their grandmother knows that for sure, however she never really seems to get the props that she deserves. Although she is perhaps known best as the once (and perhaps future?) lead singer of jazz/funk legends Incognito. for the past few years she has spent the past few years totally de-constructing & then re-constructing the now "underground" genre known as "classic soul" with a series of albums on the Shanchie label and also as a member of the musical collective known as "Soul Summit" touring the United States & the world dropping seeds of "classic soul" and watching them grow. The past few years have been filled with new releases by many different artists comprised of "classic r&b covers." These albums were coming so fast & furious at one point I just had to shut my mind off to them. Some of these albums have been great, some of them have outright sucked. However the albums by Maysa were far and away the best and in fact her versions of some of the songs rival & surpass some of the originals. I suppose that the easiest thing in the world for Maysa to do would have been to either return to Incognito or to perhaps do another album of "r&b covers?"
Are you a person who is trying to hit your own personal "reset button" and perhaps needs a bit of encouragement, or maybe just a friendly & empathetic voice to lean on as you wrestle with the individual tasks involved in going down that road? Then Maysa's voice on the album "Metamorphosis" is exactly what you need to have playing inside of your head at this time in your life. Of course the music itself on the album "Metamorphosis" is incredible; it's a perfect blend of jazz, soul, funk, world, etc. It's like a great CTI album that you can play interrupted from start to finish and then want to play it for all of your friends who say they don't like jazz. It's the kind of album that you can play for "the jazz police" and even they would like it. Maysa seems to take her experience with both Incognito, her solo "classic r&b albums", combine them together, and then challenge herself to raise the anty to create something that is far greater than the sum of it's parts.
I can understand just why she calls this album "Metamorphosis", it makes me smile in much the same way I smiled the very first time I heard Chaka Khan singing on a jazz album. It's almost as if Maysa rolled the dice and has created a brand new artist. A brand new artist who has made a descion to "go for the gold." Maysa incorporates all Black music styles on the album "Metamorphosis" that might seem to be daring on one hand, but on the other not only challenges herself, but also challenges us as listeners to finally give this lady the props she deserves.
Go ahead & challenge yourselves and tell me what you think? http://www.soul-patrol.net/maysa.ram
And if you are trying to figure out just how to hit your own personal "reset button" in this environment of "change" we find ourselves in, you might discover just the inspiration to do so, from a lady who just successfully hit her own personal "reset button..."
--Bob Davis
For more info, check it out here:
Maysa: Metamorphosis
Listen To a Soul-Patrol.Net Radio Exclusive -Maysa: Metamorphosis, Hosted by "nightrain"
Listen To a Soul-Patrol.Net Radio Exclusive -Maysa: Sweet Classic Soul, Hosted by "enorman"
ALBUM REVIEW - Maysa: Sweet Classic Soul
 There are some people who are opposed to this trend of "cover tune" projects. Personally, I don't have a problem with them as long as they are covered well. All to often, artists will try to "out do" the original, ending up putting "Whistler's Mother" in a Lazy Boy or putting teeth in the smile of "The Mona Lisa" (how's that for my customary preface?).
MAYSA does NOT do that on her album, "SWEET CLASSIC SOUL". She does freshen up some Classic Soul without distancing them too far from the originals that we may be familiar to our ears. Her interpretations of these songs demonstrate some flexibility from strong and gutsy (I'll bet she gives great "phone") to sultry and seductive and even sweet when needed. Complimenting these dynamic vocals are some solid arrangements, very colorful seasonings instrumentally and righteous background harmonies. Not too much of nothing and just enough of everything.
Another thing I really dug about this album is she didn't go the customary route filling up the tracks with "Monster Hits". She chose some, "Wishing On A Star", "Betcha By Golly Wow","Love Won't Let Me Wait" and "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", but she included "Don't Say Goodnight", "Come On Over To My Place", great classic soul "All I Do", classic Stevie and "Playing Your Game", one of my favorite Barry White tunes, but not a huge hit.
"I" think this is a voice you had better get on the band wagon NOW. If this is her idea of telling stories, she is going to make listening to her exciting and passionate. She appears to be delivering the properties and qualities of many great influences in her life to say nothing of the sounds and characters we revere as well and created her own sound. I like it!!!! Think you might too. Check it out!
Earl Gregory
For more info, check it out here:
Maysa: Sweet Classic Soul
Listen To a Soul-Patrol.Net Radio Exclusive -Maysa: Metamorphosis, Hosted by "nightrain"
Listen To a Soul-Patrol.Net Radio Exclusive -Maysa: Sweet Classic Soul, Hosted by "enorman"
If you have a news item, update, review, commentary, etc that you would like to submit to the Soul-Patrol Newsletter, please send them via email for consideration to:
Hopefully you enjoyed this edition of the Soul-Patrol Newsletter.
We will be back soon with the next edition, with email alerts for local events, Soul-Patrol website updates/chat sessions or breaking news in between, as required.
If you have any comments, questions, etc feel free to drop me an email and let me know what's on your mind.
Bob Davis
earthjuice@prodigy.net
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Bob Davis - Soul-Patrol
798 Woodlane Rd
Suite 10264
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
609-351-0154
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