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You can Buy my CD online @ WWW.CDBABY.COM/ShadesofJ or Download on Amazon.com or ITunes.com
About Shades of J
Shades Of J is an American Nu Soul-Spoken Word collective from Cincinnati, Ohio that "just sorta evolved into a real Band from a Band!", according to lead singer/poet & founder Janine "Lady J" Nash. Her CD "Shades of J: Spoken Word Soul" has become an underground hit both regionally and on the Web; the response on international 'Net radio & regular Quiet Storm stations across the midwestern U.S. has been estatic. R&B/Funk keyboard guru Chris Jasper (from the legendary Isley Brothers & Isley/Jasper/Isley fame) as well as the Devoted Spirits guitar virtuoso Sheldon Reynolds (formerly of Earth, Wind & Fire) gave their blessing on this album, both stating that this is a "Must Have" for your music collection.
The "seeds of inspiration" for what was to become Shades of J were planted back in the Fall of 2003 at Tiara's, a popular place for live music & spoken word in Covington ( across the bridge). "I was part of the House Band, Groove Society", says Lady J .... "the Band would do a 50 min. set, then the MC/Host would bring out the Poets and later on we'd take the evening out with some Funk; it was a great time-every Thursday was hot....one night I brought some of my poetry to read during the open mic part of the evening & got a great response all of my pieces, so much so that as time went on I garnered a following of my own... About the second week into it, as I was called up to read someone in the crowd yelled "Lady J", & as luck would have it the Host & the owner of the Club started calling me that, so the name stuck...I'm alright with it, though", says Janine, smiling.
Around this time J's bandmate & longtime friend, guitarist/writer Don "Dee M" Manor suggested that they get together & work on doing a CD based on her Poems & Lyrics. "I was a little hesitant at first, never having been the focus of a Music CD", states Janine."But Don had this concept in mind; "Spokenwordsoul", & as we wrote & recorded the songs I could see where he was going with that. I was Feeling it", says Lady J. "Don also enlisted the help from drummer Eric B., who wrote 3 tracks for the CD; Eric's contribution really brought the album together--we have a nice mix of poetry & song...I'm very proud of it."
A bit spoken, a bit sung - A very unique album from Shades Of J! Conceived around the lyrical genius of "Lady J", this 13 track album mixes passages of mellow spoken poetry with fuller-styled songs .....but even when singing, J's got a great way of putting over a lyric that almost makes you think she's laying the lines out to you in an intimate corner of the club! This album's got a style that's easygoing, but never too gentle; very warm and seductive, even when the rhythms are full...and a unique approach that has J doing a few interludes over the music, in a spoken style that's almost got the feel of some of Roy Ayers' mellow 70's-Era Jazz-Funk albums. There's a simple, unassuming feel to most of the music - even at the more poetic moments - Titles include "The Kiss, The E-mail Thread", "Searchin", "Smile", "Do Whatcha Gotta Do", "Verbal Bullets", "Seek The Truth", "Life", "Stirrin It Up", and "Issues With My Phone".
Produced & written by D.Manor, Jr & J.Nash...Tracks 5, 9 & 12 written by J.Nash/E.Bolden.
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