An entrepreneurial “Harp” full of soul
Urban-jazz
harpist Mariea Antoinette will release a special edition of her
Billboard Top 5 album “Straight from the Harp” on September 25 in
conjunction with receiving a Phenomenal Women in Entrepreneurship Award
from the National Council of Negro Women.
The Allan Phillips-produced
disc that peaked in the Billboard smooth jazz albums Top 5, “Straight
from the Harp,” connects with a balanced set list of soul-infused
originals and R&B classics. Showcasing Antoinette’s gorgeous,
graceful and sensual harp theatrics amidst downhome funk grooves,
ebullient pop harmonies and spacious jazz improvisations, the record was
purposely crafted to fulfill the artist’s mission to smash limiting
preconceptions, banish borders and offer adventurous new possibilities
for her celestial stringed instrument.
“The concept of ‘Straight from the Harp’ is
to show people that the harp is not a quiet, dreamy, boring instrument,
but that it can be funky like you’ve never heard it before. I wanted to
take it to a new dimension, and I knew that (producer) Allan (Phillips)
would bring an exciting palette of rhythmic possibilities to the
table,” said Antoinette. “The CD has launched an exciting new phase in
my career, but I’ve had this in my spirit a long time. I loved playing
beautiful classical music, but my heart was telling me I’ve also got to
do something different. I wanted to play the music that I grew up with. I
wanted to make the harp a funky and sexy instrument. For those who have
yet to discover ‘Straight from the Harp,’ I hope new listeners will
open their ears and their minds to the ‘Special Edition.’”
Tapping
Phillips, an Emmy-winning, two-time Grammy-nominated
multi-instrumentalist from Venezuela with an adventurous flair for
surrounding lush melodies and percussive rhythms with textured world
music trappings, was a deliberate choice for Antoinette. He penned four
cuts for the genre-blurring session, including a pair of tunes with
emerging saxophonist Reggie Codrington, while Antoinette composed a couple of stunning instrumental interludes.
The San Diego-based Antoinette (yes, Mariea Antoinette is the name that appears on her birth certificate) debuted with “Sexy Paradise” (2003) produced by fellow San Diegan Carl Evans Jr. of the jazz fusion outfit Fattburger.
Her striking appearance and artfully elegant sound and technique has
led to high-profile gigs around the world such as performing for President Barak Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, backing Ne-Yo at the BET Awards and playing Grammy soirees for Vanity Fair magazine and Mary J. Blige and Jamie Foxx. Antoinette and Briggs have been collaborating since 2007 in the all-female ensemble Jazz in Pink.
Their organic synchronicity forged through years of live shows at
premier jazz festivals is clearly in evidence on “Walk the Walk.”
Songs contained on “Straight from the Harp: Special Edition” are:
“Fly Away”
“Rock Wit’cha”
“Special Treasure”
“Give Me Your Love”
“A Single Dance”
“Spend Some Time (With You)”
“Boogie Nights”
“Journey”
“I’m Gonna Love You (Just A Little More Baby)”
“Waiting In Vain”
“Human”
“Straight from the Harp”
“Walk the Walk”
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