(Vocal Jazz) Alicia Olatuja - Timeless - 2014, MP3, 320

Singer Alicia Olatuja wowed everyone at the 2013 presidential inauguration with her solo during the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir’s performance of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” She’s already earned raves from the New York Daily News and on the View, and with the Choir’s album released on iTunes, and a single "In The Dark" released on March 5 from Alicia’s own forthcoming CD, things are only looking up for her career.
Alicia Olatuja’s reputation has been growing since her arrival in New York in 2005. The New York Times praised her performance with her husband, bassist Michael Olatuja, in their band The Olatuja Project, lauding her “strong, lustrous tone.” The Olatuja Project, where Alicia sings in various African dialects such as Yoruba and Shona, recently released their debut album, the Promise.
Alicia has sung with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir since 2007, often performs as a soloist with the Juilliard Jazz ensemble, and has sung with various recording artists such as Christian McBride, Chaka Khan and Bebe Winans. She has just completed her upcoming solo album, on which she is joined by such acclaimed jazz artists as 3-time Grammy©-Award winner McBride and husband Michael Olatuja (both on bass), Jon Cowherd and two-time Grammy ©-nominee Christian Sands (both on piano), Grégoire Maret on harmonica, Ulysses Owens, Jr., on drums and David Rosenthal on guitar. Her solo debut album, titled Timeless, is slated for a September 2nd release this year.
Alicia Olatuja is also a voice teacher, a vocal producer, and teaching artist for the Brooklyn Arts Council.

Passionate about opera and musical theater, vocalist Alicia Olatuja has a rich R&B/soul register that merges Natalie Cole's elegant style with Joss Stone's depth of range. Her latest offering Timeless is an assortment of classic pop tracks with sprigs of gospel, soul, and blues sewn into the fabric displaying Olatuja's pleasing tones prominently.
Her solo with pianist Jon Cowherd on "Love Me Still" accentuates her soaring vocals. They are accompanied by her husband on bass, whose springy vaults shape the gentle flow of the rhythmic grooves in conjunction with drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr. Her duet with bassist Christian McBride on "Speak the Words" asserts her acute instinct to synchronize her vocals with the plucked beats of the acoustic bass demonstrating her natural grasp of harmony.
She is joined by Cowherd once again on "In the Dark," producing soft R&B/soul treads that support her striking vocal arches beautifully. Her rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," made famous by Judy Garland, highlights the creamy timbres of her register then transitions into the R&B trimmings of "The One," featuring the steamy swells of tenor saxophonist Jaleel Shaw.
Olatuja's soothing performance of "Amazing Grace" is powerful, evoking warm sensations in the listener. Her interpretation of Michael Jackson's popular tune "Human Nature" is tailored to the silky inflections of her vocals, and the cushiony texture of her voice in "Stay Gold" brings out the tranquilizing atmospherics of the instrumentation. Olatuja shows her depth of range in "Serrado" singing the lyrics in its native Spanish and moving in unison with the enchanting samba rhythm.
Timeless is a sonically pleasing recording that will surely make audiences take notice of Alicia Olatuja. Her vocal tone has shades of blues, soul, and gospel with a pop edge. Elegantly delivered and vibrant in color, her voice has an eternal beauty that transcends the dividing lines made by generations and music genres.

Alicia Olatuja - Lead & background vocals
Michael Olatuja - Acoustic & electric bass
Jon Cowherd - Piano & organ
Ulysses Owens Jr. - Drums & percussion
David Rosenthal - Guitar
Christian McBride - Acoustic bass (tracks 3 & 6)
Gregoire Maret - Harmonica
Christian Sands - Piano (track 8)
Jaleel Shaw - Tenor sax
Jason Michael Webb - Keyboards (tracks 1 & 2)
Laurence Hobgood - Arrangement (tracks 4 & 5)