artist : Karen Williams
title : it's personal
date : 2006
label : Independent
genre : Soul
release date: 2006-11-15
street date : 2006-00-00
tracks : 5
bitrate : VBRkbps
size : 24.75
source : EP
type : Normal release
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It is quite possible the next Nora Jones has arrived. When Jones 'Come
Away With Me' swept onto the scene a few years ago, it was the times most
notable example of music making for the art of it! Her assured phrasing,
precise time, evocative vocals and melodic piano blending South and soul
helped reintroduced R&B/Jazz to an older crowd while also reaching new
fans along the way. But now the engaging Karen Williams has done the same,
albeit not with the support of a major label. Now based in Los Angeles,
the urbane Karen Williams moved to California from her native Atlanta,
Georgia to complete her studies in music. From Emory University, the
Beverly Hills Playhouse to USC, the talented artist crafted the timbre of
her voice and polished her piano playing skills. Raised in dirty South
Atlanta, GA, Karens musical journey began at the early age of eight when
her mother expressed the wish to have her play in her elementary schools
band. However, one obstacle had yet to be overcome! Already having bought
a clarinet for Karens older sister, her mother could not afford to buy her
an instrument to play in the band too. As serendipity would have it,Karens
mother luckily overheard another parent asking the band teacher to give
piano lessons and jumped on the occasion to ask if Karen could be taught
as well. From a real piano at school, to the imaginary one, the kitchen
table at home conveniently turned into, Karen religiously practiced. As
for the singing, it was a natural progression since her father was a
church choir singer. As early as age five Karen lent her vocal chords to
the church choir. Nothing less than stunning, nothing less than
breathtaking, the beautiful soulful ingΘnue eventually added one more
skill to her resume SONGWRITING. A natural ability Karen tuned her sense
and sensitivity to shortly after landing in the city of Angels. She
inevitably left the Playhouse to form a band that would play the sultry
and heartfelt songs of love that were pouring from the artists soul. She
surrounded herself with top of the line musicians (some of whom have been
attached to legendary artists such as Billy Joel, Crosby, Still and Nash)
and secured herself a clutch of live performances at some of Los Angeles
hottest venues including the House of Blues, The Cat Club, Genghis Cohen,
Monroe's and The Bel Age 1020 Club, to name a few. Influenced by the likes
of Macy Gray, Nora Jones and Patti Labelle, Karens music successfully
combines an unusual fusion of pop, jazz, classical and R&B. The result is
a debut album entitled Its Personal produced by Ralph Rickerman, the bass
player of the Award-winning German Based band Scorpion and the Grammy
Award-winning composer, Ricky Lawson. ... Karen's freshman CD "It's
Personal" is a collection of songs straight out of the singer's own
personal experiences. She successfully masters the language of the piano
and delivers powerful compositions in which harmonies and melodies are
beautifully juxtaposed over eloquent lyrics creating a canvas of poetic
sounds. "It's Personal" reveals Karen in the most emotionally personal way
and opens an intimate world to the listener..........
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1- I'm Not Afraid 3:35
2- Doesn't Matter 4:54
3- Girlfriend 2:41
4- How Do You Love Me 3:42
5- Two Loves 3:34
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