Steph Johnson
ALBUMS
So in Love
Available Today!
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SO IN LOVE
Steph Johnson's 5th studio album, "So in Love" features pianist Josh Nelson (Natalie Cole), guitarist Anthony Wilson (Diana Krall), trumpeter Chris Lawrence, bassist Rob Thorsen and drummer Richard Sellers - this NEW album is a collection of Johnson's favorite jazz standards. After a 20 year music career, she feels like she's developed her distinctive sound and voice.
"In my life, I have experienced tremendous losses and spiritual fulfilment," she says. "To really embody these classic songs, you yourself as an artist need the experience of life - the ups and downs. There is grace and wisdom, when you get through it and look back. I have found peace in truly acceptancing who I am and what I have. When I listen back to the album, I can really hear all these things in my voice...I am not calculating my next phrase. I am in the moment, serving the song. I am singing in a way that I have not heard on my other albums before and I know that is because of who I have grown into."
These six originals and five standards were recorded live in
studio over two days.
From the opening strains of "Chocolate," where Johnson's big, soulful voice activates crisp brushwork and muscular, James
Jamerson lines - it's all here.
MUSICISART
"Music is Art" is a collaboration with Grammy Award Winning producer, Kamau Kenyatta and features nine soulful, accessible and evocative original compositions by Steph Johnson, plus "Human Race," a unique take on Wayne Shorter's classic "Night Dreamer."
This album features stellar musical support from trumpeter Curtis Taylor (James Carter, Billy Childs), guitarist Gregory “Gmo” Moore (Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire), Kamau Kenyatta (Hubert Laws, Donald Byrd), bassist Rob Thorsen, Drummer Fernando Gomez and organist Andrej Pivec. The CD has propelled her career to new heights and combines her jazz prowess with her soulful R&B roots. “…her core strength is as a communicator with rhythmic depth and smoky, pliant power…Johnson’s sweet yearning vocal really soars on Music is Art…Highly recommended.” Robert Bush/NBC
NATURE GIRL
Nominated for Best Jazz Album at the 2013 San Diego Music Awards, Nature Girl features 11 songs by the Steph Johnson Trio. With Johnson on vocals and
guitar, Rob Thorsen on upright bass and young drum virtuoso,
Fernando Gomez.
These six originals and five standards were recorded live in
studio over two days.
From the opening strains of "Chocolate," where Johnson's big, soulful voice activates crisp brushwork and muscular, James
Jamerson lines - it's all here.