if you like Cassandra Wilson or Anita Baker, then you'll definitely enjoy this...



i don't think it was hugely successful...as i don't know anyone else that owns it. but you won't be disappointed if you get yourself copy!

I still have that one She has some great songs, I like With Open Arms, Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This, You Can't Get...

I read a blurb recently where Beyonce was talking about how great Rachelle is & how she's been SO influenced by her - I was like, "Who told her to say that?" She just seems too goofy to respect the amazing talent of someone like Rachelle, you know?

She received much exposure in The Netherlands , after her debut-album ( above ) , titled Somethin' Else and which contains much jazz-standards .
It was originally released in Japan only , but re-issued in a later stage as First Instrument , for the European & US market .
Before the release of the selftitled-album , spotlighted in this thread , she performed the jazz-standards on the Dutch North Sea Jazz Festival , where she was THE new sensation of that year , because of her performance .


Original NSJF-founder , Paul Ackett , had booked her again the next year , around the 1992 self-titled release .
I unfortunately didn't see it live , but luckily the tv-channel broadcasted it .
She did in that show an impressive improvisation during the performance of Waiting , by musically-questioning-answering with guitarist Jeff Lee Johnson .
As her debut-album had a heavy jazz-vibe , the 2nd project was a more soulful laidback concept with George Duke's input .
A sour detail was that some people in the audience who saw her singing jazz-standards the year before , left the venue .
She continuously tried to explain that the songs she performed on this 2nd gig was presenting "her" ... "This is me" she repeated between songs .
It was such a clear mark of subjectiveness in the audience which showed during that show .

When the album just came out , I was really figuring out the deep chord-settings which George Duke plays in the end-part of the 1rst song , I'm Special .
It's the instrumental moment where a solid thumping from bass-guitarist Larry Kimpel drives the track to the fading end , and George is playing these amazing colorful chords .
I finally could play along with that part on the synth , but it sure gave some handcramps in the beginning



A clip from that album below which i just YouTubed .
( There's currently a lot of deleting going on in YT,
because a few Rachelle-clips that just popped up there , were suddenly gone the next moment )

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ry_sI0YB7cc


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[Edited 9/16/06 7:26am]

CalhounSq said:

I vaguely remember Rachelle telling to focus her recording-activities somewhere else than her native Philly-home .
I thought she told it was in the area of Texas ... maybe that has something to do with it , since it's Bouncy's homeground .

aw, I got that one!

Love her voice!

I'm surprised this release didn't give her more visibility...



...Individuality (Can I Be Me?)

It's another George Duke collab (with some nice contributions from Jef Lee Johnson) showcasing more of the R&B/Neo-Soul weapons in her arsenal.
This album might be a direct response to the attitude she encountered at that 2nd NSJF performance 100MPH described.
I believe she's got a progressive kind of deal that's lets her do her Jazz material for Blue Note and whatever she wants on another label.

In a more perfect world "they" would've put the same machine behind Rachelle Ferrell that was given to Alicia Keys.
(she certainly out sings/plays/writes her)

Maybe it was a case once again where actually being talented worked against her.
Then again, maybe that's not what she's in it for.


This woman is a simultaneously sexy/sensual/cerebral talent...



...If I wasn't married i'd be a serious stalker.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431
[Edited 9/16/06 6:54am]

theAudience said:

I'm not that well informed , but i remember that there were some issues with her and Russ , Rachelle's brother who sings a duet on the Individuality-album .
That's why it might haver been quiet around her activities lately , because there seemed to be a new album in the making .
Besides that she went to another area to live and explained on her forum back then that she wanted also to take some sabbatical time for herself .


There are some deeeeep tracks on that album : Sista , Gaja ( with Jonathan Butler ) and a bunch of others .
A live-clip from Satisfied "was" on YouTube just this morning , the only track which ( imo ) spherewise could easily added on the 1992 self-titled album .

theAudience said:

Still , i feel she was headed in the jazz-direction , although her last album was more urban-directed , like you mentioned .
I can't look into these record-executives minds , but you could conclude that they probably won't feed their focussed audience with Rachelle's work

theAudience said:

Here's a colored one ... beautiful pic when i looked @ the back of the cd-booklet .
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[Edited 9/16/06 7:17am]

http://youtube.com/watch?...ed&search=

Private live-footage , GREAT track & performance ...

Alicia who?...



...Near The Cross.

Just the woman, her voice and piano. (incomplete clip but gets the point across)


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

theAudience said:

Yeah , Rachelle @ her purest .
I've experienced a few of those moments live ... chillzzzz on my back .



Take a look @ the right below-side of the page when you play this clip :

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ry_sI0YB7cc

That account is deleted though and has an incredible amount of Rachelle-footage .
Various live-clips on there were , from my memory , filmed by BET .
A fan i know saw it on cable and was blown away .
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[Edited 9/16/06 8:48am]

100MPH said:

Nice that you've gotten to see her.

Looks like the good ones once posted by TsGotSoul have been removed. That's too bad.

It'd be helpful if the Rachelle Ferrell website was updated.
It's been Under Construction forever.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

so...Rachelle was at one of Sheila's COED shows in LA and for some reason when she went on stage I thought it was Dionna Farris...




never really gotten into this beautifully voiced lady...maybe its time i do.