"I sing to the realists, people who accept it like it is. I express problems. There are tears when it's sad and smiles when it's happy. It seems simple to me, but for some people, I guess feelin' takes courage. When I sing, I'm saying, 'Dig it, go on and try. Ain't nobody goin' make ya.'" -- Aretha Franklin (http://home.planetinternet.be/~smitsr/quotes/music.html) You know how every parent believes their child is the cutest or most talented child ever born. However, when you see their child or witness firsthand that child's so-called talent, all you can be is polite and say is, "He or she sure is adorable," or "Well, that's nice. I don't think I've ever heard anyone sound quite like that before." Soooo, when my girlfriend told me that her daughter, Ledisi, had a CD, I said, "Well, that's nice. I'd love to hear it one day." I figured if her daughter sang half as good as she sang, then she couldn't be half-bad. Now y'all know that day came sooner than I thought, and before I knew it, I was forking over my lunch money and buying Ledisi's debut CD, Soulsinger! In the opening track, "Get Outta My Kitchen," imagine two church-going, ole biddies all up 'n yo buziness, spreading rumors about things they know nothing about. The chorus: "Get outta my kitchen. Tellin' me how to cook. It ain't none of your business. Ain't no need to look. . . ." After I listened to the first track, I called my girlfriend and said, "Dang sis, why didn't you tell me Ledisi could blow like dat?" Soulsinger is the soundtrack playing in the background of every woman's life. The 16 tracks include a funky mix of R&B, hip-hop and jazz, and the lyrics invite the listener to tap into various emotions, or explore social issues. For example, "Coffee" sheds light on a battered woman who prefers to drink a cup of java instead of leaving her abusive husband. Chorus: "Can't find no peace in a cup of coffee . . .Don't let death or near death be your last resolution. Don't let coffee be your only solution!" Then in "Papa Loved To Love Me," she delves into child abuse and molestation -- ". . .Wondering why I had to fight him off me every night . . . Trying to keep the light . . . I'm older now not using that bruise as my excuse. One had to be strong to survive this abuse." The title track, Soulsinger, is about the sacrifices and challenges an aspiring singer faces on the road to stardom. After you and your sweetie groove on the dance floor to "Good Lovin'," you will definitely end up in a "Hotel" room screaming "I Want'cha Babe". Tempo change -- Let the scatting begin!!! Ledisi's second CD, Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue, is a jazz lovers delight. It's like having a musical conversation with your sister-friends about life's moments of flats and sharps. It's hard to pick a favorite song from the 11 tracks. If I had to choose, however, I'd go with Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue, (featuring famed drummer, Pete Escovedo), because of its Latin/Cuban influence, as well as how Ledisi brings this song to a close. Not only does Ledisi have a powerful vocal range, but her voice also captures the souls of her ancestors. Backing up Ledisi is her extraordinary band, Anibade -- Sundra 'Sun' Manning (keyboards), The Braxton Brothers -- Wayne (saxophone) and Nelson Braxton (bass), Tommy Bradford (drums), and LeGerald Normand (background and lead vocals). After you hear Ledisi's melodious voice, and enjoy the flawless musical arrangements of "In a Sentimental Mood," written by Duke Ellington, "If You Go," and "Autumn Leaves," by Joseph Kosma English and Johnny Mercer, you'll definitely keep hitting the replay button over and over again. As Louis Armstrong once said, "If ya ain't got it in ya, ya can't blow it out." Well, Ledisi and Sundra definitely have got it in them, and they most certainly know how to "blow" it out. Well this Mama Cass has all but adopted Ledisi and Sundra, via the Internet. After listening to Soulsinger and Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue, I'm now telling everyone just how talented my baby girls really are. Copyright Cassandra Henry, 2002 EMAIL: cass@3blackchicks.com