Most of my recent entries haven’t been album or artist reviews, but rather a showcase of SOME of the continuing adventures with The Human Canvas. Between this, and a recent week (or so) of fundraising at KVCR-FM, well…I feel like I’ve been away for a bit.
(photo by Alan Mercer)
So. My latest entry? Jules Day…A few notes…While it’s fresh on my mind. You’re going to hear of her.
Mimicry at an early age led to finding her own voice - this is what I’ve been able to gather from what little info is out there.
(photo by Alan Mercer)
When Jules was quite young, it seems that her grandfather, Kyle Peterson (founder of the Twin Cities Jazz Society), would have her learn jazz standards, one by one, by listening to records (or given her age…possibly cd’s). She would return able to sing it in the style of the person she heard, with the phrasing intact. When she was eighteen, she left Minneapolis to pursue a recording and singing career in Los Angeles. Fast forward a few more years now, and you have a person with a love for a type of music which started around 100 years before she was born. You also get someone who has clearly been influenced by many of whom she used to imitate. Jules became someone who sings with her own voice. She also became someone who would be headlining clubs she would normally be too young to get into. According to her website, she starting headlining some of these clubs when she was 20. She's 23 or 24 now.
Whether you go You-tubing, or see her live, you’ll hear a bit of Billie…a bit of Lena…you’ll hear influences from many past greats resonating in her voice. But these are only influences. The voicing, the phrasing, the inflection, and shaping…all belong to Jules. You’ll see it in her face…and in her body language. She’s not just putting on a performance. The feeling…and the mood…is there. She has a wonderful stage presence as well.
I had to dash immediately following the performance, so we didn’t get to chat – as we had spoken about, but it was Valentines Day. I was with my wife, at The Hip Kitty. The evening was ours. Jules and I have already sent messages back and forth about setting up an interview. We’ll have another entry after that. In the meantime…go see her. Go to her website or to her MySpace Music page. Find her on Facebook. Find her on Youtube. Get her discs – she’s just released her second.
(photo by Alan Mercer)
Again - She’s gonna be a name that people will know. You should too.
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