"The Mood" is Barbria's sophomore set on her own label, which takes you on a musical journey through the different moods one goes through when they are in or falling out of love. This CD hits straight to the core of one’s existence. Barbria eloquently tells her story with songs like "His Only," which is an accapella selection comprised of four part harmony with smooth R&B vocals and Jazzy scat singing transitions; and "You Hate That," which is an R&B/reggae influenced anthem dedicated to the "Haters," and features her nephew Darien {D.C.} Cummings on the remix single. Included is "Mood Music," a bonus CD which is a musical tribute to her cousin Earma Jean Grant-Thompson. On this CD, Barbria returns to her Chicago Jazz roots and delivers classic jazz vocals with authentic scat singing, reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald. "Mood Music" contains five Jazz standards including "Just in Time" and "You stepped out of a dream” accompanied by Cousin Earma Jean herself.
Barbria has given us an exclusive look, not just into her soul but into her extremely talented family as well. Barbria shows us three generations of talent in one project. Barbria crosses genres with the greatest of ease and with every mood she tells a thought provoking story.
The Mood {the Story behind my Songs}
The Mood is a concept CD which takes you on a musical journey through a love relationship that goes horribly wrong. At its beginning you can hear the passion and lust that oozes out of each song, {His Only, Anonymity, Intimate thoughts of you, and The Mood}, and then the relationship somehow takes an abrupt turn. {Sometimes you have to cry} is a contemporary Christian song which centers around Psalm 30:5 - 5For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Symbolized with a clap of thunder. Barbria wakes up to the realty that this man isn’t the man she thought he was. He was {Mr. Mystique} - magical and mystical and able to flip the script changing himself and her as well. He was the total {Wrong Man.}
Barbria was in desperate need of a friend not just another lover but a true friend {I need a Friend}.
After surviving a total hit to her self esteem and vowing that this relationship or the haters it brought on won’t keep her down. {You Hate That}. Barbria literally screams {“No More”}. She picks herself up, brushes herself off and ends up finding the friend and the love she had been hoping for. Just when she thought she was through, she fell in love {“Just when I thought”}.
This CD starts at the beginning and ends with a new beginning. For all of her many moods, Barbria’s vocals and her lyrical content are nothing less than captivating. You will definitely enjoy this CD for years to come. Classic.
Disc II
Mood Music - {A Musical Tribute To Earma Jean Thompson}
~A few years ago, someone in Atlanta asked me if I knew who the best classic jazz pianist in Chicago was. I
jokingly replied, “I don’t know, it’s probably one of my cousins.” He scoffed and said, “Yeah Right.” He then said,
” Her name is Earma Thompson.” I laughed and said, “Her name is Earma Jean Thompson, and she is my cousin. “
~Earma Jean Grant-Thompson was born March 25, 1923 in Chicago to Verland and Mamie Grant. Verland Grant was
my Grandfather (Garland’s) Brother. My Mom and Earma are first cousins therefore Earma and I were second
cousins.
~Earma Jean was an only child. My Mother is the baby of 9 and last born of her generation. I am the baby of
the baby. Therefore, I am the very last born of the second generation of Grants’.
~Now granted, Earma and I were generations apart however, as far back as I can remember; I had a true
appreciation for her work. Even before I could dedicate it to memory it sunk in. Every time my sisters and I
(the Haynes Sisters) would sing. It always seemed my family knew the lady on the piano, who was jamming.
I later learned this woman was our cousin, Earma Jean.
~As the Haynes Sisters grew older our dimensions changed a bit. LuSonya became an evangelist and would no
longer sing secular music. Jasmine and Tammy were students at Carver Area High School and wanted to sing in
the Talents Shows and around Chicago. They needed a third on vocals. So they began taking me out of the
4th grade to sing with them. We usually won and were even approached by Motown for a record deal. My mom
felt I was way too young to be thrust into the music industry so it never happened. However, I just learned that
all of the vocal arrangements and the musical director for all those shows we won was cousin Earma.
~As I grew older and began singing solo around Chicago, I met a drummer at a club I sneaked into. After
being invited back I later learned that I had just sung with my cousin. The drummer was, Terry Thompson,
Earma Jean’s son.
~Just prior to my moving to Atlanta, I had the opportunity to do a New Years Eve gig with Earma. It was
at that moment the generations were transcended by Jazz. She played, I sang and we jammed.
~During Earma’s life she sang in a choir with Dorothy Donegan, married Marshall Thompson, famed drummer,
who toured with Duke Ellington. She played for Barack and Michelle Obama’s wedding, received several lifetime
achievement awards, played with artists, such as Joe Williams, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin and her baby cousin
Barbria DeÃnne. I, for one, am extremely proud.
~ Thank you Cousin Earma. God Bless You.
Earma Jean Grant Thompson
March 25, 1923 - July 14, 2009
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