Album Notes

Singer and songwriter, Alexis, was born in Nashville, raised in Los Angeles and lives in New York City. Her music is a culmination of all the influences she picked up along the way. The musics of Alexis combines the rich melodies of Country Blues, the soulful innovative spirit of ensemble jazz, and the driven lyrical urgency of the urban poets of hip hop. Though her music defies category, many have called this artist's musical recipe Jazzy Soul.

Alexis left home as a teenager and continued to write, perform and study, landing a leading role in an American Repertory Theater amateur production of "Dreamgirls." But it was discovery of the musical contributions of Ellington and Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstronga few years later, that made her decide to study music the old fashioned way: in the clubs of New York City.

Alexis enjoyed the world's ultimate jazz and urban arts scenes in New York City. Whether waiting tables at the Village Vanguard, working the mic at a Fort Greene poetry jam, or going from the St. Nick's Pub to the Blue Note, Alexis took her lessons from the rhythms of the city. Soon, she and her live, acoustic band debuted at the Birdland Jazz Club.

From the beginning it was clear that Alexis' music was a brand new spin on old soul. Her Birdland debut found the young performer embraced by New York's hip hop and poetry scenes. Soon she found herself collaborating with artists as diverse as American Records recording artist Saul Williams and poet/actor Mums, formerly of H.B.O.'s "Oz." Her gifts were also quickly recognized by her peers in the world of jazz. She has worked for Roy Hargrove as the girl-singer in his big band, and her own 17-piece msuical arrangement was performed live at recent National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, Georgia.

Alexis' unique blend of old school soul, new school energy, and live instrumentation, has earned her respect in a host of musical circles. She had performed at Joe's Pub in New York City, sharing the bill with Bronx-native rhyme-crew Universes, and opened the stage for legendary soul-man Gil Scott Heron at S.O.B.'s. Two recent tours of Europe have seen Alexis perform as the opening act for Bobby McFerrin, and her live show, which was broadcast on European National Television, saw her hailed as "the Future Promise" by the European Musical Press. Undoubtedly, what the future holds for this Jazzy Soul artists is more great music.