Album Notes

"To be blessed with prolific songwriting skills and a captivating voice is one thing. But to absolutely master an instrument on top of that is indeed an enormous accomplishment. Meet Erika Luckett." - (Performing Songwriter)

Erika's latest release, "My Little Crime" released on BirdFish Records in collaboration with Indiegrrl Records brings together a stellar group of accomplices. Co-produced by Erika and Ethan Allen (Better Than Ezra, Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, Luscious Jackson), engineered by Grammy award winning Jim Watts (Emmylou Harris) and loaded with talented side players including keyboardist/vocalist Julie Wolf (Ani DiFranco band), Mark Mullins on trombone (Harry Connick Jr. band), Ches Smith on drums (Mr. Bungle), Devin Hoff on Bass (Lavay Smith) and Jami Sieber on cello (Ferron, Rhiannon).

Standing at the musical intersection of Folk, Funk, Latin and Jazz, Erika is an innovative and masterful singer/songwriter. With dazzling guitar work, smoky vocals and songs with melodies that pull you in and lyrics that hold you there, she's an artist whose depth and skill has mesmerized audiences across the country.

Born in Mexico, raised in Brazil and Venezuela, as a teen Erika busked in the streets of Paris. She later lived in Boston and graduated from the Berklee School of Music. With a degree in her back pocket, she embarked on a composition whirlwind writing music for film, multimedia and musical theater. An Academy Award nomination (Untold Stories,) an Emmy award (From Danger to Dignity) and a Newsweek magazine "Pick of the Year" (Stellaluna) followed as a result of her efforts and collaborations. She co-founded the world fusion ensemble, Wild Mango, and toured nationally and internationally playing at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Barbados Jazz Festival and the Aspen Jazz Festival among others.

When she stepped out as a singer/songwriter in 2000 and released her first solo CD, "Tinted Glass," she won the Northern California Songwriter Association's "Song of the Year" award. That album was also listed as one of the top ten best albums of the year by Susanne Millsaps on KRCL and was recently nominated for Best Album in the Jazz/cabaret category by the Just Plain Folks awards.

"Her guitar literally sounds like at least two guitars, and her voice sounds like two voices, dropping and salvaging octaves." - (Music Connection)

"A beautiful record, for music fans looking for something with a lot more depth than what you get on today's commercial playlists." - (Douglas Dick , WIUJ Radio. Virgin Islands)

"Imagine sitting in a living room jamming with Phoebe Snow and Carole King, and then Annie Lennox comes over and you all sing "Stoned Soul Picnic." That's about what Erika's voice sounds like. Then Ani DiFranco and the ghost of John Coltrane come over with a bottle of tequila and get Al Kooper to take a turn at the organ, and you've got Luckett's music." - (Colorado Springs Independent)

"With 'My Little Crime', Erika Luckett takes her richly diverse influences-- from Brazilian music to touches of jazz to sensual, highly visual poetry--and pares them down to the elegant essentials. With words of grace and acoustic melodies which linger, the album shows why passion is best expressed in a whisper; and how subtlety in songwriting holds the most lasting interest. These songs stay with you as sweetly as the smoke of a bedside candle." - (Eric Alan - Music Director, Jefferson Public Radio)

"With gorgeous production, a wide range of instruments and styles, and a voice that wraps around you like melted butterscotch, "My Little Crime" is a great album that showcases Erika's influences and abilities in an infectious CD you'll find hard to take out of your CD player. Listening to Erika's music is like drinking a smokey bourbon on a summer night filled with thunder and lightning -- rich, smooth, but with lots of surprises." - (Susanne Millsaps, KRCL)