Album Notes

Brazil was the first melting pot of World Music influenced by the influx of Western Europeans, Africans and Eastern Indians hundreds of years ago. Bossa Nova is a modern Brazilian phenomenon, which was a reaction to American Pop music only fifty years ago...

Following the trend for a less "produced" sound, Ja Franco is a natural expression of Bossa Nova. Like soft breezes on a quiet night, Ja along with her musicians, envelop their listeners in the silky arms of their music---like a whisper. The timbre, blend and style that is her own, JA captures the spirit, yet gives a fresh face to Bossa Nova, and that's what Brazil is about...spice.

JA is based on vocals, particularly the songs of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joao Gilberto and other great writers. You will hear vocals in English, Portuguese and Italian. The harmony is expressed in the lushness of the guitar and the sensitive percussion. From song to song, it is a congruous, cumulative work of pure, subtle and textural changes setting a pastel mood.

Janice (Ja) Franco, is passionate about Brazilian music, and is known as a world-class chanteuse. Her diverse vocal background has taken her to the ultimate in Latin and Jazz Standards. Passion of My Soul embraces its listeners with slow, sultry sounds of Jobim and Gilberto, as well as Bergman and Hamilton. Her interpretation of many of the delightful Bossa Nova and jazz favorites establishes her as a great artist as she sings with creamy vocals and with true adaptation of what the songwriters intended.

Ja teams up with percussionist-producer, LARRY FRATANGELO, who has recorded and toured with some of the top recording artists in the world today. His name appears on Gold, Platinum and Grammy award-winning albums. Check out his site at www.brotherangel.com.

"Passion of My Soul" has been nominated Best World Recording and Janice Franco has been given accolodates as a jazz singer.

WATCH FOR HER NEW CD, "BUTTERFLY DUETS" WITH PIANIST, JOHN O'NEAL, AND "MOJAVE" A WORLD MUSIC RECORDING OF ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS.