Album Notes

Jill Jones has undoubtedly had ample opportunity to hone her professional skills. The Ohio native started her professional career at age 15 singing backup for Teena Marie (then managed by Jill's Mom). By 18 she shared vocals with Prince on 1999 and a slew of others. A recording contract with Prince's Paisley Park Records followed, and her debut self-titled album was released in 1987. Critics hailed her as the most promising solo artist to come from the label, but a preclusive 7-year contract prohibited the release of a second album. Jones chose the high road, waited it out, and began to raise a family. In recent years Jill Jones has backed old friends Sinead O'Connor (on her Faith & Courage publicity tour) and CHIC (Live at the Budokan), and collaborated with Nellie Hooper, Tim Simenon, and John Reynolds. Her latest album "Two" was writen, produced, and performed with Seal co-writer Chris Bruce. "Jill Jones teams up with multi-instrumentalist Chris Bruce on Two. Formerly part of the Paisley Park revue, this party girl sheds her trend-pop image to emerge as a sophisticated rock lyricist and vocalist. Jones' worthy vocal talents emerge from the backup vocalist role to fully hold this album. Expect not the simple party tricks of the earlier recordings she participated in. Here she is a superb vocal stylist." --Tom Schulte, All Music Guide "Fans of her early party-up bombshell image will be jolted by her transformation into a modern chanteuse who displays an aching, emotional maturity heretofore hidden from public consumption. ... recorded in only a week in Bruce's home studio, [Two] feels alarmingly complete, as if the musical energy Jones bottled up for almost 10 years was released with utmost care and precision." --Gary Shipes, Stuart News (Florida) "... a landmark recording for Jones. The bluesy, billowy soundscape that sets Two apart from nearly everything Jones has done in her long music career is firmly rooted in the personal... The emotional maturity of Two cannot be overstated - this is grown-folk music. Jones's voice, a truly marvelous instrument, can emote comfort as a well as chaos, sometimes in the same song." --Steven Fullwood, africana.com