Album Notes

The title comes from a poem by Nikki Giovanni from "When I Die" in My House (1972) that says more or less that touching was, is and will always be the true revolution.

By day, I am a professor of ethnomusicology (music & anthropology) at Baruch College-CUNY. This project breaks the rule "if you can't, teach." I am here to testify that it is never too late to follow your song and your dreams. I started out wanting to be like Chaka Khan or Minnie Riperton. I studied classical music for over 12 years. Then I came to New York City to learn to scat and Patience Higgins and Barry Harris taught me how to really sing jazz. But these songs are a little of everything under the simple banner of R&B.

I dedicate this project wholeheartedly to Tomás Doncker honoring his gift for production and artist development. Tommy, when we create songs I don't know where I begin and you end. This wouldn't exist without you. You are earth, wind and fire and I am the water running through."

– KYRA D. GAUNT, JUNE 18, 2007 BROOKLYN (BED-STUY), NY

QUOTES FROM OTHER MUSICIANS & FANS:

"Great feel. Reminds me of Jean Carn." - Daniel Sadownick (percussionist for Dianne Reeves, Nnenna Freelon, Maxwell, Angie Stone and Meshell Ndege'Ocello)

"So rhythmic!" - Vijay Iyer (#1 Rising Star Jazz Artist of the Year and #1 Rising Star Composer of the Year, Downbeat Magazine International Critics' Poll for both 2006 and 2007)

"Intimate, magnetic, polished and professional caliber." - Patricia D., a devoted fan and music lover

"Your songs remind me of the feel of Maze" - Dave Gibson (drums) of Sugar Hill Jazz Quartet & Dave Gibson Quintet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr5QVCwt3ok

"You embarrass people with your songs" - Tomás Doncker, guitarist and songwriting partner

"Roberta Flack, Betty Carter, and Sade rolled into one." - Ira Atkins, longtime jazz and rock drummer NYC scene


Voicing Transformation through song and scholarship, ethnomusicologist and singer-songwriter Kyra Gaunt is a rare breed. She is an ethnomusicologist, a recording artist, a public speaker/intellectual, a published author, a trained success coach, and a emerging entrepreneur residing in Brooklyn's historic Bed-Stuy community. She originally hails from Rockville, Maryland outside Washington D.C.

She joined the faculty at Baruch College-CUNY after teaching at NYU and University of Virginia since 1996. She teaches an innovative hip-hop course and has for over ten years. Being an associate professor of ethnomusicology allows her to lecture nationally and internationally on race and gender in African American music and the African diaspora. She sees herself as the black "Sheryl Crow".

"I consider myself an organic musical intellectual focusing on people, performance, pedagogy, entrepreneurship, and public advocacy. I see myself as accountable for the possibility of sustaining affordable living and performance spaces and transforming the economic well-being and marketability of musicians of African descent in the creative economy of New York City.

My mission also involves transforming and healing rifts between fathers and daughters, including my own (see music). Ultimately, I am creating a world where simple, straight conversations and interactions connect men and women, children and adults, street and book smarts, old and new school, people of any hue."

Her original songs are based on transformations she caused in her life from reconciling with her birth father whom she'd never met before 4 years ago to bringing the book knowledge she's learned to life in a song about love. This ain't your ordinary R&B or jazz vocalist. Contact her for a performance you'll never forget full of love, passion and integrity.

Check out her original songs and covers at http://myspace.com/kyraocity.

Kyra promises a world by 2036 where all people are ready, willing and able to embrace and be empowered by ANY communication, committed to and eye to eye with the oneness of humanity. It through music and scholarship and much more that she will achieve her aim.

kyraocity.com