It's been awhile since Michelle Carr has cut an album, but sometimes
time is exactly what it takes to experience life in a way that
nurtures new creativity and renewed life. For Michelle, the time
between the release of her debut album, Change, in 2005 and the
release of Hollywood has been filled with a great depth of emotion
both joyous and sorrowful, and the result is an innovative sound that
captures the rich variety of her passions and talents.
When her father passed away seven years ago, singing and songwriting
took a back seat to a different kind of artistic expression\ oil
painting. The brush and canvas became her voice when no lyrics or
melodies could be found. When she began singing and recording again
several years later, the sound was increasingly diverse, based on her
solid jazz background and rounded out with R&B and pop. She attributes
this metamorphosis to working with her younger students, immersing
herself in their favorite songs and styles. In writing for them and
producing their albums on her label, Saltbox Records, she discovered
an outlet for deep emotions in the combination of techniques.
Now Michelle has got the recording bug back, and she is looking forward
to a future of ever-increasing musical innovation for both herself and
the artists on her label. Also in the works are more scores for
theatrical and film productions. Ever the jazz singer, she is returning
to New York's renowned Blue Note for her eleventh consecutive season,
a testament to her deep musical roots and the devoted fans who have
loved her voice for so long.
In the not-so-distant future, Michelle will be tipping her hat to
Nancy Wilson as the prolific jazz songstress bids her farewell to the
stage in her final performance in September 2011. Ms. Wilson, who has
praised the clarity of Michelle's velvet voice, has saved a special
seat for her, next to her very own children. Michelle is looking
toward the future with the knowledge that this incredible legacy,
which has guided her from the start of her career, will take her on an
odyssey of creativity that will continue to evolve with time\time that
she plans to use to the absolute fullest.
Elizabeth Skladany
June 27, 2011
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