Walking an exciting line that takes a neo soul vibe and splices it with contemporary jazz ‘A Shade Of Jade’ from vocalist Rebecca Jade is out today October 14, 2022. All ten choice tunes are written by Rebecca (she also co-produces with Carnell Harrell) and typically find her in the company of Harrell on keys, guitarist Kyle Bolden, bass player Raymond McKinley, and drummer Charles Streeter Sr. The result is an extremely tight, hugely soulful collection that has the potential to take Jade anywhere she wants to go.
‘A Shade Of Jade’ is quickly up and running with ‘Show Me’, a textbook slice of neo soul that incidentally was the first single to be serviced to radio. Another track put out there to whet the appetite is ‘What’s It Gonna Be’. Last September it was the subject of a basketball themed video that to date has garnered more than 126,000 YouTube views. With fellow San Diego native Kevin Flournoy on keys plus a big ballsy horn section that comes courtesy of Derek Cannon and John Rekevics this hip hop flavored cut really gets the job done.
From ‘real horns’ to ‘real strings’ the light, airy and totally compelling ‘Drift Away’ is augmented by violin, viola and cello while elsewhere ‘Beautiful Lies’ proves to be a handsome ballad of the highest order. Heartfelt and soul drenched ‘Please Come Home’ shows off a different side of Rebecca’s musical persona and although she uses ‘Insane’ to provide a high-octane finale it is the magically romantic ‘Other Side Of The Moon’ that is right up there with the best that ‘A Shade Of Jade’ has to offer
Talking of standouts the silkily smooth ‘My Reason’ is added to in no small measure by featured sax from Dave Koz. This inclusion of smooth jazz royalty is no coincidence as Rebecca first performed with Koz on his all-star cruise in 2016 and will continue with him this holiday season when, starting November 25 in Atlanta GA, she heads out on the superstar’s 25th anniversary Christmas tour, a month long marathon during which she will share the stage with smooth jazz heavy hitters Rick Braun, Peter White and Keiko Matsui.
Later, ‘Thankful’ shimmers with a splash of understated bossa nova yet all things considered the Smooth Jazz Therapy top track is the simply wonderful ‘Bottle Up Magic’. With lyrics that beguile and a groove that is sumptuous the whole piece is topped off by picture perfect sax from Eric Darius.
‘A Shade Of Jade’ has been a long time in the making. First in her heart, then in her mind and finally in the recording studio Rebecca Jade has poured warmth, passion, confidence and courage into music that now reveals, quite literarily, the many shades of her.