This is all about Rachelle Ferrell and her album "Individuality (Can I Be Me?)" released in 2000.
Ferrell is a girl from Pennsylvania, who started singing at the age of 6. She developed her singing abilities and talent to the max. With over six octave range this musician is well known as one of the greatest Jazz vocalists of all time that made a huge influence on the Jazz Scene (inspiring the new generations all over the world).
"Individuality (Can I Be Me?)" is her 4th Studio Album, consisted of 11 tracks on the record. Awesome groove in most of the tracks combined with smooth jazzy feeling all over it. Wonderful harmony progressions, and great vocals. The voice of Rachelle Ferrell on this record is unbelievable. She shows her natural talent for Music and creating art, as well as the hard work she put in.
The Album starts with "Individuality (Can I Be Me )". This title track gives us a great introduction and promises high expectations for the whole album. As a second track on the record is "Sista", showing off a great tone and smoothness harmonies. There are some beautiful Rhodes and other layers with long notes behind the dominant groove. Personally, my favorite track on this album is "Why You Wanna Mess It Up?". Great melodies and incredibly tight and powerful groove in the Chorus. It has a wonderful build-up and it culminates with a vocal and a Guitar solo "conversation". A perfect example of a great contrast to these energetic songs is " Reflections Of The Heart". This song is a heart-melting ballad, in which Rachelle Farrell is singing together with her brother Russell Barnes who possess beautiful big round and soft vocals.For the very end of this record, (last but definitely not the least) "I can Explain" is taking place. Extraordinary dominant performance by Ferell, and maybe one of her greatest songs ever written.
Another thing that I find interesting about this album is the way it is mixed and produced. There are some crazy pannings that sound natural, and it gives us a great picture of a well-organized room where everyone is doing "their" thing (however to experience this space a good medium is a must) while sounding compact as a whole.
Rachelle Ferrell did a great job, offering us a variety of songs that I believe many of us will find inspiring to keep on writing and enjoy music even more deeply and sincerely.
