Few entertainers can command a stage like the indefatigable, Sweet Baby J'ai. She is a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, producer, arranger and actress who has toured the world with her distinctive sound. Although J'ai is known for her energetic stage presence and powerful vocals, some critics describe her as a "jazz singer", others as a "blues singer” but all agree that this versatile singer-songwriter is a "storyteller". She can't be contained by one genre of music. She has performed in many styles, from soul, R&B, folk, jazz, blues, pop, spoken word, and occasionally even the diva singer fronting the orchestra. She tackles diverse social issues, lost and found love and pays tribute to those who have inspired her and the art form. Talented both as a vocalist and musician, she takes unconventional instruments, the washboard and spoons, and claims them as her own special sound. As one critic pointed out, “This ain't no backyard hoe down…she will have you swooning before the concert is over.” Whether singing a soulful ballad or a rocking original, she weaves her special magic through songs seemingly tailor- made for her intimate style. J'ai Michel was first called Sweet Baby by her mother, claiming she was the sweetest child ever born, the name stuck. She was surrounded by music at an early age, often being serenaded by Miles, Bird, Ella or Billie, albums her father would put on to lull her to sleep. J'ai grew up in a city rich with musical history, Kansas City, home to legends like Big Joe Turner, Charlie “Bird” Parker and Count Basie. At only five years old, she was already writing songs and by the age of eight, sneaking in the backdoors of clubs on 18th & Vine to watch her father play with top jazz musicians. Her uncle, Vernon Gower was a bassist with Billie Holiday and Lionel Hampton and her cousin Michael Howell, was the guitarist with Dizzie Gillespie. By age ten she had started classical piano studies, by twelve she had switched to violin. “I played a little bass in high school, some guitar in college until I got my hands on a 12 string and couldn't figure it out. It wasn't until I spent some time in Louisiana with relatives, and came across an old back porch band playing washboard, spoons, tubs, and combs, that I felt I had found home. All sorts of wonderful sounds were coming out of them. They were playing jug or Zydeco music, but I heard the transition to jazz!” Michel has been heard on radio and television both nationally and internationally. She has performed extensively in the U.S., Europe and Asia and has been featured at numerous concert halls, festivals, clubs and benefits, from the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Ford Amphitheater to Tokyo and Casablanca’s Concert Halls and more.. She has won awards and been recognized as “Best Entertainer”, “Pick of the Week” and “Pick of the Month”, many times. She has shared the stage with such luminaries as, Melissa Etheridge, Herbie Hancock, Etta James, Jill Scott, Joe Sample, Tom Waits, Koko Taylor, Patrice Rushen, Sheila E., Tramaine Hawkins, Stanley Turrentine and the late Nel Carter and Eddie Harris, to name a few. If you don't yet know her, let me advise you that those who come across her path fall instantly in love with her deep, powerful, sometimes playful and sensuous voice. She is provocative and impassioned, combining her infectious personality and original style with the influences of Nina Simone, Herbie Hancock, Carmen McRae and Sly & The Family Stone. As Artistic Director of the Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival, Sweet Baby J’ai brings a wealth of experience and focus to the Festival and a new perspective to programming choices by featuring some of the world’s most visible, high level jazz artists as headliners. The Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival celebrates the musical history and the contribution that women have played in jazz, and emphasizes the great stylistic and thematic diversity of women in jazz by featuring straight- ahead, contemporary and Latin jazz, blues, funk and more!
Sweet Baby J’ai’s latest cd, Straight To That Place, produced by renowned pianist, arranger, producer Jane Getz, critically acclaimed singer, composer, producer Sweet Baby J’ai and Grammy award winning engineer, producer Bob Tucker, showcases sublime offerings fusing jazz, blues, R&B and Latin. “It’s been a while since my last recording so with this project I wanted to go straight there – straight to that place where I go to in my heart and soul, ” says J’ai, “I wanted to express what I’ve been going through in love and life, celebrate some of my favorite musicians and composers, and share some of my own compositions. Every note, every chord and every word tells a story!” There are incredible nuances and bold statements happening simultaneously on Sweet Baby J’ai’s current album, Straight To That Place. Respected for her considerable gifts as a vocalist and songwriter, J’ai’s original compositions draw us in with their openhearted lyrics, working into our consciousness and taking us to wondrous places. She breathes new life into classics with great reinterpretations giving us a new scope to appreciate timeless songs with a different perspective. Her deeply soulful vocals are infectious, and the stellar support by musicians Mimi Fox, Nolan Shaheed, Jane Getz, Karen Hammack, Chris Colangelo, Peter Buck, Carol Chaikin, Bob Tucker and others are electrifying. Straight To That Place delivers on what it promises, taking its listeners straight to wonderland. This is an outstanding album and well worth the wait! Her recordings have all received critical acclaim. Beginning with her debut her debut 1997 release, “The Art of Blue”, followed in 2003 by “Evolution” both featuring the genius of pianist Nate Morgan and saxophonist, Teddy Edwards. In 2005 came, “Jazz Baby” where Sweet Baby J’ai joined forces with Janis Siegel, Freddie Cole, Rosemary Clooney and others for a fun filled children’s compilation jazz album. “Prove It On Me” released in January 2008 is a soundtrack from Dee Jae Cox’s play of the same name in which Sweet Baby J’ai starred. This roaring 1920’s romp allows J’ai to do what she does so well…take the listener on a journey through time and space. In 2008 “Introducing J’ai Michel” was released to wide acclaim, an eclectic mix of jazz, pop and blues, and featured legendary percussionist Perico Hernandez.
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Sweet Baby J’ai’s Black History Month celebration continues Feb. 25-28 at the University of San Diego; sweetbabyjai.com.
Los Angeles: Sweet Baby J’ai rocked the house at Catalina Jazz Club!
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Concert Review: Sweet Baby J’ai delighted the crowd at Town Center.
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See listings for details. arts & entertainment: Music Now SWEET BABY J’AI (JAY) G%5%",%)]"'%()=^F<^ • National Press Mailing • Radio Promotion Campaign • Print Ads & Digital Promotion • Tour throughout 2016 and 2017 • In-Store play copies available AG4BH)IJ*AJK/*() STRAIGHT TO THAT PLACE, giving us a new scope to appreciate timeless songs with a different <: L%%5-#$)/11M produced by renowned pianist, arranger, producer Jane Getz, critically perspective. Her deeply soulful vocals F: L%N")OL%N%0P acclaimed singer, composer, producer are infectious, and the stellar support Q: *'0"-$8')A1)A8"')R5".%)O*'0"-$8')K1)B8",%0P Sweet Baby J’ai and Grammy award by musicians Mimi Fox, Nolan S: H-55%0)T1%)O*U%%')"#M)I1UP winning engineer, producer Bob Shaheed, Jane Getz, Karen Hammack, Tucker, showcases sublime offerings V: W8%#)X1+Y0%)-#)I1N% Chris Colangelo, Peter Buck, Carol fusing jazz, blues, R&B and Latin.!!“It’s Chaikin, Bob Tucker and others are >: D5".9)!"$-.)W1&"# been a while since! my last recording electrifying. Z: A8"'Y,)455 so! with this project I wanted to go straight there – straight to that place ;: *.1[%5MY,)D5+%, where!I go to in my heart and!soul, ” STRAIGHT TO THAT PLACE =: B"55)!C)K"&%)O!%,,"$%)L01&)X1+0)4#$%5P says J’ai,!!“I wanted to express what delivers on what it promises, taking its <@:/-05)L01&)J2"#%&" I’ve been going through in love and life, listeners straight to wonderland. 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