Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Jane St. Clair Is A Promising Up And Comer

By Ida Dorsey


There are a few good female vocalists that you will enjoy discovering online. Jane St. Clair is a musician whose albums include the 2007 release "Stories". She writes the melodies and lyrics to her own songs as well as singing and playing the acoustic guitar on these tracks. Her records are available through CD Baby, Inc, the online music store that specializes in the retail of compositions by independent artists.

Jane is from California in the US. The melodies she creates are a combination of moods and lyricism, producing a sound that will appeal to those who enjoy jazz, jazz-pop and adult contemporary rock. People who like the sounds of Steely Dan, Feist or Diana Krall may well also appreciate this talented artist.

Influences that are demonstrated in this young woman's work embrace Burt Bacharach, James Taylor and Sting. Jane has moreover been believed to pay homage to people such as Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell and Carole King. The words reflect an enthusiasm for poetry and story-telling in the style of Carlos Jobim, Tom Waits and Todd Rundgren.

An upbringing that starts with an education in writing from the University of North Carolina is unmistakable in the eminence of language evident in Jane's refrains. Following Chapel Hill, Jane went to Boston to study composition at the Berklee College of Music. She broadened her musical instruction at CalArts, benefiting from tutors such as James Newton, Jon Bergamo, Paul Novros and David Roitstein.

There are various exceptional collaborators involved with "Stories", especially Ken Lasaine who assisted with the composition of the emotive song "Shower Into Gray" (devoted to people murdered in the catastrophic attack of 9/11), and also performs on E-Bow, classical and electric guitars. Other distinguished instrumentalists on this LP include Nedra Wheeler (on upright bass), Paul Litteral (horns & trumpet), Alan Pasqua (keyboards), Michael Manning (fretless bass) and Danny Frankel (percussion & drums). These artistes have made records and been on tour with eminent performers with the stature of kd lang, Bob Dylan, James Brown, Ray Charles, the B-52s and Santana.

Critics discuss the passionate efficiency, lilting voice and the silky gracefulness of the vocals on "Stories". People liken the songs to poetry synchronized with harmonies. Ingenuity and personality are attributes often recognized in St. Clair's imagery. The general impression is one of an inimitable crystal-clear quality which invigorates the soul.

The uniqueness is improved by the arts of Dan Garcia who was responsible for engineering and mixing the LP besides adding supplementary percussion, guitar and trumpet as well as the final vocals. Jane's profound foundation in language and compositional education has given her the ability to construct sincere ballads combining Latin American grooves, intuitive instrumentation, intelligent phrasings and jazz influences. The supplementation of a redolent, supple and attractive voice on top of this mixture creates a sure-fire recipe for chart success.

Whether you are looking for the soulful offerings the artist creates, or any of the genres from Avant Garde to World Music, CD Baby is a great source. Albums start at just $5 and you can purchase vinyl here too. Many up-and-coming bands and aspiring artists begin by selling their material online.




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