Vail Music Festival: The Ultimate Soul Lovers Experience

Independent and new artists, contact VMF at:  info@vailsoulmusicfest.com

Chaz Shepherd

Born and raised only a brisk walk from legendary "Philadelphia International Records," where the classic "Philly Soul" sound was conceived in its full glory, Chaz Records' recording artist Chaz Shepherd is at the forefront of the renaissance movement he endearingly refers to as "Young Soul." The burgeoning revival of a genre once forgotten is now captivating audiences throughout the country and around the world. Chaz is intent on making a significant contribution to once again make soul music the popular choice.

Chaz' debut album, Love & Truth, released on his own label "Chaz Records," features 11 tracks of a brand of soul so rich and full in harmonies and melodies that it encapsulates your entire being and takes you to a place of depth, warmth and realness rarely experienced in today's music.

 

Alex Cuba

Singer-songwriter Alex Cuba hails from Artemisa, Cuba (1 hour west of Havana) and resides in Smithers, B.C. (14 hours north of Vancouver). Musically, he lives everywhere in between. His trademark sugarcane-sweet melodies, pop-soul hooks and rock chords subtly subvert commonly held notions of what Cuban music is. Alex is on the vanguard, crafting a cross-cultural sound that mirrors his geographical journey. Not tied to tradition, this Cuban-Canadian prefers his vintage Gibson over el sencerro (cowbell) anytime. Forgoing conventional stereotypes that typify much of the Latin music landscape, Alex is instead defining his own "Latin Soul" genre.

   

Lalah Hathaway

Ask her to describe her voice and she might say it feels like, sounds like, soul. But when it comes to defining the essence of music, itself, Lalah Hathaway can go on and on... "Music is so textured and layered," she says, "and it is an absolute entity in my life. It's three-dimensional, it's tangible..."

With SELF PORTRAIT, (Stax Records/Concord Music Group), her fifth studio album, including the Joe Sample duet, and on which she co-wrote and co-produced, Hathaway is poised to express who she is, where she is, today, at this very moment.

Born to Donny Hathaway, one of the most influential soul artists of the eighties, and Eulaulah Hathaway, an accomplished musician in her own right, the Chicago native first put pen to paper, "with the music," as a 10th grader. Later, as a student at Berklee College of Music, she recorded her self-titled debut in 1990, which spawned the hits "Baby Don't Cry," "Heaven Only Knows" and "I'm Coming Back." She returned four years later with A Moment, followed by the much-lauded The Song Lives On, her duet album with Joe Sample in 1999, the same year she began growing her now-signature, cinnamon-hued 'locs.

   

Anthony David

Anthony David is a Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter out of Atlanta and is President Obama's favorite new artist.

Often described as the heir-apparent to his early influence Bill Withers, Anthony David is elbowing a space for intelligent lyrics and a grown man's voice in a scene that's in a race to be young. A student of Wither's lyricism; the masculine rhythms of Beres Hammond and Frankie Beverly; the storytelling of Slick Rick and Jay-Z; and the blues of Lightning Hopkins, Howling Wolf, and T-Bone Walker, David is ushering back the kind of masculine soul that men can identify with and that ladies can nestle up to.

   

Lee England Jr.

It's not very often that you encounter an artist as gifted and unique as Lee England, Jr. He is a virtuoso violinist with a soulful voice. His laid back demeanor contradicts his exciting and captivating performances.

Lee's musical journey began at the age of six. Lee discovered that the road ahead would not be an easy one. Desiring to quit almost immediately, he consulted his father, who, in his wisdom, told him he could only do so if he practiced fifteen minutes a day for the academic term. With his goal in mind, Lee did just that and his longing to quit transformed into the lasting commitment we see today.

   

Loose Ends

Vail Soul Music Fest welcomes Neo Soul group, Loose Ends. A London-based R&B outfit, Loose Ends took America by storm in 1983 following the release of their first album A Little Spice and the #1 single "Hanging On A String (Contemplating)". Soon to be followed by: "Slow Down" #1, "Watching You" #1, "You Can't Stop The Rain" #3, "Mr. Bachelor" #3

Loose Ends signed a three-single, one-album deal with Virgin UK, becoming the first R&B act signed by the label. The legendary group engaged much sought-after producer Nick Martinelli to produce their first album. With the rich musical heritage of Philadelphia as the backdrop, A Little Spice was created and Loose Ends began their journey to No. 1 on the charts.

Today, with a new album and single in the works, band co-founder Jane describes Loose Ends as a group as having worldwide appeal to everyone. The Pioneers of Euro-Soul are back with a vengeance.

 

Ryan Shaw

Ryan Shaw is a man with a mission. This 26-year-old singer/songwriter from Decatur, Georgia is out to revive the passion and soul of the Golden Age of Rhythm & Blues (1960-1972) for a new generation. His debut album, This Is Ryan Shaw, combines a powerfully expressive voice with a clutch of great songs both classic and new; and a state-of-the-art, in-your-face sound that makes it impossible to sit still.

Working with player/producers Jimmy Bralower and Johnny Gale, Ryan dug deep into the "soulmine" for overlooked gems by obscure artists like the Combo Kings and the Sharpees along with more familiar songs made famous by Wilson Pickett, Jackie Wilson, and Bobby Womack. Ryan's original tunes, "Nobody" (the first single), "We Got Love," and "Over and Done," are most definitely of the moment but built on the old-school values of strong melodies and meaningful lyrics.

   

Ledisi

With her new album Pieces of Me, Ledisi undoubtedly proves that she is a woman to know. Loaded with emotion and charged with unparalleled soul, this record adds another dimension to the persona the singer has been sharing with audiences since her explosive entrance on the music scene a few short years ago. "Imagine some of the characteristics of Shug Avery from The Color Purple," Ledisi says playfully. "She is fiery, expressive, spiritual and uninhibited. Well, I would say this is my Shug Avery-like project," she adds with her trademark laughter. Anyone who's seen her dynamic live show or follows her on Twitter knows this lively and clever side of the singer and Pieces of Me delivers many more.

"This project is more layered," says Ledisi. "All of the songs reveal aspects of the confident woman I am becoming. It's a discovery of another side of me." Following her last two critically acclaimed albums -- 2007's breakthrough hit Lost and Found, which was nominated for two Grammy awards including Best New Artist, and 2009's rock & funk, attention-stealing Turn Me Loose, which also garnered two Grammy nods and a No. 1 debut position on the Billboard R&B chart -- Pieces of Me is a natural progression for a singer possessing an involuntary penchant for growth.

   





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