Katrina Parker - Only Dreaming
The Los Angeles based artist, Katrina Parker, will softly steal in and capture your deepest listening desires. From the cd Only Dreaming, Killing Me with vocals and piano is smoky, sultry, moody. Parker is powerful, strong and emotional. Thinking it Over is heart-moving. Softly swaying enigmatically peaceful and a lulling lullaby charm. Running hits a high note both in music and love’s longing. Only Dreaming, the title cut highlights it all in one song.  All in all, this cd is for the mood to listen. Sit down, dim the lights, get a glass of wine and you’ll find yourself dreaming right along with Parker in another space and time.
www.katrinaparker.com

Jennifer Parsignault - From the Dark

Jennifer Parsignault

Jennifer Parsignault’s, From the Dark, is a unique blend in styling; sweet and luxurious, featuring her talents on piano, violin, keyboards and incredibly dreamy vocals. Orbit Again, the first track has almost enough of a pop sound to please many listeners, combined with a little saxxy jazz and a bit of easy listening, it is pleasure to the ears. On the Outside is beautifully structured with a soothing, waving intro, feeling fresh from the sea as Parsignault’s voice has the ability to transport your senses to other, more pleasing, environs. There is a mystical quality here not apparent in many songs. Last Dance has a familiar quality of the current trend coupled with the unspoken depths that this woman seems to carry, the makes for a big hit. (September) Winter, gives pleasure in a rainy day. Back Home is a bittersweet reflection of growth. Not to be missed, this album has a classic sound, yet is more profound than most contemporary collections. www.greene-house.com

Kat Parsons - No will Power

Kat lends a comfortable, alternative pop/soft rock sound to our ears on her CD, No Will Power.  Kat seems like a good bet to tie a few loose generations together in song as she may be appealing to most any age group. The title cut has an upbeat youthful feel, as does, Miss Me, while songs like, Go Find Her, are reminiscent of those great 70s love songs like we heard from Carol King.  Kat has quite a vocal range that ads considerably to her broad appeal. www.katparsons.com

Jen Porter - Moving On

Moving On, Chicago-based Jen Porter’s third cd and 2006 release, expertly exhibits her playful, cocky, and fully-rounded voice. From the very first title, Along the Way, you’ll be ready to pack your bags and travel a little further down this gutsy road with Porter. Aaron’s Song, puts perspective on our human and political trials today and is of a deeper mood, offering powerful incentive for further contemplation. “Oh say can you see, what we’re meant to be . . . together we can fly.” Performing vocals, guitar and piano, Porter flows a little softer on this cd, showing us yet another side of her talents without losing any of that blusey-feminine power.
www.jenporter.com

Jen Porter - It's About Time

Another Day, gets this CD off to a great start with a surprising combo of piano and rock guitar and an alternative sound. Porter tells us, How it Feels, with a bluesy guitar and fixed mastery. She is potent and brawny.

Tonight, is uncompromisingly tender yet tough. This Chicago-based redhead could stand on stage with Tull and may have found some influence there, or it could just be that Celtic bard in a redhead's DNA rising up in Chicago. Either way she brings a new feel to classic blues/rock.

Visit her website at www.jenporter.com

Jo Potter - 8 Circles
Strong, gutsy, with an Etheridge edge

Although the critics try, the PR people try, we all try, sometimes our words to describe an artist's music just cannot do it justice and that was never truer for what has and can be said about Jo Potter and her new CD, 8 Circles. Just listen. Pick one at random, first note, no questions, tells you to listen. Round and Round, Valentine’s Day Song, Finally Found You. Get Me Through This, a moving break-up with some beautiful guitar. There is simply too much music and emotion packed into this one CD to get it all into one review. Finally Found You, the 10th cut of this outstanding CD says it all: Yes Jo, we’re glad we finally found you.

Have a listen at www.jopotter.com

Preeta - In This Moment

Though light, upbeat and fun on her new CD, In This Moment, Hawaiian-born Preeta still finds a way to question and answer some of life’s more intriguing feelings, bringing a real down-to-earth, and inner quality to the pop/rock genre with tracks like Another’s World, In This Moment, It’s Okay, and especially Sacred. Great flow from one song to another with a voice that takes you up, even on the more contemplative, probing tracks like Right Now and Swim to Me. Women’s Rising gives a special light to Rise Above, it fits the bill. Enjoy being in the moment with Preeta. She is proof that the right combination of talent and perseverance will indeed succeed in this moment, and always.
www.preeta.com

Rana - New Like A Stranger

What a soothing voice, Rana relaxes and renews. There is relief, relief in the comfort of a voice that relates and knows, even though she tells us Little Did I Know on the first track. Rana pours it out, heart and soul, cliché as that may sound. It’s simple and pure; pure music, vocals and guitar. Rana gives the feeling of watching one of those great movies that you know you will watch again and again as she stretches your listening heart to the horizon of her expression. So Wrong, Let it All are powerful and all-encompassing, as is she.
www.echoesofrana.com

Rew - that*s*rite

I like Rew. I don’t know why. She’s funky, she’s brassy, she’s a character, she says “like me, or not.” Almost retro in her punk. Hoppin’ na na na’s, electric sound, vibrant and alive on tracks like Think About. The third cut is one that we all probably wanted to write at one point or another . . . she tells it like is, and again on U Annoy Me. Rew has her own unique style and is evident on Skeletonz. Megan is a slower tale with some nice mellow guitar. The title cut, that*s*rite, is bassy and rhythmic, nice electric guitar with a Riders on the Storm feel. Rew is not one to be taken or heard lightly. She’s on the edge; the edge of something new.  www.luvrew.com

Cathy Richardson Band, 'The Road to Bliss'

The Cathy Richardson Band is a tonic to what has rapidly become a cookie cutter menagerie of aspiring vocalists. An earthy voice, grounded in reality. It seemed there were no more . . .

Richardson creates her own style and does an outstanding job of taking us along on, "The Road to Bliss." With a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package, what's inside is even better than what's outside. Take to the Night, cruises along in a day-dreamy state enticing us easily. Picture This, rocks a little harder while, I Can't Forgive You, echoes the feel of country. Tracks like Alyson, and James by the Window, implore the importance of living life to its fullest.

Unpretentious, and a requiem from today's overload of youthfully angelic voices. Richardson relief is here.
www.luckmedia.com

Michelle Rounds - A Matcha Chocolate Love Adventure

International recording artist Michelle Rounds, currently based in Japan, has released a glorious, slow-moving collection of jazz favorites, recorded with piano and rich, deep, rounded vocals on tracks like Runaway. Blue Gardenia takes you back with a Casablanca feel, while They All Laughed picks up the tempo in a lighter mood, and even quicker and lighter on Robbin’s Nest with a hint of Ella. Rounds’ vocal are smooth and velvety on Round Midnight.

Let Me See Now, although it is the first track, exhibits Rounds’ multi-dimensional talent with a world rap sound that catches your attention and says listen. Sophisticated Lady is dreamy and sophisticated just like Michelle Rounds. If you like jazz vocals and beautiful piano, give her a listen.
www.michellerounds.com

Hilary Scott - Road to Hope

Singer-songwriter Hilary Scott has a fresh blend of country and contemporary sounds.  With so many wanna-be's around these days, an artist is hard-pressed to find a fresh sound but Scott has done it on tracks like Daydreamer, Sugar Bomb.  Loser Blues has a highway ballad feel with great vocals and guitar.  Her band  is undoubtedly the right mix for her voice and their musical talents.  Scott's rendition of Hallelujah is soulfully soothing with a country slant.  But it's not all country, the title cut, Road to Hope is upbeat and very much up there with the likes of today's pop sound.  All in all a great listen.  Be sure to pick up a copy of the CD because the booklet contains some wonderful photography of Scott and her guitar and American classics.
www.hilaryscott.com

Anya Singleton - Not Easy to Forget

We tend to think we have the corner on the blues here in the US but Tunisian-born actress/singer Anya Singleton proves beyond a doubt that the blues are indeed universal on her latest CD of all-original music. Classic-sounding country with an old-time blusey feel. Singleton take us honky-tonkin’ wherever we are on I’m Just Fine, slow swaying and great rhythm. Nice lead on the title cut, I’m Just Fine. Sultry, salty and slow, Singleton belts out heart-warnings on Slow Man as she transports us from that honky-tonk to a smoky speak-easy with more incredible lead to accompany her. One Trick Pony melds into a jazzy-blues piece that’s upbeat and exemplary of its genre. Not Easy to Forget is a classic, and so is she. www.anyasingleton.com

Megan Slankard - A Little Extra Sun

It’s her third CD, and A Little Extra Sun is not enough with only five tracks but it’s enough to make us push replay that much sooner. Megan Slankard has a unique style that is uplifting with a fever-pitch that ends up hauntingly hanging around in the ethers of your memory. My Hallelujah, Planets have tremendous listening appeal. Slankard slows on You Love Like, sharing an insight to a love. Riley is funky, but follows the others in tow of her matchless style to finish off a zappy little collection of songs.

www.meganslankard.com

Robin Stone - Rushmore

A jazzy combo of new sounds and vocals, mixing the grooving sounds of R&B with today’s latest female sound. Robin Stone’s, “Rushmore,” is a titillating and pleasurable listening experience for the easy ear especially when you get to, Piece O Summer, as Stone dives into a paradox of upbeat blues. Some good horns. Bury Me, sails softly with Summer sounds as well, sounds for a lazy afternoon.

To sum it up, “Rushmore,” is a collection of soft sounds for the undeniable urge to feel good.
www.shelovesyourecords.com
www.michaeljmedia.com

Ember Swift - Disarming

Don't let this little gal's cover, Army boots, song titles, and appearences fool you--- she is not what she appears. She is jazzy on tunes like Splinter; mature and easy on, Boise, and, Twist Twice. Relaxing and mellow. She's bluesy on All in the Family. She borders on some spoken-word that draws you in with some piercy lyrics like, 14 & Fiery, and by the time you realize where she has taken you, you are off in another direction, such as say France, with Elle Est La, then she goes
off into a world sound on Pek. Ember is Ember, and she is a book you don't want to judge by it's cover, nor miss. She reads "punk," but she sings it all.  www.emberswift.com

Carole Troll - Fine and Mellow

It's nice to receive a cd submission with heart.  Just look at her, one look and you know: she's got it.  She's full of heart and soul and power from the minute you turn the cd on.  Summertime, is one example from her new demo, Fine and Mellow.  Hitting high notes diving down into growls and rising again.  Impetuous.  The second track and title track is as promises.  Fine and Mellow is sultry and sassy, then ellipses into a Streisand/Broadway feel.   Listen and make your own comparison.  If you like jazz, you will love Troll.

Troll is in the studio now and promises to complete the full cd for release soon.  In the meantime, listen to Carole Troll at www.myspace.com/caroletroll