Avalon

Like the mystical isle of the same name, Avalon’s songs guide her listeners to a celestial place of fairy visions and magic. Her original music is an intoxicating blend of traditional jazz, blues and hip hop with the ethereal lilt of melodies from the otherworld. Avalon herself would easily pass as an Island Goddess, with waves of brilliant red hair cascading to her waist and an aura of both mystery and mischief stealing from her sultry gold-flecked eyes. It is no surprise that Avalon’s live performances are electrifying. Passion and energy transcend her songs and mesmerize her audience. Entranced, many rise to their feet and draw close to her, just as mortals through the centuries have quested for the Goddesses of Avalon.

Avalon was born in 1982 of mortal parents, each talented musicians in their own right. Her childhood was anything but ordinary, growing up in a world of exotic animals and a daily ration of original melodies pouring from the family’s home music studio. Raised in a wildlife sanctuary just outside Houston, Avalon’s childhood playmates included a docile jaguar and a wooly but gentle lion. It was not surprising that her free and natural up-bringing in this untamed oasis would inspire her at an early age to express her inner essence through music.

At the age of seven, Avalon wrote her first song entitled “Guinea Pig Missin’ Blues,” the sad inspiration of which is painfully obvious. Her father, an accomplished pianist and songwriter, taught her to play guitar at the age of fourteen and she never looked back. The guitar and piano became the tools of her craft, as she would spend long hours each day composing and practicing soulful songs, emanating from her tender yet spirited heart. Her lyrics convey the exquisite joy and inevitable pain of young love. The bold melodies are haunting and touch the soul in a way that only Avalon can.

Avalon has recently completed her first CD, entitled simply “Avalon,” recorded and produced by Dan Workman of Sugarhill Studios. Workman is best known for his work with Beyonce, ZZ Top and Destiny's Child. The CD includes all original songs by Avalon, and features her father on piano in the song “No Strings,” as well as Workman who played guitar and keyboard for several cuts.

The first cut, “Say it Again,” is a spellbinding piece reminiscent of the Eurythmics. This is the type of song that gently roots itself into one’s mind to replay over and over. Next comes a startling transition to “So Strange,” a bold, bluesy rendition of lost love and heartbreak accompanied by strong instrumentals. The radical incorporation of a rap interlude works surprisingly well with the jazz overtones. The third cut, “No Strings” with Danny Driscoll on piano, reveals the incredible range of Avalon’s voice and sensuality. Then the ever illusive Avalon shifts to playful innocence in “More Than a Kiss” and mysterious, percussive allure in “Feelin’ You.”

For those who want more of Avalon, she performs live at many of Houston and Dallas’ most popular nightclubs and at various spots across the country. Check local listings from Houston’s Rhythm Room to L.A.’s Whisky A GoGo. Several times a year,you might also get a glimpse of Avalon working the runway for some of the hottest designers around.
But perhaps the best way to appreciate the Avalon’s musical gift is to dim the lights, sit back and let her voice part the mist and carry you to a world that is invisible to nonbelievers. For only the chosen can enter the mystical world of Avalon.