Aysha

Aysha – Release Me
Damen, die mit Soul & Jazz verführen. Das lass´ ich mir gefallen. Aysha bedient diese Vorliebe mittels ihrer neuen Single “Release Me” in gekonnter Manier – die Dame weiß eben was sich gehört und wie wichtig es ist, nur ein ausgewählter Begleitung zu erscheinen. Freddie Washington am Bass, Michael White bedient das Schlagzeug, Monty Seward führt die Aufsicht. Perfekt.
Kaufen: www.cdbaby.com/cd/aysha3

(translated in English by Google Translate)
Aysha - Release Me
Women who seduce with soul and jazz. The fallen let 'myself. Aysha uses this preference through their new single "Release Me" in a skilled manner - the lady knows just how to behave and how important it is to appear only a selected company. Freddie Washington on bass, Michael White uses the drums, Monty Seward supervises. Perfect.
Buy: www.cdbaby.com/cd/aysha3 - Joerg Michael Schmitt, Sonic Soul

Boney James, Rick Braun, Norman Brown. These names are synonymous to some of the top smooth jazz artists in the music industry today who have stood the test of time in creating memorable hits in the smooth genre. As we approached the close of 2011, the question in the minds of music fans was posed as to where smooth was headed next in its evolution of sound and style.

While scanning through a large number of press releases this morning, I happened to run across one that caught my eye. There is a vocalist/artist by the name of Aysha with a new release that is not only terrific to listen to but also indicative of the trendsetting direction for smooth in 2012.

Yesterday her new single, Release Me, made its official release for 2012. After listening to the single, it is beyond what I expected for an indie release. The track is solid like one of a major record label . Her vocal sound is a mixture of her unique voice flavored with her influences including Sade and Toni Braxton that combined create a new smooth : R&B/Pop/Smooth.

Release Me,notably, has some of the top players in music on board the production side of it all including Tower of Power's Carmen Grillo, and MJ's former music director, Kevin Dorsey, who from an official source stated, "Aysha's always done great work but I think this particular song is the best she's done. It's a great composition, great lyrics, and I'm proud of her".

Release Me is musically exceptional as an indie release in its professional production, sound, mastering and solid songwriting. It is one that can catch on fire in radio airplay and is sure to garner fans and public appeal.

Out of 1 to 5 and 5 being best, Aysha's Release Me deserves a 10 for an overall job well done.

Music Review-January/2012

Courtesy Listing of Song Credits

Single: Release Me

Artist: Aysha

Written by Monty Seward and Aysha

Produced by Monty Seward, Kevin Dorsey and Aysha

Vocals produced by Kevin Dorsey

Drums and Percussion: Michael White

Bass: Freddie Washington

Guitar: Darrell Crooks

Keys and synth strings: Monty Seward

Engineered by Carmen Grillo (Tower of Power) - Belinda Ware - LA Hollywood Insider Examiner

SmoothJazz.com Review

author: Sandy Shore

Smooth, sophisticated and sultry with a jazzy edge… Aysha’s 5-song EP, STAY WITH ME, has been met with great enthusiasm worldwide. In fact, the glistening project recently made it to #6 on the UK Soul Chart and this beautiful and talented artist was nominated for two years running for Jazz Artist of the year at the Los Angeles Music Awards and received the 2010 Award for Jazz Album of the Year. The L.A. area singer and songwriter has put together a compelling collection of soul-stirring tracks, produced by well-known producer Monty Seward (The Jacksons, James Ingram, Howard Hewett) and featuring two of our favorite saxophonists, Everette Harp and Gerald Albright! The 5-song EP, offers up an additional 3 tracks that are radio edits of the title track as well as “Keep On Loving Me” and “Dreamin’.” Intimate, deep and satisfying… if you like Sade, Phylis Hyman and Anita Baker this one’s for you! - Sandy Shore - SmoothJazz.com

I purchased Aysha's EP with great anticipation. Aysha's vocals are fluid as she weaves under and over the melodies. Aysha is a unique and flawless vocal talent. I keep these songs in constant rotation. I'm looking forward to more of the cool from Aysha. - by Vincente P

REVIEWS FROM CD BABY:

Audaciously Superb!
author: Sandy Cantrell
Aysha's music has a oneiric quality; she has the uncanny ability to fill the listener with shinning wonder, as her music plays out like a magical love story. You will be engulfed with her sweet images of fulfillment, as she heralds upon the canvas of your mind, the lascivious fantasies of the heart.

Beautiful,stimulating and just what I need
author: The Fantastic Black
With coktails and company,this cd truly represents! Being the kind of Man that I am,I love beautiful women with cosmic spirit to sing to me! Aysha does just that! Along with my rotation of sade,chante moore,jill scott,lauryn hill,and other women of musical substance,my house is filled with music that goes along with the vibe that already resides in my home! Hey fella's,this is a good gift to give to your lady friend! Or if you are going over to her house for the first time,along with a bottle of wine,bring this cd!........Good stuff!!

WoW !!!
author: Vo
So Supa talented!. Keep the good music commin.Very creative. Peace and luv, Vo MVP

An Absolute Top Shelf Artist!
author: James David Knight
Not only is Aysha's voice angelic and sooo smooth and unique, her music is up there with the best of the best. Her talent is unquestionably and undeniably top shelf. I love her new album, 'Love Is A Rock'. She is also a fine human being.

aysha is a superstar in the making
author: clint
aysha is a superstar in the making

Smooth, sweet, and Aysha
author: Skip the Funktologist/A Funk Above The Rest/Kuvo Radio 89.3
Aysha's music is smooth,sweet,and romantically groovin'.Know matter what song she is singing from this release, her beautiful, warm smile can be seen as well as felt.Candle light-fine wine anyone? Do yourself a favor, and let this cd sooth your groove...

SEXXXY VOICE!!! SEXXXY JAZZZ!!! Any other Questions??
author: YANKEE LATINO,NYC
awesome music,great quality, a MUST have music work!

aysha!! a singer/songwriter like no other...
author: www.rocliferadio.com
outstanding sound!! quality, pure greatness! aysha is phenominal songstress we have been missing for a very long time!! cant wait to hear you on the radio!! roc roc on...life, love is a roc!! -roc www.rocliferadio.com - Various customers from CD Baby

Aysha – Stay With Me

(Advance review - EP to be released Aug. 24th, 2010)

As the music industry is synching more with the digital age, many promising musicians are packaging their musical wares on Myspace, Facebook and whatever cost effective methods they can take advantage of. While pursuing a solo career, Aysha took full advantage of those avenues while investing time to become a savvy businesswoman and well-rounded artist. Her constantly active personality absolutely fits her namesake (Aysha is African for life). Though she did not have the luxury of growing up in a musical family, she found a way to breakthrough to the professional rankings. Her humble beginnings began with the cover band Destination, which had a faithful local following in her hometown of Santa Barbara, California. Then she joined the self-contained vocal quintet Girls In The Mix, who had in hand in writing all their material and choreographing their stage shows. One of their career highlights was opening for several well-known urban hitmakers including Roger Troutman & Zapp. Yet the talent scouts that scoped GITM’s shows noticed something specifically special in Aysha.

Ina very eventful decade for Aysha between 1999 & 2009, it was shear determination and her regular gigs throughout the greater Los Angeles area that garnered her a nomination for Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2009 Los Angeles Music Awards. And there were plenty of learning curves on the long solo road; developing a thick through bad business lessons learned, researching on the internet whom she would collaborate with and probing musicians on how to effectively produce her own music. After learning all the aspects of recording herself, Aysha released her debut Love Is a Rock in 2006. Several tracks – “Honey,” “Is This Just a Dream” and the Atlantic Starr 1991 R&B top twenty-five hit, “Send For Me” - were spotlighted on adult urban contemporary internet radio. Several independent music magazines and non-internet radio outlets also zeroed in on this sultry R&B/jazz singer/songwriter, who has drawn comparisons to Chante Moore, Toni Braxton and Sade (whom Aysha considers her biggest influence). Representing the true independent music star, Aysha still balances a ‘day’ job while perfecting her music and business tools. As the CEO of KLW Records, which released her 2006 debut and her new EP - Stay With Me, she now mentors future independent artists to equip themselves in knowing the ropes of the business they call show.

On Stay With Me, Aysha once again shapes her soothing alto voice into familiar old-school adult urban contemporary territory with songs about mature love. The disc is all too short at five tracks plus three radio edits. Both guest saxophonists - contemporary jazz giants Everette Harp and Gerald Albright - pull more than their weight; Harp lending soft soulfulfinesse on the title track and Albright tearing it up every which way on the Latin-spiced, “Dreamin.’ “Keep on Loving Me” might as well be a tribute to Sade with its ethereal tones and jazzy harmonies. A reprise from Love Is a Rock, the smooth groove driven “Is This Just a Dream,” is vocally hypnotizing from the get go. Only “I Remember Your Love” lacks the musical luster of Stay With Me’s other four tracks.

While Stay With Me does not stretch beyond a typical R&B/jazz project, Aysha’s sharp vocal phrasing and the supporting musicians serve up a pleasurable listening experience. LikeLove Is a Rock, several like-minded adult urban radio stations are embracing Stay With Me for justified reason. And despite the economic hard times that frustrate the music industry in several areas, even four years between releases for gifted talents such as Aysha, who is full of musical life in everything she sings, is still too long a waiting period.

Peggy Oliver
The Urban Music Scene - Peggy Oliver / The Urban Music Scene

Hailing from Los Angeles, California this young singer is working hard for her career. Aysha is the African word for life or the Arabian word for lady. Anyway a great name for a beautiful woman. It took her several years before she really started into music business.

She was a member of the groups Destination and Girls In The Mix and performed with Ronkat and the Funklectiks featuring Ron Spearman. In 2006 she released her debut album Love Is A Rock and now published her sophomore album Stay With Me, which already received high acclaims of Internet magazines.

Influenced by the style of Sade, Toni Braxton and Chante Moore Aysha searches the balance between soul, R&B and vocal jazz. Her velvety voice is destined for sophisticated songs.

Although Aysha would like to take piano lessons, she restricts herself on her vocals, which isn't bad at all. Her great respect for instrumental music was the reason to approach several great producers and composers to create this fantastic new album.

The title song was composed by keyboardist Monty Seward, a very experienced musician, who already worked with Teddy Pendergrass, Paul Jackson Jr., Diana Ross, Howard Hewett, El DeBarge and more. Aysha's beautiful vocals are emotionally accompanied by Everette Harp, whose sax reaches on this tune a special grade of smoothness.

The second song Keep On Loving Me was penned by guitarist Zane Giles, who also is a top-notch musician with Patti Austin, James Ingram, El DeBarge, Miles Davis and more on his clipboard. On this song Aysha perfectly follows the intonation of Sade, which is certainly the intention of this determined woman.

The uplifting Is This Just A Dream is a collaboration of bassist Darrell Freeman and Aysha. Darrell is the ideal partner, because he participated already in many smooth jazz and R&B projects with knowledge in both genres. Early McCalister's intimate sax seamlessly melts with Aysha's sultry vocals.

I Remember Your Love is a wonderful ballad underlining the outstanding quality of Aysha's vocal skills. Zane Gilles, who composed the tune, accompanies Aysha on his magic keyboards. Nice his musical cite of Seal's Kiss From A Rose.

A further highlight of this album is the EWF-flavored Dreamin' featuring grandmaster of sax Gerald Albright. Awesome Zane's Salsa excursion on piano. The legendary Paulinho DaCosta on percussion is the rhythm backbone!

The album also offers radio edits of Stay With Me, Keep On Loving Me and Dreamin', a treasure trove for Radio DJ's.

We have to thank Aysha for this great music gift. It's a privilege to listen to such a blessed singer. - Hans-Bernd Hulsmann of Smooth-Jazz.de

R&B vocalist Aysha jazzes it up quite a bit with her sophomore release, Stay With Me, which follows her 2006 debut, Love Is a Rock, a decidedly R&B project displaying very competent vocals. Apparently recognizing that she has what it takes to tweak her style a bit to invite the jazz genre in to ride along on this current project, she does just that in a most satisfying manner.

Along for this ride are household contemporary jazz names Gerald Albright and Everette Harp, putting on their usual stellar sax chops. Speaking of chops, this young lady does things with a song that I definitely like and have always found to be a cut above average in a real vocalist: the ability to strongly project, to enunciate when it’s called for, to be in the song, and to give both the song and the voice personality. Oh yes, she’s got all of that and then some, despite giving us just five tracks with which to work (along with “radio edits” of three of the tracks). Also, one track is a reprise from the debut release. Still, it all works, and you should easily be able to get past these minor downsides when you hear what she has to offer.

From the charming title track right through “Dreamin’,” Aysha exhibits class and style. Each piece is melodic, and most are sultry, dripping with sensuality, soul, and just the right amount of jazziness to even out the R&B tilt and make this all work in the smooth jazz world. Good, effective material from an artist with serious vocal skills and a clear grasp of how to work them in any environment. — Ronald Jackson - Ronald Jackson of The Smooth Jazz Ride

Jazz and R&B vocalist Aysha is back. Her brand new EP ‘Stay With Me’ was released on August 24 and comes as a welcome follow up to the 2006 debut CD, ‘Love Is A Rock’, from which the tracks ‘Honey’, ‘Is This Just a Dream’ and her rendition of the Atlantic Starr 1991 R&B top twenty-five hit, ‘Send For Me’ all found a way to adult urban contemporary internet radio. Produced by the legendary Monty Seward, whose credits include work with The Jacksons, James Ingram and Howard Hewett, ‘Stay With Me’ is a tight and extremely personal five track collection of original music that includes notable input from smooth jazz superstars Everette Harp and Gerald Albright.

On the scene since 1999, Aysha was recently nominated as Jazz Artist of the Year at the Los Angeles Music Awards. Her style has elements of Toni Braxton, Phyllis Hyman, Chante Moore and, most significantly, Sade whose influence is front back and centre of the sultry yet compelling ‘Keep On Loving Me’. The song has a hypnotic quality that is precious while elsewhere the tight rhythmic ‘Is This Just A Dream’ provides the perfect platform for Aysha’s soulful vocals.

She notches down the tempo for the romantically inclined ‘I Remember Your Love’ but the intensity is quickly restored with the spicy, Latin infused ‘Dreamin’ which, courtesy of tremendous sax from Gerald Albright, is right up there with the album’s best.

However, that said, a real Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite is the sumptuous title cut. Mid tempo and delightful, it is blessed by superb sax from Everette Harp and has ‘radio ready’ written all over it.

Indeed, with three of the five choice tunes already garnering airplay on Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network there seems little doubt that Aysha is here to stay.
- Denis Poole of Smooth Jazz Therapy

Here's A Return to love ... at a time when music really is all over the map the new CD by Aysha takes me back to a time when love songs were supreme. Her new release reminds me of the music of Earth Wind & Fire and & the vocals of all of my favorite soul singers from the 1960'. Take a listen to her new CD "Stay With Me" I guarantee you'll fall in love again. - Howard Sharper of WUCX Q-90.1 Delta College Radio