Candice Ivory

It was in a packed venue on a chilly New York night that I first became acquainted with the music of Candice Ivory. Deep hip gyrations, wild running about, and a voice that shoots straight through the soul of a man were only the surface. Upon further investigation, I found out that this twenty-five-year-old vixen composes, arranges, and orchestrates all of her own material. An artist in every sense of the word, Ms. Ivory uses all of the senses to stimulate her audience. A native of Memphis, Ivory began singing on historic Beale Street at the age of 15. By the time she graduated from Whitehaven High School, she was coming into her own as a vocalist performing with the eclectic group CYC. “CYC helped me explore the possibilities,” she states in an interview taken on May 23rd, 2005. “Because we all came from such diverse musical backgrounds, everyone added something special and different. It was a great band to be reared in, because we were crazy and would try anything [at least once]. I left that band at 17, when I felt it was time to go out on my own and face a new challenge.” At age 18, after becoming a DJ on Memphis’ only jazz station WUMR 91.7 FM with her show “Kickin’ it with Candice in the Morning,” and beginning to lead her own jazz groups, she won a spot in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program in 2000 and performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. “That was an intimidating experience,” Ivory recollects; “there were all these really brilliant young artists, and being a mostly self-taught individual at the time, I felt a little nervous. Plus, Carmen Lundy was kicking all of our asses! Both of the other vocalists ended up in my room crying after the first day of camp, but in the end we made Carmen proud.” After the Jazz Ahead experience, Candice was inspired to move to New York, where she attended the New School Jazz and Contemporary Music Program and studied with artists such as Miles Griffith, Reggie Workman, Sheila Jordan, and Julian “Junior” Mance, to name a few.

In March of 2003, Ivory began recording her debut album “path-undefined”, praised as one of the top local albums of 2003 by the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “‘path-undefined’ was a true testament to organization. I had fifteen musicians working for me, who all believed in the music and helped that album to become what it was,” states Ivory. After relocating back to Memphis to promote the album, Ms. Ivory began working tirelessly--touring and performing in various parts of the mid-South. In November 2004, she won second place in the regional Grammy Showcase. “It felt great to be in a group of such talented musicians. I mean, Will Graves and Crippled Nation are both great names to be associated with.” That honor led her to the New Year’s Eve 2005 Countdown on Beale Street in W. C. Handy Park. In full queen regalia (donning her infamous Elvis suit), Ivory stunned the crowd and the TV broadcasters at the show with her energetic live performance. “I remember coming out and just getting this huge amount of love. People respect me for the artistry I try to bring to the table. Even if they don’t get it at first, they stick with me, and try to see where I am coming from.” And artistry is just what she brings. Her sophomore album “Questography”, released on February 1st, 2005, is a bona-fide trailblazer. The recipient of four-star reviews from the Commercial Appeal and the Memphis Flyer, Ivory continues to prove her longevity in the music business, and her commitment to exploring new musical platforms. “‘Questography’ was one of the biggest learning experiences I’ve had to date,” muses Ivory. “It is the second album in a trilogy, and it was extremely hard to make, because I’d never recorded in the style of this album before. There were lots of loops and electronics I was just learning how to use, and I was learning how to accept growing in a new musical direction. I was learning how to be honest with myself, and what that meant. I think that my listeners will find the last chapter of this trilogy to be the defining sound of Candice Ivory; where ‘live’ and ‘studio’ meet to form the music I have been striving towards all my life.” She continues to challenge the mediocre-music-driven market, with her music playing all over the globe in places such as Iceland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the U.K., the U.S., and Australia. She is currently in the studio in New York working on her third CD for the independent label Engine Studios.

When asked about when we can expect the final part of the trilogy, Ms. Ivory makes a face and shakes her head. “Good things come to those who wait.” She smiles: “I’ve started working on the music, but I am taking my time on this album.” A true gem and a beauty, Candice Ivory reflects the new school of true musicianship today. To know her music, is to know her: unpredictable, fun, sophisticated, sometimes delicate, sometimes rough, genuine, sexy, and a real piece of work. I can’t wait to see what time will bring--