Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
What I Got To Say by Diane Postell is an exceptional album, full of solid writing and playing. With a voice suited to many styles, Postell has no problem moving back and forth across the musical spectrum with relative ease. With the Stevie Nicks-ish sounding Seule En Amour to a cover of Otis Redding’s Respect, there’s a lot of territory in between that she handles with equal aplomb. From the opening track, I Think Of You, with its funky chorus and rap background vocals (from Moses Lewis), to the beautiful ballad, What I Got To Say, that closes the record, this album showcases Postell’s skills as a songwriter and vocalist of the first degree. Penning ten of the eleven cuts, she hasn’t stuck herself in on e particular category, so she gives us a very diverse offering. A little reggae on Leaving Home, some funk on My Heart Is Torn Apart to the pop sound of Mister Mess. Her backing band, Michael McHenry - guitar, Jay Turner - bass, Mookie Siegel - keys and John Thomakos - drums provide tight accompaniment and production by Postell sounds sparse, which is good in this case as it gives the recording a live feel. Local guitar cult hero, O’Donel Levy also guests along with Benjie Porecki sitting in on keys. Diane Postell has made a fine album she can be proud of in What I Got To Say and one that would make a nice addition to any collection of good music.
Reviewed by: Michael Macey
Chesapeake Music Guide
July, 2004
- Chesapeake Music Guide
Discography
"What I Got To Say" - Diane Postell (Postell Productions - 2/04)
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Bio
Dianes live performances are by turns intimate and boundless, one moment tender, the next kick ass. She dazzles with a funk rock challenge and we are moving to the communal beat. She beckons with a sultry reminiscence and we are wholly alone, lost in our most private memories. A musicians musician, Diane performs with a rock, rhythm and soul band that can match her range and virtuosity step for step.
A singer-songwriter of uncommon soul and grace, Diane seems to sing our heartbreak and our healing, our devastation and our defiancethe deepest and truest yearning of the human heart. Her music and lyricsserved up by that surprising and enigmatic voiceinvite us to join her in a place that is at once familiar and timeless.
Diane Postell began her musical training at the Berklee College of Music and graduated with a music performance degree from New York University. She has studied with masters of the craft such as Merry Clayton, Jimmy Sigler, Barry Harris, Marion Cowlings, and Anne Bartos. Diane has explored the range of her talents as a member of The Community Chorale Gospel Choir under the direction of Phyllis McCoy Joubert. And she continued that exploration as a member of The All Angels Gospel Choir of NYC, under the direction of Ron Melrose.
Her travels in the music business read like a whos who of industry professionals and musicians who are respected and beloved by their peers: Bruce Lowe ( Stevie Wonder, Andre Crouch), Lenny Greene (Motown Records), Marcus Printup (Wynton Marsalis), Joy Rider (EMI Records), and Chris Carter (Uptown Horns). Diane has also worked on the production side of the business with notables such as Frank Zappa and Barking Pumpkin Records and producer Ritchie Druz (Murder Music).
Recently, Diane launched her own production company, Postell Productions, with a special focus on presenting women musicians in concert. Postell Productions is proud to present Dianes first solo release, What I got to Say, available at www.dianepostell.com.
Diane is also working with her own band, The Diane Postell Band, playing for fans throughout the Baltimore region.
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