June April
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June April

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"...What Am I?, is neosoulful jazz with a higher calling..."

June April - What Am I?

Gospel music is proving to be a durable artistic genre as one of the few areas of music showing growth. That’s something rap, rock and pop can’t claim as steep drop-offs in sales plague most of the industry. Due in part to gospel’s ability to thrive as both a medium of art and ministry, it has placed secular listeners and people of faith together in the same musical pews.

Jazz and Gospel while stylistically compatible in modern music, do also seem like aesthetically ‘strange bedfellows’. After all, some of jazz’s finest moments have come alive in the less-than-hallowed ground, of late-night, smoke-filled clubs, with plenty of hard liquor flowing. (Not exactly the place a high-minded believer would frequent.) And many times played by genius musicians that would never be mistaken for saints.

However, musical trailblazers as different as Duke Ellington and Take 6 have helped forge a critical direction for Christian music by driving it through a jazz landscape. While it’s no news that ‘church girls’ can sing, Harlem’s own June April takes up a different mantle than most of her ‘soul-sangin’ sisters’. She brings the “good news” using a another african-american musical tradition. The independently-produced CD, What Am I?, is neosoulful jazz with a higher calling. June April with the help of indie soul’s “go-to” producer, Teddy Crockett, takes you on an eclectic pilgrimage made up of original songs and spirituals using soul, jazz, r&b balladry, spoken word, and traditional gospel. She gets you ‘soul head-nodding’ and soul searching on the cuts “tick tock” and “ready”. By contrast, on “somebody’s knocking at your door” you’re doing the old time church stomp in the aisle (shaking your tambourine, of course). June April’s soothing scatwork on “at the cross” almost makes you forget that you’re being pastored to. Crockett produces a diverse, yet coherent musical statement that highlights June April’s faith, vocal technique, and on the final (live) cut, disarming sense of humor. As a team June April and Crockett craft a project that makes strong cases for concurrent play on both gospel and jazz radio stations.
- Les Clarke


""A great debut from June April...""

A great debut from June April -- a spiritual singer/songwriter, but one who comes across with plenty of straight soul appeal as well! June's really got it all going on here -- able to slide into a compelling soul tune at one minute, then serve up a mellower ballad the next -- all with vocals that clearly have strong influences going back in a variety of genres, but which are fused together nicely with June's own sense of confidence and poise. There's a bit more jazz here than usual -- which gives the record a nicely sophisticated feel -- and the production is also pretty full and rich too, with a more focused sound than just the usual blend of beats and keys. And although many of the tunes have an inspirational theme, they really soft-pedal the subject matter -- making the record an appealing one for a much wider-ranging audience. - Dusty Groove.com


"Voice a Clear as a church bell..."

"Sassy, sexy, and smart, with a voice a clear as a church bell: June April's vibe is heavenly. Her positive message merges easily with oh-so-hip production, and the result is an inspirational take on jazz coolness that will get your head nodding and fill your heart with promise.

My favorite track on June's CD What Am I is "Tick Tock". It offers smooveness for the grooveheads, chops for the purists, and lyrical grace for those who seek meaning in their music.

It's an honor to air her songs on The Groove Boutique!"



- Rafe Gomez, The Groove Boutique/CD101.9 FM NYC


"June is the Real Deal..."

"June April is the Real Deal: her jazz fluency, urban contemporary sophistication, and deep spirtually, are evident in her compelling compositions that swing and sing in a variety of moods and grooves - from bop-like scats to her deeply devotional lyrics. It doesn't matter if it's the Saturday Night Function or the Sunday Church Service ... June April has it all covered."

- Eugene Holley, Jr./Amazon.com / Philadelphia Weekly


""showers a flood of Jazz vocals in the style of Etta James...""

"The Track is "Tick, Tock", and June April showers a flood of Jazz vocals in the style of Etta James and with the inspiration of Ecclesiastes 3:1-6."

- Stan North, Gospelflava.com


"" She gets you ‘soul head-nodding’ and soul searching...""

“Gospel music is proving to be a durable artistic genre as one of the few areas of music showing growth. That’s something rap, rock and pop can’t claim as steep drop-offs in sales plague most of the industry. Due in part to gospel’s ability to thrive as both a medium of art and ministry, it has placed secular listeners and people of faith together in the same musical pews.
Jazz and Gospel while stylistically compatible in modern music, do also seem like aesthetically ‘strange bedfellows’. After all, some of jazz’s finest moments have come alive in the less-than-hallowed ground, of late-night, smoke-filled clubs, with plenty of hard liquor flowing. (Not exactly the place a high-minded believer would frequent.) And many times played by genius musicians that would never be mistaken for saints.
However, musical trailblazers as different as Duke Ellington and Take 6 have helped forge a critical direction for Christian music by driving it through a jazz landscape. While it’s no news that ‘church girls’ can sing, Harlem’s own June April takes up a different mantle than most of her ‘soul-sangin’ sisters’. She brings the “good news” using another African American musical tradition. The independently-produced CD, “What Am I?”, is neo-soulful jazz with a higher calling. June April with the help of indie soul’s “go-to” producer, Teddy Crockett, takes you on an eclectic pilgrimage made up of original songs and spirituals using soul, jazz, r&b balladry, spoken word, and traditional gospel. She gets you ‘soul head-nodding’ and soul searching on the cuts “tick tock” and “ready”. By contrast, on “somebody’s knocking at your door” you’re doing the old time church stomp in the aisle (shaking your tambourine, of course). June April’s soothing scatwork on “at the cross” almost makes you forget that you’re being pastored to. Crockett produces a diverse, yet coherent musical statement that highlights June April’s faith, vocal technique, and on the final (live) cut, disarming sense of humor. As a team June April and Crockett craft a project that makes strong cases for concurrent play on both gospel and jazz radio stations.”
- By Les Clarke, Soultracks.com
- Soultracks.com


""... a refreshing change from today's more formulated music...""

“Inspirational Spiritual Jazz album, brilliantly produced by Teddy Crockett which spans Soul . Jazz and Gospel has some great live instrumentation but the main focus is on April's beautiful crystal clear voice.?Of her originals 'Tick Tock' is a jazzy soul track with some nice trumpet backing reminiscent of Badu and Fertile Ground. 'What I Am' is a big production jazzy gospel and 'Fear Vs Faith' is pure Spiritual jazz with scat vocals and the excellent band really stretching out, whilst 'Weeping Mary' is more freer but still very together. Of the Afro- American Spirituals the breezy and jazzy 'At The Cross' and 'Ready' work best. This album has elements of the kind of thing that appeared on black jazz/strata east in the 70's and makes a refreshing change from today's more formulated music, and what a voice!!”

- Soul Brother Records UK
- Soul Brother Records UK


""...dreamy - with its birds and bells and a Satterfield-like turn by vocalist June April...""

"The Garden of Thought (from Stefon Harris', In A Cloud of Red Dust") is dreamy - with its birds and bells and a Satterfield-like turn by vocalist June "April" Gardner..."

- Judith Schlesinger, 52ndStreet.com
- 52nd Street.com


Discography

2007: What Am I?, Highlife Music Group
2004: Jazz Hymns, Highlife Music Group
2003: In the Garden of Thought, Stefon Harris, Blue Note (Guest Appearance)

Currently singles from "What Am I?" are airing on 80 stations in 12 different countries.

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Bio

YOU UNDERSTAND THE VERY FIRST TIME YOU HEAR HER VOICE. Soft, yet Intense. At times pretty and melodic; at times raw and urging. Her vocal tone instantly captivates you, like a person you just met and five minutes into the conversation you realize you’re kindred spirits. Her musings hearken to a rich tradition while fulfilling the promise of an innovative future. This God-given voice belongs to a gifted, energetic, woman from the village of Harlem–June April.

“I remember when I was 8 years old and there was a Jazz festival on 125th Street. It started early in the morning and I made sure I got there early get up front. I was lost in the music. The harmony, melodies, improvisation and chemistry between the musicians transported me to another world. In fact, my family had gone home, without realizing I was still there. They came back and found me still absorbed in the experience.”

Her immersion into her craft led to Classical and Jazz music studies at Syracuse University, The Manhattan School of Music and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, where she received her Masters degree. Her journey continued, leading to opportunities to study or work with such Jazz luminaries as Lionel Hampton, Barry Harris, Ron Carter, Stefon Harris and Vanessa Rubin. She has performed at famous venues throughout the United States, Central America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The seeds of her musical apprenticeship blossom richly on her full-length debut, “What Am I?” “I want to have a conversation about the complexities of life, and what truly satisfies the human soul.” Indeed, “What Am I?” presents brilliantly arranged hymns and vibrant, original material. While rooted in traditional Jazz, the project also draws influences from June April’s Costa Rican roots, Bluegrass, R&B and Gospel music.

“Tick, Tock” features an infectious Neo-Soul groove. “I used to teach in the NYC pubic schools and I thought about all the talent those kids have. I want them to use their time wisely so they can reach their potential.” The title track, “What Am I?” redefines the term “power ballad”. It is a soaring, deeply affecting examination of life; it’s true purpose and meaning. You will hear the question you’ve asked yourself time and time again. “Faith vs. Fear” is a joyous, musical feast filled with incredible, nourishing performances from some of the best young Jazz musicians in NYC.

“Hey, I’m not perfect and I don’t take myself so seriously. I laugh at myself sometimes when I make a mistake. It’s okay, God still loves us.” June April’s faith, passion and optimism are evident throughout this project. The artist-turned-business executive will be working the concert stage, radio airwaves and the Internet in support of her fledgling label. An avid vegetarian, she encourages her audience to explore the healthier slice of life on her website.

Singer, Songwriter, Poet, Producer, Activist. Her name is June April.