Leah Tysse
San Francisco, California, United States | MAJOR
Music
Press
There was a point when local soul and gospel singer Leah Tysse billed herself as "hot and spicy," but since then she seems to have calmed down and adopted a more serene, sedate persona. In truth, though, any female balladeer with a voice as strong and a demeanor as sweet as Tysse's could re-chisel her persona whenever she saw fit. This year, she's released a new solo album, Love Again, which includes a superlative cast of Bay Area musicians -- among them keyboardists Sundra Manning and Mike Blankenship, guitarist Errol Cooney, and bassist Eric "Picfunk" Smith. It kicks off with an immediately catchy blues tune, "Hope Is Rising," which sets the tone and establishes the singer's church roots. Tysse will appear at Disco Volante (347 14th St., Oakland) on Saturday, Jan. 28. 9 p.m.- Rachael Swan, Music Reviewer - East Bay Express
Gospel and blues singer Leah Tysse is capable of being a big belter — she's a featured soloist at Glide Memorial Church, after all. But she largely goes soft on this album of ballads, a couple of which were penned by other local musicians. Tysse's band is fabulous, with such R&B staples as Sandra Manning, Lynette Williams, Eric "Pikfunk" Smith, and Mike Blankenship, who also handled most of the production. It's remarkably clean. - Rachael Swan, Music Reviewer - East Bay Express - Rachael Swan
"Boy, that Leah has got a beautiful voice!" -Frank Sommerville, Anchor
- Frank Somerville, Anchor
Leah Tysse is a brilliant talent with a message in her music. Her vocals are expansive, musically and emotionally. Magical, inspiring, and exhilarating, her CD “Love Again” is a perfect showcase of her talent, spirit and joy for life….a must have.
- Larry Batiste
"R&B/Blues winner Leah Tysse and her smoking hot band charged through her original “You Don’t Scare Me” with impressive authority. It was a lesson in the Blues, as they say; and a fine one at that. Her voice, her songs and her band are making huge strides in their state of California and beyond. DO NOT miss this girl when their bus rolls into your town." - Billboard World Song Contest Staff
"Leah Tysse was the best act at the Monterey Blues Festival 2009!" - Dennis Moffett - President
“WOW!!! Your CD "Real Good Fire" is one blazing musical masterpiece! I just listened to it and am still smoldering.....'gotta play it over again (and again)! I will add this to my play list this week!” - Snapshot (DJ)
"Powerful singer and tight band. I had heard of Leah Tysse's penchant for getting down on her knees while singing, but when she walked on the stage in an all-white outfit I thought, "No way - that's no happening." I was wrong! Leah gets the endurance award for doing an hour on the Arena Stage and then putting in another 2 hours on the Garden Stage." (re: Monterey Blues Festival)
- Michael Shea
"I caught Leah at Alfred's (Memphis) tonight. Just an amazing show. This performance was definitely a highlight for me." - Art Schuna - DJ
"Leah Tysse has that soul...Her music is inspirational for others."
- Kathy Faulkner
"What a magnificent blues voice...She killed on the Ruth Brown classic Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean...heavenly rich voice!"
- Rolf Olmstead
"With a vibrant stage and recording presence, Leah Tysse combines an unrelenting exuberance with a powerful joy in singing. She's got an intuitive feel for the fire & core of a song, and brings that to the audience with both intense conviction and a steely soulfulness. Whether singing blues, jazz, pop or gospel, the sublime Ms. Tysse has the raw vocal talent and steely determination to go wherever she wants in a song. She's a commanding young singer, filled at once with endearing subtly and steely grit." - Joseph Jordan, West Coast Blues Hall of Fame Blues Writer of the Year
"When Leah Tysse contributed her show stopping vocals the crowd ate it up as did I. She sang some surprisingly sad songs that got my emotions involved and her stage presence was felt even when she was up there listening to the musical responses to her vocals. "
- Jack Cohen
Discography
Love Again - LP - 2011
Real Good Fire - LP - 2007
Photos
Bio
"Don't miss this girl when her bus rolls into your town."
-Billboard Song Awards Press Release (Tysse won Best R&B song for Songwriting from Billboard)
"Tysss'e band is fabulous!"
-East Bay Express (Oakland, CA)
When you watch her perform, listen to her songs and, especially, hear that voice, you'll be convinced that Leah Tysse's arrival brings the next enduring thing to soul music. Tysse writes impressively and produces original contemporary music that continually takes her audiences on an emotional journey. She does so every time she steps up to a microphone. She maintains a fresh originality that sets her apart from virtually anyone currently performing.
Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, now residing in Berkeley, California, Leah (Lee-ah) Tysse (Tie-see) was recently awarded the prestigious award of Best R&B Song by the Billboard World Song Contest for her song “You Don’t Scare Me” from her first album “Real Good Fire”. She can also be seen singing in the special features of the “Pursuit or Happyness” DVD starring Will Smith.
Leah has performed across the US and in Europe and Asia. She is a featured soloist with the 100-person world-famous Glide Memorial Church Choir in San Francisco.
In her still young career, Tysse has recorded and/or shared stages with Taj Mahal, Michael Franti (of Spearhead), Patty Austin, Ashford & Simpson, Dwayne Wiggins (Tony Toni Tone), Debbie Davies, Tommy Castro, Michelle Shocked, Nelson Braxton (Braxton Brothers), Lydia Pense and Coldblood and her band includes musicians who have toured and recorded with: The Roots, Ledisi, Goapele, Muddy Waters, Will.I.Am, Rihanna, Maze, Gospel Hummingbirds, The Whispers, Sly and the Family Stone, Eric Benet, Fantasia, Chaka Khan, Tony Toni Tone, Lauren Hill, Santana, Tower of Power, etc.
Now, her career has taken a major leap forward, as she's selected the Bay Area’s finest musicians for her band and has fast earned the reputation of being an undeniably powerful presence on stage, a solid musician and a respected bandleader. In addition to performing at Bay Area venues such as Yoshi’s (San Francisco’s premiere jazz venue), Leah’s band has performed at festivals (such as The Monterey Blues Festival) and venues across the country.
Leah is endorsed by Boulder Creek Guitars and Mono Case.
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