Album DescriptionAccording to Time Magazine's description of style, the music on this recording would fit neatly into the category of classic jazz with a little extra soul. Vocalist, pianist, songwriter and educator Erika Paul weaves her sensitive, sweet vocals and provocative piano solos through 6 original songs she wrote and arranged, and 5 classic standards by Stanley Turrentine, Washington/Young, Charles Trenet, Brandt/Haymes and Joe McCoy. Accompanied by innovatively creative side musicians, Erika takes you on a musical journey as each track unfolds. Musically interesting and different, this cd shows what it means to perform from the heart. Track 1, is an energetic driving blues shuffle vocal original, showcasing a playful vocal scat conversation with a very hip bassman. Track 2 is a swanky swing vocal original featuring everyone in the band and some seriously excellent brushwork on drums. Track 3 is an upbeat latin/swing vocal original that could turn out to be a standard jazz classic. Track 4, Erika stands up to sing her heart out on this classic standard. Track 5, another Paul vocal original, combines the jazz ballad with a salsa groove. Track 6 is a blues standard that just burns with passion and fire from the vocals to the solos through to the very end. Track 7 is another Paul vocal original that features a modern, more hard-driving jazz feel and high energy solos from sax and drums. Track 8 is a beautiful folk-jazz rendition of a 1952 classic, showcasing Erika's sweet vocal ability with only a guitar as accompaniment. Track 9, features Erika's bilingual ability to sing and swing in French and English. Track 10, demonstrates Erika's vocal warmth and charm as she is accompanied by breathtaking piano and bass work on one of the most beautiful ballads ever written. Finally, track 11, a vocal blues Paul original, is playful and spunky, with everyone on the track clearly having some serious fun.