Colors
of Life, the second CD by Raleigh, North Carolina-based vocalist Jua, marks an
artistic rebirth for the 35-year-old singer. His 2007 debut, Anticipation, had
enjoyed attention from smooth-jazz and R&B stations, but Jua was having
second thoughts about his direction and soon found his way to Berkeley's
Jazzschool Institute. There he devoted a year to intensive jazz studies and was
the first recipient of the school's annual Mark Murphy Vocal Jazz Scholarship.
His musical goals came into sharp focus.
Jua now
emerges as a unique and highly emotive jazz vocal stylist with the remarkable
10-song CD Colors of Life, which will be released by his Chocolate Chi Music on
June 24. Produced by Onaje Allan Gumbs, the veteran New York pianist, arranger,
and producer noted for his work with Norman Connors, Nat Adderley, Woody Shaw,
and many others, the album showcases Jua in the company of Gumbs on piano and
(on one track) Hammond B-3 organ, guitarist Shan Kenner, bassist Gregory M.
Jones, drummer Vince Ector, percussionist Gary Fritz, and tenor and soprano
saxophonist Roger Byam.
The disc
features four original compositions by Jua (three written in collaboration with
his former Jazzschool instructor, pianist Matt Clark, the other with Kenner),
along with the standard "Old Devil Moon" and tunes by Abbey Lincoln
("Bird Alone"), Bob Dorough ("Love Came on Stealthy
Fingers"), Bill Withers ("Let Me Be the One"), and James
Williams ("You're My Alter Ego"). Jua also added lyrics to Rivers's
1964 ballad "Beatrice," which opens the album. Arrangements were
handled by Gumbs, Kenner, and Clark.
"Colors
of Life is an honest expression of my life and the world around me," says
Jua. "The process of planning and recording this project with
world-class-talent musicians taught me a great deal about my developing voice
as an artist. I am eager for listeners to learn more about me through this
music."
While
growing up in Chicago, Jua Howard was involved in the gamut of athletic
activities, but veered toward music after moving with his mother to Lanett,
Alabama. He began playing trumpet in the fifth grade, joined the youth choir
(and was frequently called upon to solo) at a local Baptist church, and was
selected for the Alabama All-State Boys Choir, an ensemble of some 70 voices
that focused on European classical music. He and his mother spent two years as
members of the All-Atlanta Choir, and Jua then enrolled at Emory University in
Atlanta, where he sang in the gospel choir and graduated with a B.A. in
English.
He put
his singing on hold for two years after graduation, but back in Chicago vocal
coach Sondra Davis encouraged him to resume applying his richly rounded
multi-octave pipes to song. He relocated to Washington, DC. and worked for a
time as a background vocalist with the Blackbyrds. "Jazz was clearly a big
part of their foundation," says Jua, "and singing with them made me
think about pursuing jazz as a career."
As did
Nancy Wilson, whom he saw perform in Atlanta. "She had such
presence," he recalls. "It just kinda made me change my way of
thinking."
Jua "Jazz," he adds, "which is
based on improvisation, is about being a part of an ensemble and everyone
communicating with each other to get the musical statement across. Even though
I'm standing in front, I'm just one of the instruments telling a story to the
audience. It's about the story and the music, and paying respect and credence
to the music."
Jua, who
uses only his first name professionally (it's Swahili for "sun"),
cites Vandross, Hathaway, Al Jarreau, Johnny Mathis, Mark Murphy, and gospel
great Daryl Coley as influences on his style. Yet, as evidenced throughout
Colors of Life, Jua has developed a distinctive, emotion-gripping approach to
song that's quite wonderfully his own.
In addition
to taking his new music to several North Carolina venues in the next month
(5/31 Irregardless Café, Raleigh; 6/7 Unvined Wine Bar &Tapas, Cary; 6/28
Sharp Nine Gallery, Durham), Jua has booked a 7/11 appearance at New York's
Cornelia Street Café. "I am wholeheartedly excited about my upcoming gigs
to support the release of Colors of Life," says Jua. "It's always a
lot of fun to tell my story and connect with the audience."
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