ITALIAN JAZZ-FUNK ENSEMBLE - CAMERA SOUL - REACHES #1 ON CHARTS WITH ALBUM 'NOT FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE'

Camera Soul is a powerful jazz-funk ensemble, produced by Mr. Marco Rossi of Azzurra Music (Verona) and released in the United States and Canada by Kathryn Ballard Shut of TIMKAT Entertainment (Denver, Colorado). Inspired by legendary horn line, soul, R&B, and jazz-fusion artists such as Earth, Wind and Fire, The Commodores, Tower of Power, and Stevie Wonder, as well as neo-soul grooves by Erykah Badu and Jamiroquai, the group is based out of southern Italy (Bari), and led by veteran composer-arrangers, brothers Piero and Pippo Lombardo. Camera Soul’s distinctive sound was first defined by the smoky and soulful voice of lead vocalist, Serena Brancale, on the group's first two albums ('Words Don't Speak' in 2011 and 'Not For Ordinary People' in 2013), and currently by Maria Enrica Lotesoriere (live concerts & new album 'Dress Code', to be released in 2014).

The group features a world-class lineup of studio and live performance musicians, including Pippo Lombardo (piano), Beppe Sequestro (bass), Francesco Palmitessa (lead guitar), Gianluca Cardellichio (rhythm guitar), Liviana Ferri (percussion), Fabio Delle Foglie (drums, 2014) / Mimmo Campanale (drums, 2011-2013), Daniele Scannapieco and Bruno Tassone (saxes), Gianfranco Campagnoli (trumpet and flugelhorn); Elio Arcieri and Piero Dotti (background vocals). On album 'Not For Ordinary People', the Brothers Lombardo also led a stellar global songwriting team; together with their compositions, they welcomed original music and lyrics from Serena Brancale and Denver-based jazz pianist and ASCAP composer, Kathryn Ballard Shut.

The group has released two albums – 'Words Don’t Speak' (2011) and 'Not For Ordinary People' (2013). Whereas 'Words Don’t Speak' reached previous critical acclaim as a “chill” or “smooth” effort, 'Not For Ordinary People' counts on powerful horn lines, deep funk, complex arranging, impassioned writing, and superb engineering, culminating in a stronger effort than the debut. The album is currently at #1 in Italy.

In 2013, "Not For Ordinary People" was submitted in a stunning 11 categories in 4 major fields to the prestigious Recording Academy ("Grammy") and several selections from the album topped several United Kingdom radio show countdowns as one of the "Best of 2013". The album also reached #2 on the UK Soul Chart (http://www.uksoulchart.com) and remained there for two weeks, unable to top the legendary Earth, Wind, and Fire, who had just released 'Now, Then, and Forever' during the same period. 'Not For Ordinary People' nevertheless remained on the Top 30 for 15 weeks and continues in rotation on quality Internet radio stations worldwide.