"I
look for enough of myself in the song to be the vocal thought of the
composer," reflects Phil Perry. "It's always about the music. Not
me." Phil Perry IS music. He has spent a lifetime converting audiences
with his riveting performances and unforgettable renditions of some of the
greatest songs in R&B and the American songbook. The dynamic singer has the
uncanny ability to make you a believer with a single note. Truly one of the
greatest voices of our time, Perry's vocal talents have been sought after by
everyone from Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan and Anita Baker to Quincy Jones and
Barbra Streisand, among others. It is no wonder why Down Beat Magazine
once referred to Perry as the "Pavaratti of Jazz" and
JazzTimes
Magazine once declared that Perry "creates joyous, romantic magic."
Phil Perry's rich smooth tenor and unrivaled falsetto have set him in a class
by himself. For Perry, who has been dubbed the "real deal" by the
iconic Al Jarreau, his unique voice and approach to the music are simple.
"I try to always be me...I just sing. What comes out is what comes out.
It's just Me."
Phil
Perry's new album, his 12th as a leader, Breathless, will leave you feeling
just that. The singer explains, "Each of my 12 solo projects is a House
where listeners go to HEAR the music, but while they are in there they also
FEEL a lot of love - it's Home Sweet Home." Perry is joined on
Breathless by his longtime collaborator, producer extraordinaire and pianist,
Chris "Big Dog" Davis. Davis and Perry have a chemistry in the
studio that is undeniable. Having worked together on several projects, they
have proven to be a winning combination. "Chris and I respect the
music the same way we respect each other," shares Perry. It's a unique and
rare thing and it's easy because we speak the same language. What's really
amazing are the times we enjoy whenever we get the chance to perform LIVE
together." Breathless features such gems as the timeless title track, the
tender ballad "Never Can Say Goodbye," Perry's stunning recreation of
Stevie Wonder's timeless classic "Love's In Need Of Love Today, " a
delightful in reinvention of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David composition,
"One Less Bell To Answer" and more!
For
over four decades Phil Perry has provided the soundtrack for generations of
fans. In the mid-1970s, Perry came to fame as a member of the revered soul
group, The Montclairs, and subsequently as part of the duo Perry and Sanlin.
The dynamic vocalist launched his solo career in 1991 with The Heart Of A Man,
which featured an impressive re-make of Aretha Franklin's "Call Me"
which hit #1 on the R&B charts. Pure Pleasure came in 1994 and yielded
another hit with his version of "If Only You Knew" and an unforgettable
version of the Spinners' classic, "Love Don't Love Nobody." The
highly versatile Perry also began achieving success in the contemporary jazz
arena through his collaborations with Lee Ritenour, The Rippingtons and
numerous others. One Heart One Love came in 1998 and hit Top Five on the
Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart. Book Of Love and Magic followed and in
2006 Perry released Classic Love Songs, reminding audiences once again of his
unmatched ability to put his own signature stamp on well known hits. Next came
A Mighty Love in 2007, followed by Ready for Love and the stellar collaboration
with Melba Moore, The Gift Of Love in 2009. Say Yes was released in 2013 and
included imaginative and brilliant re-workings of such love songs as Sam
Cooke's "You Send Me" and Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over
Troubled Water." It also featured a stirring duet of "Where Is The
Love" with Chanté Moore that garnered considerable attention at radio and
is listed on Billboards 2014 'Top 50 Smooth Jazz' songs. 2015 saw the release
of A Better Man which among other gems featured two definitive re-workings of
the Curtis Mayfield classics "Gypsy Woman" and "I'm So
Proud."
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