Buffalo’s own award-winning jazz and blues vocalist DeeAnn is once again showcasing her versatility and emotional depth with the release of her latest single, a soulful reinterpretation of Sade’s 1992 R&B hit “Kiss of Life.”
Known for her ability to fuse jazz, blues, soul, and rock with grace and authenticity, DeeAnn brings a fresh and deeply personal perspective to this classic. Following her acclaimed cover of Al Green’s “Simply Beautiful,” her version of “Kiss of Life” highlights her rich vocal delivery, exquisite jazz scatting, and the ongoing creative synergy she shares with legendary producer Ted Perlman.
While Sade’s original speaks of romantic love, DeeAnn’s interpretation embraces a more spiritual dimension. Having endured the heartbreaking loss of her son William in 2023, she now finds profound resonance in the song’s imagery of an angel bringing new love and joy to earth.
“It’s a great song and I’ve always loved Sade,” DeeAnn reflects. “I relate to those lyrics about an angel bringing someone to us on a different level now. To me, the song is about our connection to God, about angels bringing us new life and love after loss. The angel could even be William, bringing the beauty of God into my life. The lyrics remind me that even after grief, the world can truly hear our hearts beating again.”
This deepened perspective gives her Kiss of Life performance an emotional richness that transcends romance, touching instead on healing, resilience, and faith.
Perlman — whose résumé includes collaborations with Whitney Houston, Harry Belafonte, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, and Brian Wilson — has become a key partner in DeeAnn’s recent work. He describes her artistry with admiration:
“I love her combination of soul, jazz, blues and rock. She has a unique sound, and I’m always on the lookout for artists who are unique and have that special je ne sais quoi. It’s wonderful to create music with her, and I often feel like a custom tailor coming up with the perfect vibe around an artist who can really bring a song home.”
Recorded at Perlman’s Nashville studio, Station West, the single features some of Music City’s finest session musicians, including pianist/organist Jody Nardone, bassist Jonathan Nixon, drummer Brian Czach, and background vocalists Moe Loughran and Damien Horne, with Perlman himself contributing evocative electric guitar textures.
The arrangement balances smooth, soulful grooves with jazz-inspired playfulness, perfectly framing DeeAnn’s voice as it moves effortlessly between her powerful low register and expressive higher tones.
Earlier in 2025, DeeAnn earned multiple honors in the 10th Annual JazzBuffalo Poll, including Jazz Female Vocalist of the Year. Her 2023 album It’s My Time remains a fan favorite, earning the most votes in the poll while she was also named runner-up for both Most Memorable Performance and the John Hunt Jazz Artist of the Year Award.
These accolades build on a career that began in Buffalo’s pop/rock scene, where she twice won Best Female Vocalist at the Buffalo Music Awards, later earning Best Female Blues Vocalist at the Buffalo NightLife Music Awards before launching her recording career with her 2016 debut album Desperately Seeking DeeAnn.With Kiss of Life, DeeAnn proves once again that her artistry is about more than honoring classics — it’s about transforming them into deeply personal statements of resilience and hope. Her upcoming album, blending originals with reimagined gems from across eras, promises to further reveal the depth of her journey and the boundless range of her voice.
For DeeAnn, the music isn’t just performance — it’s healing, testimony, and a reminder that love and joy are never far away, even after loss.
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