TransVocalizers — “Elevation” by Foxxjazell CD review

“I wanted to do a project that focused on elevating yourself from the negative to a more positive state of mind,” Foxxjazell said in the interview  in this column last month. She went on to describe the new project, simply called Elevation as her most personal work yet. It had taken her longer than originally anticipated to finish because she had to fight her way through bouts of depression, addiction, and various other obstacles both personal and music business related.

When listening to Elevation, it becomes clear right away that this young lady won the fight. Elevation is the result of an artist who is beginning to stretch her own boundaries. Unlike her two previous releases, Introducing Foxxjazell (2007) , and Boy, Girl, Whateva (2010), Foxxjazell not only indulges in her trademark rapping, but also sings and weaves different musical genres in with the hip-hop.

The project opens with the title cut, Elevation. This works as a dance track, and is one of the standout tunes on the project. Excellent production, and maintains a good balance between the actual vocalization and the rapping. One of the more club and radio friendly tunes on the project. Good way to grab a listener’s attention right from the start. A video for the song is out now as well.

[mp3j track=”Elevation.mp3″ flip=”y” style=”bigger2″]

Another tune that was given the video treatment, Sickening, follows. The tune is kind of a shopping list of stuff that turns her off, done in a voice that’s not only powerful but surprisingly feminine. Another tune on the project, Broke Niggaz (featuring Milan and Ashley Breathe), could be Sickening‘s somewhat humorous companion. With lines like “. . .I’m the kind of chick that’s out of your league/I got no time for broke-ass men” she makes it clear that she’s not going to baby sit any man, financially or otherwise.

NYC Love was another of the project’s tunes that was released in video form last summer. The video brings the song to life, being shot in black and white, and offering a glimpse of the street from the view of a person who knows what’s going on.

Nails, Chicken, Bass is another of the humorous moments. The tune varies between sparse and layered sounding but doesn’t loose focus between the two textures.

Two of the other standout tracks on Elevation are Catch Me (I’m Falling) (another very good dance track, that serves to prove that the girl can really sing when she wants to), and Gary, the album’s closing cut. What surprised about this last song is the inclusion of guitar in the opening, and the song’s overall light jazz feel. Once again, proof that Foxxjazell can really sing. Gary could work within the framework of more than genre’, and should help the artists gain some airplay.

The one song on Elevation that really caught my attention, though, is Mama Love Me. Somewhat jazz in feeling, this is another tune that could probably work in more than one genre. It has good harmony throughout, but what really caught my ear was the message. Lines like “I don’t judge you/you don’t judge me,” hits home to anyone who has ever had to prove themselves to their parents. Also, “I want love and protection/ don’t need your rejection/ why can’t you understand/ I can’t change the way I am” makes you wonder if Foxxjazell is writing from her imagination or from a very painful, personal experience.

Regardless, anyone can identify with this song. Young, old, male, female, transgendered or not, practically everyone has faced that “leaving the nest” moment when it’s hard for your parents to let go. All in all, this demonstrates the very essence of good song writing. When an artist has such control of their craft that anyone can relate to what is being said, that’s an achievement that few musicians/singer-songwriters/rappers ever accomplish.

I’m not one for making predictions, especially as a review that’s not my job. But, I’d like to forward the thought that IF Foxxjazell continues to prevail over her personal demons, her third album, Elevation, will serve as a launching pad for bigger things in her career. She’s proven she can write material that hits home, she can sing as well as rap, and that she has the tenacity and integrity to finish something when started, no matter how tough the going gets. Pay attention out there. Foxxjazell is just getting started.

For more information on Foxxjazell, please check out her website. Also on Facebook and Twitter. Foxxjazell’s music is available through Amazon.com, Rhapsody, CDBaby, and iTunes.)

ALSO THIS MONTH

Jennifer Leitham

Jennifer Leitham

Jennifer Leitham’s biographic documentary, I Stand Alone, will be featured at film festivals in Amsterdam, Toronto, Tel Aviv, Barcelona, and Bucharest. For Jennifer Leitham Trio upcoming performance dates, please check out her website. For more information about I Stand Corrected, please check out the film’s Facebook page, and website. Jennifer also has a new trailer for the movie on YouTube.

Storm Miguel Florez

Storm Miguel Florez has posted a new video of a performance at the 2012 Fresh Meat Festival. He has also announced the following performance dates: Friday, May 24th, at the Tenderness Extravaganza, Dolores Park Café, 501 Dolores St., San Francisco, CA, 7-10 PM, all ages show; and Thursday, May 30th, at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market St., San Francisco, CA. This particular performance is the book launch party for The Boy Who Was Not A Lesbian & Other True Stories, which is a benefit for the San Francisco Trans March. Performance time is 6-9 PM. There are Facebook event pages for both performances. Get more info on Florez at badflower.com, and search for him on YouTube.

Cornelius Popcorn Robertson

Cornelius Popcorn Robertson, of Nashville, Tennessee, is a supporter of transgender musicians and artists. An interview with him was featured on January 28th, 2013 in this column. Mr. Robertson organized a local LGBT music festival for the Music City crowd, in which Michelle Garcia (featured in our companion Perpetual Change column) participated. Robertson has sent notices out that on Thursday, May 30th, he will be presenting The Nashville Songwriters Festival on Music Row. For detailed information regarding all the events included in the festival, please check out their website. Robertson can be reached at 615-424-1491.

David de Alba

David de Alba has posted YouTube videos from performances of one of his older, out-of-print CD projects entitled David de Alba As Boy-Chic Sings A Loving Tribute To Olga And Tony. Sung in Spanish, and backed by a full orchestra, these tracks and the arrangements were also later used by Olga And Tony themselves when they appeared in Miami.

NEW MUSIC

A Is For Alpine by AlpineAlpine is a new band from Australia, with their debut album, A Is For Alpine just released. The band is comprised of duo vocalists Phoebe Baker and Lou James; Christian O’Brien, guitar; Ryan Lamb, bass; Tim Royall, keyboards, Phil Tucker, drums. It’s the duo, mostly unison singing of Baker and James that gives Alpine a very airy, ambient feel. My first impression upon hearing this CD was that there had to be an incredible ABBA influence going on.

Musically, the work of guitarist O’Brien and keyboardist Royall shows some jazz influence, although they never shy away from a very sparse sound overall.

The opening track, Lovers 1+2 is an extended track and one of the more dance oriented tunes on the project. The only other really danceable tracks are Hands and In The Wild. Most of the album stays within the boundaries of light rock (All For One, Too Soft, The Vigour, Multiplication), and very airy, ambient/New Age material such as Seeing Red and Soft Sides.

Gasoline is the single from the project, and it’s definitely the best tune on the album, with the overall best production values. One other tune, In The Wild, has similar production, which helps make the album deviate slightly from the mostly airy, ambient music feel.

Several of the album’s tunes have videos. The one for Hands could make even a grown man want to take a cold shower. That being said, though, Alpine will be a band to watch. While this type of airy, ambient material isn’t for everybody, they are creative enough to probably grow beyond this sound. Should be interesting to see what they come up with next. The band has a website and can be found on Facebook.

Tags: CD Review, featured, music, Musician, TG singer

Category: Music, Product Review