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UC Jazz Artist Highlight - Leigh Jones
                           
           

Artist Highlight - Leigh Jones
by Edie Okamoto

     
           

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Leigh Jones kicks of 24-city tour for US Army

 “Leigh Jones headlines in I.A.M. Strong – 24 city -US Army Music Tour”

January 28, 2009 Fort Knox, Louisville, Kentucky Last night was the first performance for the 2010 Army 24 City Concert Tour,  featuring headliner, Leigh Jones, a Kerry Gordy Enterprises artist. The tour is sponsored by I.A.M. Strong.

Kerry Gordy, the artist’s manager, encouraged Leigh Jones to share her soulful R&B music with our young US soldiers throughout the US and Germany. He states: “We live in a great country and need to remind ourselves that we have a great heritage of honor and success to uphold.  We are glad to have a chance to give back to our soldiers to celebrate their commitment us.  It is great to know that today’s US Army offers programs to appeal to and to celebrate the noble character of our troupes.”

Since her first CD, “Music in my Soul,” Leigh Jones burst on the scene with great acclaim. She immediately attracted serious music critics and large audiences spanning genres in R&B, Soul, and Jazz.  This lovely blonde Diva has charisma and her silky, strong voice inspires and soothes. Her modern lyrics keep young audiences riveted.

Check for dates in the city near you!  Concert Dates

LEIGH JONES 'A ONCE IN A LIFE TIME ARTIST':

Debut album, 'Music In My Soul,' mentioned as 'Masterful' body of work.

"Throughout my career I have been blessed to discover many great musical talents. I feel Leigh Jones is destined to be one of the next great stars. She can do it all - Pop, R&B, Jazz and Blues. She's awesome!" -Berry Gordy

    Only once in an era does a young performer come along who is so dazzling, so captivating and so undeniable in their talent that they gather the gale force of the most respected icons in the business beneath their wings. Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Leigh Jones is that amazing once in a lifetime artist. Having made passionate believers and hands-on supporters out of both Motown Records founder Berry Gordy AND Stax Records maverick Al Bell, Leigh Jones is fortified to take on the international pop music marketplace with her powerful debut album, Music in My Soul (on Peak Records - a division of the Concord Music Group).

    Destined to be heralded as possibly the most naturally soulful white female R&B singer since Teena Marie, Leigh (pronounced lee) has recorded an assured and semi-autobiographical gem of a debut. The 12-song album literally swings from the mission statement title track (complete with scat lines and lusciously layered backgrounds) to a contemporary spin on the DeBarge classic "All This Love" specially produced for her by smooth jazz giant Wayman Tisdale. Pop production great Walter Afanasieff (along with Clark Anderson) got behind Leigh with the bittersweet funk of "Freefall" while songwriting legend Bruce Fisher (composer of "You Are So Beautiful," among scores of other classics) worked with Leigh on nearly half of the album's songs. Fisher states, "Leigh Jones is a pleasure to work with, a delight to listen to and a joy to behold."                  

    Compositionally, Leigh turns in a finger-snappin' piano jazz rave up titled "Can't Get Enough of Your Love" as well as the lowdown backbeat blues "I'm Leavin' You." And in what is the coup of the year, she inspired the legendary Berry Gordy to come out of retirement to produce the song "Cold in L.A.," an introspective meditation on the façade of phoniness that naïve hopefuls find when they first arrive in Hollywood. Leigh has held her own on the exclusive late night jam scene of the session musician elite at Studio City spots such as Cozy's, showcased all over Southern California from Hollywood's The Knitting Factory to Santa Monica's Temple Bar, shared stages with legends such as the Temptations and Thelma Houston, and opened for stars such as Brian McKnight and John Legend.

     Mr. Bell, who personally screened every song choice and performance of Leigh's before it made the album, observes, "Leigh Jones is an extremely talented and rare young singer who is uniquely gifted musically. She blends all of the elements of pop, R&B, Jazz and Blues, and brings them all masterfully into the ‘now.' Throughout my career I have never seen or heard of anyone like Leigh Jones.”

           

 

         
                           
               

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