Description:
Based on her age--the Massachusetts musician turned 17 in 2006--the casual observer could be forgiven for expecting Sonya Kitchell to sound something like Brit wunderkind Joss Stone. While both women possess instruments considerably older than their years would indicate, Kitchell draws greater inspiration from blues- and jazz-oriented singer-songwriters like Bonnie Raitt and Norah Jones, than soul belters like Aretha Franklin. And while she takes a lower-key approach than the electrified Raitt--Words is a mostly acoustic affair, featuring Kitchell on guitar--she's likely to appeal to a similar audience, which is to say, one tha
Based on her age--the Massachusetts musician turned 17 in 2006--the casual observer could be forgiven for expecting Sonya Kitchell to sound something like Brit wunderkind Joss Stone. While both women possess instruments considerably older than their years would indicate, Kitchell draws greater inspiration from blues- and jazz-oriented singer-songwriters like Bonnie Raitt and Norah Jones, than soul belters like Aretha Franklin. And while she takes a lower-key approach than the electrified Raitt--Words is a mostly acoustic affair, featuring Kitchell on guitar--she's likely to appeal to a similar audience, which is to say, one that's logged more time on this earth than the artist herself. "Part of me is new and part of me is old," she sings on "Tinted Glass." Although Kitchell performs the occasional cover live (mostly jazz standards), she penned every one of these 12 tracks herself: the average artist twice her age can't claim as much. Better yet, there isn't a bad one in the bunch, though the titles can be pretty pedestrian ("Words," "Think of You," etc.). But it's the wistful songs, the supple voice, and the swinging instrumental passages that count, especially on "Let Me Go," the soulful, scat-bedecked CD opener. A crack backing band--with Miro Sprague on piano and Hammond B-3 organ a particular standout--helps to make Words Came Back to Me one of the year's most noteworthy debuts. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Album Description
Hailed by the LA Times as a "fascinating performer," Kitchell (just sixteen) has already built a formidable reputation both as a performer and recording artist. This collection of twelve original songs, penned by Kitchell, represents a stunning debut by a remarkable young artist, blending pop, jazz, folk and blues into a thing of soulful beauty. Sonya has been selected as the Hear Music Debut artist for 2006, which will make "Words" simultaneously available at each of the 5,500 Starbucks locations in the US and Canada.
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Manufacturer: Velour Music Group
Release date: 4 April 2006
EAN: 0687480050123 UPC: 687480050123
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