Funky Soulful R&B/HipHop with a touch of jazz. Soulsinger has an alluring eclectic blend of Jazz and R&B - old and new. There is no need to explain why people are going crazy for Soulsinger. Listeners are also surprised by the genius behind the music. Some find it hard to believe that this work of art has been created by a female duo. Ledisi and Sundra "Sun" Manning have become respectfully known as two songwriters, producers, singers; who play instruments, record and mix music and have created an unbelievable blend of jazz, R&B, Gospel and Hip Hop music. Collectively, they have embodied their production company under the name "LeSun Music." Ask them how they categorize their music? They will tell you to call it "Soul Music."Ask anyone who's ever caught a Ledisi show: the woman is off the hook! The Oakland-based singer is a gutsy, in-your-face vocalist whose performances in the Bay Area pack 'em into every venue she plays. With Soulsinger, her remarkable, independently produced debut, Ledisi effectively conveys her potent stage presence--her honeyed, sass-sated alto slides between skillful scats, gospel-inflected yelps, and all-out, gut-wrenching wails. There are moments when the album's 16 original tracks (written by Ledisi and her business partner/keyboardist, Sundra Manning) fall victim to schmaltzy lyrics and tired hooks, but there are some genuinely inspired tunes here as well. "Get Out of My Kitchen," the album's funked-out opener, drips with a down-to-earth, homegirl vibe; and the interlude following "I Want'cha Babe" finds Ledisi swinging like a seasoned jazz vet. But it's on "Take Time," the album's first single, where this soulsinger achieves the sublime. With its lilting groove and mantra-like chorus, the song recalls such classic leisure anthems as Smokey Robinson's "Cruisin'" or Christopher Cross's "Sailing," and is certain to ease and inspire any world-weary soul. --Sylvia W. Chan
