Not everyone's 'cup of tea' but a neo soul, jazz flavoured version of Nina Simone's (et al) 'Feelin' Good' first recorded in 1965.
Regarded as the 'Queen Of Underground Soul'. I first came across Sy Smith on a trip to Washington in 2018 where, just by chance, she was perfoming for one night only in her home town at Blues Alley, Washington D.C. in April 2018. As it happens, she had just released her latest (and last to date) album 'Sometimes A Rose Will Grow In Concrete' on 16 Feb 2018, which I duly bought and had signed and a photo taken ('as you do') and I can say she is a real beauty close up and personal! I would post the photo but it would seriously be a case of 'Beauty & The Beast'! Coincidentally, the following night Hil St. Soul played the club but unfortunately, we had moved on to Baltimore so couldn't attend, which was a shame.
She's released 5 albums to date between 2000-2018 none of which have charted. It's difficult tracking down her single releases as on many she has appeared as featured artist, but according to Wiki she's released 8 between 1999-2015, only 2 of which charted on US R&B and US Adult R&B charts. The accuracy of Wiki may be dubious as the single I've featured below from 2016 is not listed! and Discogs lists 13 but of course many of her releases were probably digital only which may not be listed on Discogs (it also doesn't list the 2016 release). Her own webiste doesn't help either as it only features her albums and a couple of singles.
Here's a hand-picked selection of some of her recordings. If you'd like to hear more visit her YouTube Channel as it's packed with lots of live performances which is probably why she has a quite limited recording history, as she is probably far too busy performing live and making guest appearances on others records.
2020 - Driving Feat. Marqueal Jordan
Lockdown live performance
2018 - Let's Stay Together 'Live'
I posted a link to this the other day in the Covers Versions of Teena Marie post as Pete Escovedo covered 'Potuguese Love'. She was lead vocalists on 3 tracks on Pete Escovedo's latest album 'Back To The Bay' fro 2018 which consists of jazz infused covers of ten classic soul songs. Sy sings lead on Al Green's 'Let's Stay Together', Luther Vandross' 'Never Too Much' and Michael Jackson's 'I Can't Help It'.
2018 - Now And Later
Taken from her latest album 'Sometimes A Rose Will Grow In Concrete' released in 2018.
2018 - In Perspsective
Another track from her latest album.2019 - Lovin' You 'Live'
A cover of a Minnie Riperton classic 'Lovin' You' at Syncopa Jazz which is in Vladivostok, Russia.
2018 - Baby This Love I Have 'Live'
Sy singing another Minnie Riperton song (co-written with Leon Ware) an album only track from Rioerton's 1975 album 'Adventures In Paradise' live at The Jazz Kitchen, Indianapolis in 2018.
2017 - with Leo Amuedo - Never Can Say Goodbye 'Live'
Jazzed up cover of 'Never Can Say Goodbye' with Uraguian jazz guitartist Leo Amudeo, originally a Jackson 5 song but probably better known for Gloria Gaynor's 1974 version. Recorded at Blue Whale L.A. 7 Aug 2017.
2016 - I Want You For Myself with David Benedetti [Soulshine #SS07]
Great Jazz/House version of George Duke's I Want You For Myself'. It was released on Soulshine in April 2016 and also came out on a compilation The Sound Of Soul Heaven Ibiza 2016. It's still available from Traxsource.
According to Louis Benedetti, George Duke was scheduled to appear, unfortunately he passed away a few days before Louis was scheduled to record him, however George Duke died on 5th Aug 2013 in L.A. aged 67 of cancer (Chronic lymphocytic leukemia), so unless this project was almost 3 years in the making I suspect he's being a little economical with the truth!
2012 - Nights (Feel Like Gettin' Down) Feat. Rahsaan Patterson
Taken off her 4th album Fast And Furious, this is a cover of Billy Ocean's - Nights (Feel Like Getting Down) from 1980, with Rahsaan Patterson.
2009 - The Look Of Love 'Live'
In the immortal words of Month Python ... and now for something completely different! Performing in Boston with Grammy award winning jazz trumpeter Chris Botti from Portland (the home of Jarrod Lawson) singing the Bacaharach & David standard 'The Look Of Love' which shows her versiatilty and incredible vocal range and talent. The 2009 concert was recorded and released as 13 track CD titled 'Chris Botti in Boston'. There was a release with an additional 19 (yes 19!) DVDs - one for each track. The DVD tracks, of which The Look Of Love is one, didn't feature on the main album and Sy Smith is not credited.
In the introduction Botti mentions that Sy was introduced to the tour by jazz guitarist Mark Whitfield (a member of the band) who is Sy's cousin.
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