We first encountered China Paige when she released an album
"Love, Peace & Soul" in Feb this year with French soul/funk band The Jeromes.
China began her career in California in 2001 as background vocalist for
Diana Ross and then for the late Mary Wilson who she toured with. She
has released a solo album "Up with love" digitally today which we had the privilege of receiving on CD a few weeks
ago (which was originally released in 2020) and has been on rotation in the car.
She told us it was a jazz
album so weren't sure what to expect but whilst 'jazzy' it's very
different and contemporary. Our initial thoughts were that it has an early 90s vibe which
reminded us of UK based group Innocence (whose debut album "Belief" was
very well received) especially on "Morning Sunshine" and "The End" but also a lounge/ambient/Ibiza-Balearic sound.
It's a solid, original, album with our choice cuts being "What Is Love", "Morning Sunshine" and "Special".
China is currently based in Paris and is the god daughter of Maxayn
Lewis (aka Paulette Parker) who was a member of The Ikettes and in the
70s joined the group Maxayn who later became Mandre (on Motown) named
after the man she married, Michael Andre Lewis. She also released a
couple of singles as Paulette Parker on Duke in 1969 with "(Gimme Back)
My Man" getting action on the talcumed dancefloors, and "I Pity The Fool" a nice deep soul number.
NOTE: 25% from sales in France will be donated to the organisation "SoS Family" an organisation that helps homeless and family's in need.
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
Click icons below for further information or to connect with the
artist.
| Rating: | 8.5 |
| Explicit: | N |
| Genre/Style: | New Soul |
| Format: | Album |
| Media: | Digital |
| Label: | French Boys Music |
| Cat No: | None |
| Date: | 09/06/2023 |
| Price: | £7.49 |
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