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"One of Santa Cruz's finest songwriters!" "Clever eroticism, sweet cynicality and alluring hedonism. The
star
here is Curtis, her voice and her excellent lyrics, all of which
nominate
a number of cuts as prime material for others to cover, especially
works
like Losing Lovers to Barleycorn." "[Sugar & Sand is] a lovely and thoughtful look at today's
issues. Highly recommended." "Jayme Kelly Curtis' vocals combine power and purity. she
possesses a powerful voice that lends beautifully with the music. The
wider range of instruments showcased on Sugar & Sand is a wonderful
blend of
different sounds that really sets the music apart. Curtis' sophmore
release is a trilogy of three moods that provides the listener with a
potpourri of music rarely found on one cd." "She alchemizes her own stories into songs that are at once
bold and dreamy, pristine little gems of great nuance. ...Immediately
noticeable is Curtis' excellent voice quality, crisp enough to
lacerate, as well as the top-notch quality of the musicianship. ...It's
in the third portion of the album, dedicated to "Folkloric Jazz," that
Curtis' powers truly shine, and she is altogether captivating when
she’s found her groove. Each of the five songs offered in this segment
sparkle with excellence. Curtis seems most in her element in this
genre, her phrasing intelligent, her potent imagery emotive and on the
mark. ...I think Curtis may have gone and created her own genre, and
she owns it masterfully. Just beauteous." "Subtitled A Triology in Three Moods, Curtis can call it what
she wants. I'm going to call it music worth your listening to, for
throughout the twelve songs that create this lush and evocative disc
you can hear in her thrillingly passionate vocals and intelligently
eclectic mix
of musical motifs and instruments that Curtis loves her life and
inspires us to do the same." "[Sugar & Sand is] A lovely and thoughtful look at today's
issues. Highly recommended." "With lyrics profound, her originals take the form of several
distinct genres (blues, jazz, folk, rock), and when the guitar proves
limiting, she picks up the dulcimer for its meditative gravitas and the
ukulele for its perkiness." "[Curtis's] strong vocals, thoughtful lyrics and keen melodic
sense bring her stormy folk, blues and jazz originals to life." "Singer/songwriter/guitarist Jayme Kelly Curtis breaks the
mold.
Her crisp, clear voice refreshes the bluesy folk traditions she draws
upon, sliding from a purr to a growl like nobody's business.
A storyteller extraordinaire, she alchemizes her personal experiences
into modern archetypal myths that go straight for the heart.
Her subject matter, spiked with rich metaphors and images, covers
an enormous emotional range. Likewise, her musical flair is
deeply nuanced. Sometimes ethereal, even New Agey, at other times
lowdown and nitty gritty, each song enters new terrain or infuses
old ground with new blood." "Songs from the heart and the head, plus a beautiful voice to
boot.
My personal favorites are Shape of Your Heart and Circle of
Joy.
The highly polished Lanternland also sounds like it could be a
major label release. An enlightening journey, In A Rushing
Stream, Bon Voyage!" "I received your album this morning and just finished
listening
to it all in one shot. You did a great job on the album (as opposed to
a
few songs and filler.) It comes across as very successfully done
as
a whole. I'll air this next Saturday night on my station and
probably
play cuts 1-4 the first week. I want the listeners to hear the ideas
and
feelings as you planned them on the album. It feels good. Let me
know
when your next one is released." "Jayme Kelly Curtis is a singer/songwriter with a very
distinct
vocal texture and unique melody that inspires the soul. Her music is
fascinating musical blend of Latin acoustics, blues and jazz smoothness
and folk beauty. Her songs are intellectually written with a dreamlike
mood to them. The thing about this album that caught my attention
wasn't just the way that this original style of music was arranged,
but the alluring vocal style that Jayme has. The hypnotic effect of her
voice allowed me to enjoy the music even more. The songs are simplistic
on the surface, but as you tune your ear and listen deeper, the
complexity
shines like a beacon of light. I also noticed the great acoustic guitar
style that Jayme delivered throughout the album. This is one
multitalented
musician and her CD comes highly recommended to anyone who loves great
music with a folk/blues edge and intelligent songwriting." **** "Relaxing guitars, rain sticks and mystical singing
characterize the first few tunes off this delightful 12-song album by
longtime singer/songwriter Jayme Kelly Curtis. After that, Curtis
follows her folksy blues and finger-picking background, from the
vaudevillian "Lifeline" to the C&W-leaning "Big City Blues." Thanks
to guest musicians like Bruce Argyle and Walter Bankovitch, the tracks
all sound different. Like many contemporary folksters, such
as Karen Savoca, Curtis substitutes other percussion instruments like
congas, chimes and shakers for a trap set--sometimes it works,
sometimes it doesn't. On "Sideshow," the pingpong sounds get in the way
of mellow accordions and Curtis's singing. Speaking of her voice, some
might compare Curtis' to pop star Jewel's, with all its sultriness and
lightly peppered gusto. In reality, it's the other way around--Curtis
is much more woman than Jewel." "Somewhere amid the vast array of musical genres, there's a subtle blending of folk and blues. Sometimes, it's difficult to distinguish the roots or direction in such crossover styles. But, one thing is certain... Jayme Kelly Curtis is the kind of artist to do wonders with the blend. "In A Rushing Stream" is a wonderful collection of folk/blues songs, lyrically beautiful and spiritually uplifting. Jayme Kelly Curtis has a voice to soothe and fully occupy the mind, while speaking to the heart. She is an extraordinary talent; a gifted songwriter, a masterful acoustic guitarist, and an enchanting vocalist. Her music is a journey for the mind and soul, provoking familiar and distant emotions with every melody and every lyric. "In A Rushing Stream" is an album of mystical and spiritual
journeys, both somber and fun. The crisp, clear vocals and music
come through with a pure and easy feeling. How can anyone
not like this music? Jayme Kelly Curtis is a tremendous talent,
a must for the ears and the mind." "...Jayme's voice is clearer than a Broadway singer's on
Friday
night. Her full woman vocals, often overdubbing themselves on the
chorus,
are like a combo between Helen Reddy and Jewel, but unlike either of
them...
.Definitely worth a listen." Dear Jayme, Nick Herbert, physicist (You can get info about Nick's books, read his poetry, and find many interesting links at http://members.cruzio.com/~quanta) "Jamie (sic) Kelly Curtis has a knack for finding the perfect song for the moment." Helping Hand, Winter 2004 issue, Hand of the Peninsula |
"What strikes me about Jayme's music is her voice quality ...
It is a treasure that she should continue to use for our (the
listener's) enjoyment. ... The voice is sultry and clear, the
storytelling is captivating. 'Alchemy' and 'Magic Colorado' in
particular are excellent. The album is well engineered and doesn't
intrude on this special voice. Way to go, girl. Good album!" "Fantastic songs, good musicians, and most of all a brilliant
voice." "Catch this pure-voiced singer
now, and it will be like you were lucky enough to see the Dixie Chicks
when they were playing street corners... Where
has
she
been all our lives? I hear this and I think, why isn't she on
the radio?" "What stands out most memorably from Jayme Kelly Curtis is her
voice — strong, clear and passionately expressive. Different styles on
the musical spectrum, intriguing lyrics and the same enchanting voice
make this release [Sugar & Sand] a trifecta. Enjoy." "The choice of violinist Autumn Hancock as a major contributor
to the Past Lives section is a major part of the strength of
the opening "volume" of the album. Hancock really understands
and embodies the reach of Jayme Kelly Curtis' social and spiritual
vision. She follows and adorns the sweep of Jayme's voice, at turns
sweet and piercing. ...Solid feminist blues tunes are not unknown,
but Curtis' Do the Dishes, Too is great stuff. Simply
the sexiest song about housework ever. ...Jayme unleashes her
considerable voice and songwriting, ably aided by Radim Zenkl on
strings and winds,
Rick Walker's gently nuanced percussion, Jack Marshall's firm and
musical bass work, and splendid trumpet and flugelhorn by George
Demarest.
...It is a simple joy to hear, and a remarkably potent visual package –
especially from an indy artist – make Sugar & Sand a mix
that works." "Listening to Jayme Kelly Curtis' latest CD is the equivalent
of watching a mood ring change colors. ...Sugar & Sand
is a multi-faceted musical experience. Curtis' experience with various
genres is sure to leave audiences pleased ..." Sarah Quelland, Metro Santa Cruz "A nice variety of stuff, well produced, great musicianship
and singing
throughout, and songwriting that smacks of poetic honesty. Hot
stuff,
and I'm glad to have been a part of it!" "I'm really enjoying this CD, because it's not the average
singer/songwriter CD. Jayme herself calls the music 'New Age Folk,' but
it strikes me more as extremely emotive folk-rock. While the
instruments themselves are acoustic, the blues feel of many of the
songs gives a 'rock' flavor to the whole project, if that makes any
sense. The album
itself is split into three parts, the first track, 'Documentary,'
is the "Prologue," while the next nine tracks make up the "Travelogue."
And here is where the album really shines, especially the more rocking
tracks like 'Alchemy' and 'Locked Out.' Still, some of the more
memorable
moments appear on songs like 'Sideshow,' where all of a sudden a great
accordion part appears. And none of this is mentioning Jayme's voice
either, which is absolutely powerful, for lack of a better term. This
is truly a dynamic effort worth listening to more than once. I know I'm
going to keep listening for quite awhile. ***1/2 "The review committee loved your work. We had 300 submissions
for Performing Members of Indiegrrl this session, and only 40
inductees, so congratulations!" "Curtis always delivers an interesting and eclectic show
filled
with every genre of music from Celtic to jazz." "Jayme's work is characterized by bright clear melodies,
excellent musicianship, and beautiful vocals. One of my favorite guests
for the Friday Folk-Off Radio Program." "Among the cream of the crop of indies on the verge of making
it." "Don't categorize Jayme's music by just the bluesy stuff. This
talented songwriter with an ethereal voice can float from the blues to
Celtic and everything in between." PROMOTERS' OPINIONS "Jayme Kelly Curtis and Friends were the right band at the
right time for our recent New Year's event in Pasadena. Their
instrumental and vocal skills, wide ranging repertoire and engaging
manner with the audience provided a fantastic atmosphere for us.
Hundreds of people from all over the country arrived on tour
buses and were thrilled at the wonderful music they heard while
entering our venue. This band will be invited
back in the future, they are great!" "Jayme Kelly Curtis and the And Friends Band really added to
the festive atmosphere of the Fanfest events." "Jayme Kelly Curtis refers to her music as "New Age Folk," but
that barely scratches the surface of her soulful vocal style and bluesy
guitar work. A seasoned performer who brings a personal vision
to a dynamic performance style." "Jayme Kelly Curtis brought an outstanding show to our stage.
She is blessed with a strong, clear voice and passion, and the pickin'
was hot. Jayme's show are like well cast revues with outstanding fresh
faces each time." FAN
REVIEWS
"Dear Jayme, I am 'carried away' with the beauty, artistry and
wit of your exquisite recording. I shall treasure your precious
recording, and being a life-long poetry buff, shall keep your verses
handy when I
need a lift." With love &
gratitude,Velzoe Brown "From the opening song through the final note, I found a very
nice touch of voice and instruments. The musicians were top-notch
and the engineering of the album was excellent. It's obvious that
there is much talent in Jayme Curtis and we look forward to her next
album!" "In A Rushing Stream is the kind of album that you can
share with friends. I own a retail business and whenever the album
is playing, people always ask to see the case. A lot of my customers
have purchased the album after hearing it in my store. Although
every word of the lyrics and every note of music are original, there is
nonetheless, a feeling of familiarity, of comfort to Jayme's voice.
When I listen to this album, I often think of Carol King, James Taylor
or Joni Mitchell. Not because the music sounds like these other
artists, only that these are other artists whose music I was able to
listen
to repeatedly without growing tired of the music or lyrics. There is
wonderful variety to the album's cuts and Jayme's voice has such
versatility
that I look forward to future explorations. This album is a keeper." "I find Jayme's music very sincere and appealing. She has put
together a group of her musician friends in the Bay Area to help make
her songs rich in sound and content. "Lifeline" with its
ragtime piano and harmonizing vocals is a real treat. Her beautiful
voice is brought to life in "Shape Of Your Heart" with rich soft
melodies.
The full flavor and personal stories of this album make it a real
treasure." |
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