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"Sugar & Sand is full-out, pure passion. Jayme Kelly Curtis's vocals give a ton of heart to the songs and the music adds flesh to that passion, emphasizing the tones of each mood." Paul de Bruijn, Rambles.net "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 To Submit Your Own Review,
Send an Email to Jayme at Purrgirl dot com!! |
"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 "What strikes me about Jayme's music is her voice quality...it is
a treasure that she should continue to use for our (the listeners)
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!" "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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