Seattle,WA. (Top40 Charts/ Ballard Jam House) - Singer/songwriter
Gayle Cloud has recently returned to her hometown of Seattle and will be playing along with her band at Egan's Ballard Jam House, Thursday, May 10th, 7:00 pm.
Backed by some of Seattle's finest musicians: Eric Verlinde, piano; Dean Schmidt, bass, and Jose Martinez, drums, Cloud has begun to play monthly to full houses at the relatively new Ballard club. "The Ballard Jam House is a jewel for Seattle," says Cloud. "Its intimacy, great sound and welcoming ambiance reminds me of some of the 'boites' I used to play in Paris."
Cloud and her band will be performing songs from her recently released CD, "Second Chance," along with some of her new compositions. With its lush melodies and sensual rhythms, the new album is a melange of world, euro, jazz and pop influences. Featuring all original songs written by Cloud, "Second Chance" was produced and arranged by New York Producer/Musician John Pahmer. The album is now getting airplay on numerous radio stations worldwide. Cloud has also been honored for her work through the London-based "We are Listening" international songwriting competition as well as in a number of "Garageband" contests.
One recent Amazon reviewer gave the CD high marks, "Second Chance is singer/songwriter Gayle Cloud's first chance to convince us she's worth a listen, and judging by this fine effort, many will be standing in line clamoring for second helpings. Cloud is a vivacious chanteuse whose fine voice effortlessly yearns for world peace in the plaintive 'Talaky.' Salsa gets a steamy workout in the perky 'Caffeine High,' an infectious ditty that you may find yourself humming at that first morning cuppa, 'Courage to Love' is, in my mind, the CD's anchor tenant that contains echoes of William Orbit's brilliant work on Madonna's 1998 tour de force 'Ray of Light.' In 'French Affair' her voice sinks to a caressing slur as she rhapsodizes then despairs over love won and lost. If this freshman effort is any indication of things to come, then Gayle Cloud's sophomore effort will well be worth book-marking on your must-listen list."
Cloud left Seattle eight years ago for Paris with the intent of devoting herself completely to her musical career. While she now writes and performs her own original work, she started out on the petite stage of the Paris Aller/Retour as a jazz singer. She was asked to perform the club's final show when it was forced to give up its lease to a higher rent cigar shop. Needing a place for her and her band to play, she invited groups of friends and growing fans to climb the 96 steps to her loft apartment in the Marais district for a number of intimate "salon" shows. One day as she was walking around her quartier, she spied a new Senegalese club still under construction. "I fell in love with Jokko's ambience and even though I was not the genre of performer they were looking for, I talked the booker into giving me a regular gig," says Cloud. " I later discovered that the club was co-owned by the celebrated Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour when he attended one of my shows. This was a magical time for me and I became fascinated with world music. I then began to incorporate world and euro rhythms and influences into my own work."
Cloud moved to New York City from Paris three years ago to perform and produce her album. She has just returned to her hometown of Seattle and now lives in Belltown.
