Houston, Texas (Top40 Charts/ Great Scott P.R.oductions) Soul-jazz saxtress Theresa Grayson has the power to grab attention with both her sound and looks, but she will hold your attention with her talent and the dozen songs that comprise "Live2Love," her sophomore album that was released Tuesday (November 5) on her L2L Records label. Captivating listeners, radio programmers and reviewers with her souled out mix of improvisational contemporary jazz, classic pop tunes and R&B grooves, the Houston,
Texas resident's self-penned originals along with a varied assortment of covers serve as a fine showcase for her impassioned play on tenor and soprano saxes and flute in addition to soothing lead and aptly-placed vocal highlights.
Grayson, a seasoned performer that has shared the stage with
Peter White, Mindi Abair, Michael Bolton, Will Downing,
Marion Meadows and Ronnie Laws as a sidewoman or an opener, recreated her live sound in the studio with the guidance of producer Terence Fisher, who captured the fashion-forward artist organically at her high-heeled best. She instills passion and sensuality into the vibrant sampling of soulful instrumentals, energetic dance workouts and sensual ballads. The album's first single, "Afterthoughts," is gaining traction at radio with increased spins each week. It has an upbeat rhythm to which Grayson applies soprano sax melodies and a scat vocal during a mid-tune breakdown.
To get into the holiday spirit, Grayson will release a pair of newly recorded tracks - a straight-ahead jazz version of "My Favorite Things" and the sultry Eartha Kitt-influenced "
Santa Baby" - that will appear on her first Christmas album scheduled for release next year.
To support "Live2Love," Grayson will perform in jazz clubs in
Houston and in nearby Beaumont and
Sugarland through the end of the year and anticipates touring major U.S. cities in 2014.
Below are snippets from some of the initial album reviews:
"Saxophonist Theresa Grayson's 'Live2Love' mesmerizes us with a spellbinding album for those nights when passion runs wild." - Hill Rag
"Grayson's up-tempo jams shake you to your core and beckon those dancing feet to do their thing while something so soothing and exotic surfaces in her handling of the slower material. Mesmerizing might be a good word." - The Smooth Jazz Ride
"'Live2Love' is a soulful and soul filled look at pop music and beyond with one of the most exciting contemporary players emerging today!" - Bop-N-Jazz
"'Live2Love' really stretches out and begins to enjoy itself with the introduction of Grayson's own compositions…With tunes like this Theresa Grayson might just be positioning herself to capture the market in the contemporary jazz version of quiet storm." - Smooth Jazz Therapy
"Theresa moves up a gear with a very pleasing secular 12 tracker that mixes her own compositions with a varied and interesting selection of covers." - Soul and Jazz and Funk
For more information, please visit www.TheresaGrayson.com.
