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Leela James at the House of Blues |
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Written by New York Review
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This year, with the release of her debut album "A Change is Gonna Come", Leela James has resurected the soul of the neo sound. With a voice that captures the full soul, faith, spirit and inspiration of American music, Leela has composed an album that continues in the heritage of R&B soul.
A digital EP of soulstress Leela James performing live in New Orleans will go on sale exclusively through iTunes on March 14th. It will be made available for download by other online retailers two weeks later. The show, which took place in November 2004 at The House Of Blues, features songs from the Los Angeles native’s critically acclaimed 2005 debut A Change Is Gonna Come. The DMD will go on-sale the day after Leela appears with Marc Broussard and Solomon Burke in a tribute to late soul legend Wilson Pickett at the 2006 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, which will air on VH1 on March 21st. James also performed with Jamie Cullum in a tribute to Aretha Franklin at the UK Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in London last November. In addition, Warner Bros. Records is readying the release of “Good Time,” the second single from A Change Is Gonna Come. The accompanying video begins shooting in Los Angeles on March 15th and will be lensed by hot directorial team Coodie and Chike, who are known for their work with Kanye West and Mos Def. James, whose throaty gospel-influenced voice has been described as “Chaka Khan meets Mahalia Jackson,” was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding New Artist” and a Soul Train award for “Best New R&B-Soul Artist.” She is currently on tour with KEM.
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