Rebecca Angel - What We Had (TIMELESS GROOVES RECORDS August 3 2018) + SHOWS

REBECCA ANGEL AT RIVER SPIRIT MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL

September 8, 2018

@ 80 Washington Ave, Hastings-On-Hudson, NY 10706

Purchase tickets here

REBECCA ANGEL AT BARNES AND NOBLE IN EASTCHESTER, NY

September 26, 2018

@ Eastchester

680 White Plains Rd

Scarsdale NY 1058

Rebecca Angel's voice makes the difference. With her refined charm, she gives the songs on What We Had the overwhelming splendor.

- Hans-Bernd Hülsmann www.smooth-jazz.de

Jason Miles' work playing, producing, arranging, and guiding some terrific musicians in support of this must-hear chanteuse brings a real sense of warmth to the work. WHAT WE HAD is a real treat, and Rebecca Angel's voice and writing are superb evidence of an artist with a very bright future ahead of them.

- Chris Gibson Broadway World

Talented young singer Rebecca Angel has released her first EP the memorable “What We Had”, an innovative set of fresh and heartfelt music.

The 22 year-old vocalist has an appealing and captivating voice. Using jazz as her base to explore different grooves, she collaborated with Grammy-winning Jason Miles, who produced recordings of celebrity artists including Miles Davis, Grover Washington Jr., Luther Vandross, etc. Jason is producer and arranger of “What We Had”, her debut EP, Miles and other top-notch musicians accompany her with a variety of backgrounds that showcase her soothing and distinctive voice at its very best.

In addition to Miles’ keyboards, the six selections (plus two remixed performances) utilize such fine musicians as soprano-saxophonist Hailey Niswanger, guitarists Ricardo Silveira, Jonah Miles Prendergast and Christian Ver Halen, bassists James Genus, Reggie Washington and Adam Dorn, drummer Brian Dunne, percussionists Mino Cinelu and Cyro Baptista, cellist Sebastian Stoger, flugelhornist Dennis Angel and flutist Gottfred Stoger. Rebecca excels at singing heartfelt lyrics and showcases her innovative scatting.

Rebecca’s version of the rarely performed Hoagy Carmichael gem “Winter Moon” features interplay between the singer and Niswanger on saxophone, catchy Latin rhythms and a haunting melody.  

Rebecca co-wrote the minor-toned and nostalgic “What We Had” with her father Dennis Angel and guitarist Prendergast, a celebratory look at the past. 

The Brazilian vocalese “Agora Sim” puts the focus on her instrumental ability in unison with Jonah’s guitar.

“Feel Alive”, which was also co-written by Rebecca, is a superior pop tune that is both funky and infectious.

Leiber and Stoller’s “Stand By Me”, heard in both radio and electro mixes, has a tight bass-drum rhythm, dynamic keyboards, a bluesy vocal by Rebecca and some natural and creative scat-singing.

The program closes with the first-ever vocal recording of Marcos Valle’s 2005 instrumental hit “Jet Samba” which is given both a radio and an electronic Ipanema mix.

Rebecca Angel has loved music all of her life. She remembers her father introducing her to the recordings of Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Elvis and the Beatles, Astrud Gilberto and Sade, all of whom became inspirations in her eclectic style.  She graduated with a degree in Vocal Jazz Studies from Ithaca College and has performed at the Iridium, The Metropolitan Room and CaféNoctambulo in New York.

Rebecca Angel creates consistently memorable musical statements throughout “What We Had”, with her substantial talents, a very impressive debut.

1 Winter Moon

2 What We Had

3 Agora Sim

4 Feel Alive

5 Stand By Me - Radio Mix

6 Jet Samba - Radio Mix

7 Stand By Me - Electro Mix

8 Jet Samba - Ipanema Remix

Rebecca Angel, vocals

Jason Miles keyboards, Fender Rhodes, Moog bass, pads, and percussion

Dennis Angel flugelhorn

Gottfried Stoger flute

Hailey Niswanger soprano saxophone

Sebastian Stoger cello

Jonah Miles Prendergast guitar

Christian Ver Halen guitar

Ricardo Silveira acoustic rhythm guitar

James Genus acoustic bass

Reggie Washington bass

Adam Dorn bass

Mino Cinelu percussion,

Cyro Baptista percussion

Brian Dunne drums

rebeccaangel.net

Media Contact

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Reggie Washington European Tour Dates

European Tour Dates:

Reggie Washington Tours “Rainbow Shadow” In Europe

In December bassist Reggie Washington released his latest CD "Rainbow Shadow Vol 2" to great critical acclaim (see review on this platform). To support the release of the album Reggie and his band will play a select number of European dates in some of the continents major jazz venues.


The Tour kicks off in Berlin on the 8th of February at the Zig Zag Club. Following this the band will play concerts in Belgium, France and Spain. Read More....


Originally from New York, Reggie Washington was a key participant in the Modern Jazz revolution of the 80's and 90's. His list of credits include touring, recording and performing musicians as Steve Coleman, Branford Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Chico Hamilton, Oliver Lake, Cassandra Wilson and Lester Bowie to name just a few. 

In 2005, Reggie began touring with his own bands and in 2006 he released his first album as a leader. Since then Reggie has released four albums as a leader and led projects collaborating with both American and European musicians including Ravi Coltrane, Gene Lake, Stéphane Galland, Jef Lee Johnson, Erwin Vann, David Gilmore, Jacques Schwarz-Bart and EJ Strickland.

"Rainbow Shadow Vol 2" is the follow up to Reggie Washington's successful 2015 release "Rainbow Shadow Vol 1" and the continuation of his tribute to legendary guitarist and singer/songwriter Jef Lee Johnson who died prematurely of complications from pneumonia and diabetes at age 54.

The album features Reggie’s current band with Marvin Sewell – Guitar, Dj Grazzhoppa – Turntables and Patrick Dorcean on Drums who (with the exception of Marvin Sewell) will also accompany Reggie on his tour.

On the tour the band will be joined by guitarist David Gilmore (Wayne Shorter, Steve Coleman). Reggie stated when asked about the addition of David Gilmore to the line-up "We have shared the stage together with many great artists and also our own projects over the last 30 years. His mastery of the instrument & knowledge of "Rainbow Shadow - A Tribute to Jef Lee Johnson" makes him a perfect fit."

Full tour dates are as follows:

Feb 8 - Zig Zag Club - Berlin, Germany 

Feb 9 - Theatre Marni - Brussels, Belgium

Feb 13 - New Morning - Paris, France

Feb 14 - Jazz Fola - Aix-en-Provence (Luynes), France

Feb 16 - Jamboree - Barcelona, Spain

Feb 17 - Sunset Jazz Club - Girona, Spain

Reggie Washington - Rainbow Shadows Vol. 2 (A Tribute to Jef Lee Johnson) 2018

This album is the follow up to Reggie Washinton's successful 2015 release Rainbow Shadows Vol 1 and the continuation of his tribute to Jef Lee Johnson. This month marks 5 years since Guitarist, singer and songwriter Jef Lee Johnson died of complications from pneumonia and diabetes at age 54. Johnson's list of credits during his short but productive career are to numerous to list however it was in Ronald Shannon Jackson’s group Decoding Society in 1986 that Jef Lee and Reggie came to meet.

Reggie Washington is a bassist of high standing and has toured and recorded with some of the greatest names in jazz during his career. In 2006 Washington released his first album as leader titled “A Lot of Love, LIVE!”. This was followed by the 2012 with the album “Freedom” and in 2015 Washington released Rainbow Shadows Vol 1.

In the liner notes to Vol2 Reggie stated “This album expresses many feelings reflecting today’s tense geo-political climate. It speaks to our times. And if you carefully listen to and read Jef Lee’s lyrics, they ring true.”

I have to admit this was not an easy review to write. This statement is not at all meant negativity, I found I needed multiple hearings to fully grasp the depth and diversity burned onto this disc. As one would expect from an album paying homage to Jef Lee Johnson that blues influences will play a prominent role. The album fills this expectation to fullest however the story doesn’t finish there, what I like most about the album is that Washington and crew have taken the blues and infused this with a modernity that expands and adapts the musical legacy of Jef Lee Johnson and thereby ensuring that his music will live on and continue to cross boundaries.

The album opens with a track called “Silence”. In the notes to the album Reggie states that the track was originally intended to be an instrumental however when vocals were added by Philadelphia native Monique Harcum Reggie says “the choice became clear that this track should open the album”. I can’t agree more, “Silence” sets the scene for an album that draws you in from the first note and continues to surprise with each track. This track is firmly rooted in the Mississippi Delta with guitar and drums holding down the groove allowing Reggie the freedom to double the melody in unison with Harcum.

As the title to the following track “Blind Willie McTell” eludes, a latent blues undertone is once again present although subtle to say the least. This track, originally by Bob Dylan, is opened by Washington with a bass solo. In due course the track morphs into two way conversation between Marvin Sewell on guitar and Washington tied together beautifully by Patrick Dorcean on drums. As the track progresses DJ Grazzhoppa joins the conversation adding samples of some of the most idiotic statements made so far by the current U.S. President, Donald Trump. I have to admit at the end of the track I was left speechless, incredible. Having played this album many times I have to claim this tune as my favorite track on the album.

The structure of the album is interesting with longer extended tracks being interspersed with shorter tracks, often with spoken word, that function as a segue to what’s coming next. This in no way negatively effects the organic flow of the album and in my opinion only adds to the continuity by adding context. I particularly enjoyed the rhythmic tension created in “Hype” parts 1 and 2 and the down low funk of “Sizzlean”, a tune about an artificial breakfast substitute bacon strip popular in 1970s and 80s.

Reggie’s solo peice “Other Thoughts of Fanny’s Toy” is a masterpiece in melody. Of particular note is the section where both tracks come together being doubled an octave apart before once again splitting off for the return of the theme.

This album is rooted in the blues and full of creativity. The performances are outstanding as is the production quality – I can’t recommend this album more highly. As a tribute to Jef Lee Johnson, I can only imagine he is wearing a heavenly grin from ear to ear.

Reggie Washington (basses)

DJ Grazzhoppa (turntables & samples)

Marvin Sewell (guitar)

Patrick Dorcéan (drums)

Guest Performers:

Monique Harcum (lead vocals)

John Massa (saxophones)

Hervé Samb (guitar)

Jimi Hazel (guitar)

Ronny Drayton (guitar)

Federico Gonzalez Peña (keyboards & strings)

1. Silence (No Secret)

2. Blind Willie McTell (Live)

3. Hype, Pt. 1

4. RSJ

5. Children of the Sonic Soul / Gutter Punk with a Geschlossen

6. The Moon Keeps Telling Me Things

7. It Usually Slides Open / Solo To “O”

8. Hard to Keep the Faith

9. Cake

10. Sizzlean

11. Other Thoughts of Fanny’s Toy

12. Hype, Pt. 2

13. Testimony / Open Up

14. RSJ (Reprise)

15. It Ain’t Hard for You

16. Emmett Till

17. Rainbow Shadow Excellent Ending

Reggie Washington Website

Buy the album at: iTunes | CD Baby | Buy Direct

Reggie Washington will be presenting the CD Live in Paris at New Morning on the 13th of February. More Details here.