Aysha Music: Press and Reviews

View the actual review at https://coachellavalleyweekly.com/38174-2/ 

By Patte Purcell

Sometimes an artist comes around that is a stand-out. Aysha is one of those artists. I first heard of her about 4 years ago on Smooth Jazz.com. I really enjoyed her music and her marketing efforts. I thought she was a stand-out then and as I’ve watched her rise, I can see why.

This beautiful lady is a vocalist, entertainer, composer, and radio host, with her own weekly radio show on Urban Soul Radio called “Smooth Saturdays with Aysha” from 10 am until noon. The show features independent artists and A list favorites in the smooth jazz genre. She has over 20,000 listeners and has interviewed some of the biggest names including Najee, Eric Darius, Warren Hill and Peter White.

Aysha is being Grammy considered for her latest hit “Take Me Higher” from her new CD in the R&B category and  

Aysha even won the LA Music Awards for Album of the Year. So how did this talented lady get to where she is? A little history is in order. Aysha decided early on to become a singer. To that end she was with several different groups of girl band/singers. When she teamed up with Girls in the Mix, a group with all original music, they landed opening up for War. They recorded a 5 songs CD and sold it out. When they entered the Battle of the Bands they won! She was spotted by a talent scout who told her “I want to make you a star.” She consulted with the other band members who told her to ‘go for it’. She moved to LA in 1995.

She’s worked with Kevin Dorsey, who was Michael Jackson’s Producer. He wrote numerous songs that he gave her to use, most of the them are on Take Me Higher (the CD) including “Stay with Me,” “Keep on Loving Me” and “I Remember Your Love.” She co- wrote her current hit “Take Me Higher” with Darren Rahn and from the moment they both heard it, they thought ‘We’ve got something here’.

Apparently they are right as it’s being Grammy considered for Best Traditional R&B Performance, Best Traditional R&B Song and Best Traditional R&B Album. Aysha is also nominated for the NAACP Image Award and is one of the finalists for the same song, which is currently climbing the charts and is #14 as we go to print.

Of course she has the best of the best on her CDs including Will Donato, Lynn Roundtree and the late great Bruce Nazarian.

Aysha has toured around the world including the Dubai Jazz Festival. She knows so many great artists that it made it easy for her to do the radio show. Urban Soul network had been wooing her for 2 years until she agreed to do the radio show.

It’s been a personal boon for her and the artists she features weekly.

She is now on the Innervisions record label along with label mates, Will Donato, Blake Aaron, Slim Man, JJ Sansaverino and more. She will be joining the entire crew at Spaghettini in January for the Namm Jam presented by the label.

In addition to recording and performing she will be one of the featured national artists at the Celebrity Jazz Jam on Monday, Jan. 18 from 5-8 pm at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert. It’s sponsored by Coachella Valley Weekly and Desert Zen Spa.

To contact Aysha visit her website www.ayshamusic.com or her radio show at www.urbansoulmedia.com

 by Rob Seddon

Aysha proves yet again that she is a musical force to be reckoned with, and following on from the release of her CDs ´Love Is A Rock´ and ´Stay With Me´, she has delivered nothing short of perfection - as always - with this, her third CD and debut for Innervision Records, ´Take Me Higher´. To me, it is not an album that can simply be slotted into the ´smooth jazz´ genre but shows that Aysha is able to step outside the box and put her own interpretation on some classics as well as bringing us fresh, vibrant new sounds. It is a bright, refreshing CD that opens with ´Up So High´, a breezy, ´feel-good´ track that features the soul-jazz trumpeting talent of Lin Rountree. The title track, Take Me Higher´, moves things on at a steady pace that has you wondering what can come next that betters it. The listener is not disappointed, with ´Send for Me´, slowing things down to a sultry slow groove before ´You´re the Only One´ brings us back with a steady jolt. This song has Aysha teaming up with Damon Dae and the influences of the likes of Michael McDonald and James Ingram on him are not lost but his voice and his style are truly his own. Aysha puts her own interpretation on ´Sailing´ and I like the jazzy feel to this with Will Donato´s soprano sax adding an extra touch of class to it. To me, it is a world apart from the lush strings in Christopher Cross´s original version but that is not a bad thing. It emphasizes Aysha´s clear talent and thought to take an all-time classic song and re-craft it vocally into something new that does not do the original an injustice. ´Undeniable´ sees Aysha teaming up with Monty Seward; Will Donato´s excellent musical skill on the sax returns on ´The Right Thing´. Two-time Grammy nominated flautist Najee makes a welcome appearance on ´All I Want´. Having recorded with some of the greats, including the late Ben E. King, Chaka Khan, Will Downing and Patti Labelle, Najee´s presence on this CD shows that Aysha has the cream of the crop when it comes to musicians on this CD. ´Release Me´, the first single from the album reached Nº 7 on the UK Top 30 Soul Chart. The CD concludes with a cover of Marvin Gaye´s ´Let´s Get It On´. A point must be made about the backing vocal arrangements on the CD - they are some of the best I have heard for a long time. Backing vocals can, in my opinion, make or break a record - the ones on this CD just made it even better. As for the CD as a whole, such a mixture of new and old shows that this has been a continuance of a musical journey for Aysha, and it is hoped that the journey continues forwards and upwards, creating music that also helps the listener in their own personal journeys and experiences, whatever they may be.

Sheryl Aronson interviewing Aysha (Photo: Akex Brown)

Is an Undeniable Talent

By Sheryl Aronson

Studio City, CA (The Hollywood Times) 5/12/15 – Aysha debuted her new CD ,Take Me Higher last Friday night at Sheila E’s, The E Spot Lounge, in Vitello’s Restaurant,  Studio City.  The room burst with fans waiting to hear the smooth jazz singer exhibit the undeniable talent of her engaging voice.  Aysha exuded pure joy when she took the stage.  Previously, she revealed to The Hollywood Times, “I didn’t think about any genre when putting this CD together.  All the songs are all about my life and are positive and upbeat.  I dedicated this album to my inspiration and love of my life, Dion.” 

Aysha’s gently commanded the performance the entire evening with elegance. Glowing with appreciation for her good fortune after experiencing the ups and downs of a spiritual/emotional journey that she traveled down besides her boyfriend, the singer seemed fresh and sparkling with happiness. She expressed her gratitude to have completed the project of producing her CD,  even though it took four and half years.  Putting out  a new record every four years seemed to be a pattern for this artist.  “I put out my first CD in 2006 then the second, 2010 and now… four and half years later.”

The show bounced open with the crafty playing of her back up band.   Then entering the room from the back, Aysha crooned her way to the stage.  Springing up and down with the elasticity of youth and wailing on his saxophone was Curtis Brooks.  Darrell Diaz tapped the keyboard with soulful chords while Keith Eddy plucked the bass giving Stay With Me a vibrant pulse, guitarist, David Scott guided the melody skillfully and Omari Williams sat behind the drums taxiing the band toward completion.

Aysha’s singing during the night was sultry and soulful…her original songs like Release Me and Up So High wrapped you in a romantic blanket of sweetness…her renditions of “Sailing” and “Let’s Get It On” were flavored with her own recipe of honeyed melodiousness. Take Me Higher announced to the world her victory over fears as she could  “reach that higher ground.” The song had a easy groove and catchy chorus.  Aysha spiced the festivities with guest artists: Terry Wollman, Eric Mondragon, Tony Exum Jr II, Gene-o Cole, Damon Dae & Nils Jiptner who smoked the night with their proficient playing, jamming and singing.

Aysha’s new CD Take Me Higher is for all you out there who enjoy shutting your eyes and having that loving feeling flow over you with that special someone…or kicking back in your own quixotic imagination.

This vocalist describes herself as a Smooth R& B singer with a jazzy edge. When Aysha hits the stage, a petite, finely boned woman, she also radiates a huge fiery lust for her craft.  “Music is my number one passion.”   Undeniably!

For more information on Aysha’s new Cd, Take Me Higher go to : Ayshamusic.com

May 11th the digital version is released and in June the hard copy will be out.

You can see the actual review at https://www.sonicsoulreviews.com/2015/07/06/aysha-take-me-higher-innervision/ 

 Aber bitte mit Dame. Entsprechend gutes Benehmen ist erwünscht, der gediegene Dress-Code sowieso. Dabei hält die Aysha unter der Hi-Fidelity Oberfläche die Dinge des Lebens durchaus ansprechend im Zustand des Simmerns. Und tauscht Tugend auch schon mal gegen Leidenschaft, so dass sie sich gar eine eigene Interpretation von Marvins “Let´s Get It On” Klassiker zutraut. Handfest und mit echtem R&B Finish. Doch ansonsten gibt sie die Lady im Smooth-Soul-Jazz Gewand. Gut so, vor allem immer dann, wenn ihr Team das Tempo anzieht, die Rhythmus-Basis flink agiert und die geladenen Gäste mit feinen Soli eigene Glanzpunkte setzen dürfen. Lin Rountree, Darren Rahn, Najee, Eric Darius, Will Donato und Tony Exum sind mit ihren Saxofonen und Trompete dabei, Damon Dae und Monty Seward geben die Vokal-Partner, während sich Steve Oliver, André Delano oder Donald Tavie den Platz am Produzenten-Pult teilen. In derartiger Besetzung kann selbstredend kein Ton entgleiten – so sitzt der Sound perfekt, die Stimme passt sich den Soul-Jazz Gegebenheiten kongenial an und die Songs bieten faltenfreie Unterhaltung. Sicher kein Aufbruch zu neuen Ufern, aber solides Entertainment für große Leute. 

You can see the actual review at http://www.smooth-jazz.de/starportrait/Aysha/Staywithme.htm 

Hailing from Los Angeles, California this young singer is working hard for her career. Aysha is the African word for life or the Arabian word for lady. Anyway a great name for a beautiful woman. It took her several years before she really started into music business.

She was a member of the groups Destination and Girls In The Mix and performed with Ronkat and the Funklectiks featuring  Ron Spearman. In 2006 she released her debut album Love Is A Rock and now published her sophomore album Stay With Me, which already received high acclaims of Internet magazines.

Influenced by the style of Sade, Toni Braxton and Chante Moore Aysha searches the balance between soul, R&B and vocal jazz. Her velvety voice is destined for sophisticated songs.

Although Aysha would like to take piano lessons, she restricts herself on her vocals, which isn't bad at all. Her great respect for instrumental music was the reason to approach several great producers and composers to create this fantastic new album.

The title song was composed by keyboardist Monty Seward, a very experienced musician, who already worked with Teddy Pendergrass, Paul Jackson Jr., Diana Ross, Howard Hewett, El DeBarge and more. Aysha's beautiful vocals are emotionally accompanied by Everette Harp, whose sax reaches on this tune a special grade of smoothness.

The second song Keep On Loving Me was penned by guitarist Zane Giles, who also is a top-notch musician with Patti Austin, James Ingram, El DeBarge, Miles Davis and more on his clipboard. On this song Aysha perfectly follows the intonation of Sade, which is certainly the intention of this determined woman.

The uplifting Is This Just A Dream is a collaboration of bassist Darrell Freeman and Aysha. Darrell is the ideal partner, because he participated already in many smooth jazz and R&B projects with knowledge in both genres. Early McCalister's intimate sax seamlessly melts with Aysha's sultry vocals.

I Remember Your Love is a wonderful ballad underlining the outstanding quality of Aysha's vocal skills. Zane Gilles, who composed the tune, accompanies Aysha on his magic keyboards. Nice his musical cite of Seal's Kiss From A Rose.

A further highlight of this album is the EWF-flavored Dreamin' featuring grandmaster of sax Gerald Albright. Awesome Zane's Salsa excursion on piano. The legendary Paulinho DaCosta on percussion is the rhythm backbone!

The album also offers radio edits of Stay With Me, Keep On Loving Me and Dreamin', a treasure trove for Radio DJ's.

We have to thank Aysha for this great music gift. It's a privilege to listen to such a blessed singer.

You can see the actual review at https://smoothjazztherapy.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/09/aysha-stay-with-me.html

 Jazz and R&B vocalist Aysha is back. Her brand new EP ‘Stay With Me’ was released on August 24 and comes as a welcome follow up to the 2006 debut CD, ‘Love Is A Rock’, from which the tracks ‘Honey’, ‘Is This Just a Dream’ and her rendition of the Atlantic Starr 1991 R&B top twenty-five hit, ‘Send For Me’ all found a way to adult urban contemporary internet radio. Produced by the legendary Monty Seward, whose credits include work with The Jacksons, James Ingram and Howard Hewett, ‘Stay With Me’ is a tight and extremely personal five track collection of original music that includes notable input from smooth jazz superstars Everette Harp and Gerald Albright.

On the scene since 1999, Aysha was recently nominated as Jazz Artist of the Year at the Los Angeles Music Awards. Her style has elements of Toni Braxton, Phyllis Hyman, Chante Moore and, most significantly, Sade whose influence is front back and centre of the sultry yet compelling ‘Keep On Loving Me’. The song has a hypnotic quality that is precious while elsewhere the tight rhythmic ‘Is This Just A Dream’ provides the perfect platform for Aysha’s soulful vocals.

She notches down the tempo for the romantically inclined ‘I Remember Your Love’ but the intensity is quickly restored with the spicy, Latin infused ‘Dreamin’ which, courtesy of tremendous sax from Gerald Albright, is right up there with the album’s best.

However, that said, a real Smooth Jazz Therapy favorite is the sumptuous title cut. Mid tempo and delightful, it is blessed by superb sax from Everette Harp and has ‘radio ready’ written all over it.

Indeed, with three of the five choice tunes already garnering airplay on Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network there seems little doubt that Aysha is here to stay.

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