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Brenda
Russell - Here to Take Us There
By Steven Fullwood
Listening
to Brenda Russell is more than just a pleasure, it's a healing experience. From
her 1979 sumptuous debut, “So Good, So Right,” to the warm soothing vocals that
graced her 1988 hit, “Piano in the Dark,” Russell has that rare gift that too
few artists possess – subtly, vulnerability and a sense of grace.
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“People
have told me that I make people feel calm and that's a great compliment to me,”
says the Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter.
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 Courtesy
Hidden Beach
Brenda Russell
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Russell visited New York recently to shoot a video for “Walking in New York,” from her latest album, the exquisite Paris Rain,
which carries the indelible mark of her eclectic musicianship.
“I am a universal person. I enjoy all kinds of music. My mother was a
singer/songwriter, and my father was a musician, and [we] had all kinds of
music in the house,” recalled Russell. “Whatever was happening, we heard it. I
also travel a lot, so I've been exposed to various cultures with many musical
expressions. I love Latin music. Part of my childhood, I grew up in Brooklyn.
When I was 12, I moved to Canada with my father, which was a whole other
[musical] influence.”
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Russell manages quite effortlessly to capture that universality in her music, which is
no small feat. In fact, one should bear in mind that this woman is a pioneer.
Long before Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu or India Arie, Russell came of age with
Valerie Simpson and Patrice Rushen – black women that sang, wrote and produced
their own songs.
“I remember hearing Carole King in the '70's, and saying to myself, 'I want to do
that,'“ said Russell, “and so I did.”
Although known more for her singing than songwriting, Russell's skills have brought
accolades in the form of two Grammy-winning songs, “Get Here,” performed by
Oleta Adams, and “She Walks This Earth (Sobra Rosa),” performed by Sting.
“I cried when I heard Oleta sing my song,” said Russell. “She did a beautiful
job.”
Russell is particularly fond of “She Walks This Earth (Sobra Rosa),” because the project
was special to heart. She wrote it in only two days.
“I was asked to contribute to a tribute album to Brazilian artist Ivan Lins (The
Love Affair: The Music of Ivan Lins) which included contributions by Chaka Khan
and Grover Washington, Jr.,” Russell recalled. “The producer, Jason Miles,
asked me [to] write lyrics for Sting. Well, my two favorite artists are Sting
and Ivan Lins – I think I can do this (laughs).”
Since Sting rarely sings other people's songs, Russell was touched.
“I was honored. If anyone would have told me a year before that I would be writing
a song for Sting for a tribute album to Ivan, I wouldn't have believed it,” she said.
Songwriting for Russell isn't simply an exercise in creativity, for her it is divine.
“I definitely call on my higher power. I am very spiritual. I go to God for everything and that includes my songwriting.”
M
October 2001
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