简介：AboutNickiRichards NickiRichardsistherealdealaworldclasssinger,songwriter,producer,arrangerandperformerwhobringsthesizzleandthethrillbacktothatrarifiedrealmknownas"musicbeyondcategory."BornintoahouseholdrichinjazzandthegospelofthePrimitiveBaptistChurch,yetraisedontheradioofthe..70sand..80swhenairwavesoverflowedwithamazingR&B,rock,popanddancemusicdivaRichardsdeliversadizzyinglyeclecticmusicalpalettetoyoureardrums.Everycompositionishersandshearrangedthemallinherlivingroomlaboratoryofbeatbanks,keyboards,computersandmicrophones..........NickiRichards'longawaitednewalbumissimplytitled,Nicki17songsforthe17yearsshe'sbeenawaysinceher1991debutNaked(TotheWorld).It's76mindblowingminutesofthehippesttripinthegalaxiesaboardStarshipNicki,withgueststarsbassistsMarcusMiller,WillLeeandVictorBailey,pianistJoeSample,thelegendaryTowerofPowerHorns,gargantuandrummerDennisChambers,harmonicamaverickGregoireMaret,guitaristsCiro,SherrodBarnesandMontePittman,asprawlingAlistofsingersthatincludesLisaFischer,CindyMizelleandNicki'smomDonnaBlackmon,andNicki'srocksteadycoproducer,mentoranddrummer,Mr.LennyWhite(ofReturntoForeverandTwennyninefame)."SHOCKALOCKA!".............HersophomoreCDreflectsnotonlythesoundsofhermostlastinginfluences,buthowtheirtimelessmasterpiecesassistedNickiinsculptingsignaturestatementsallherown.Tolistento"IHaveLovedYouAlways"istoimagineStevieWonderreconstructingJoniMitchell's"TwoGreyRooms"whileensconcedsomewheredeepintheSpanishcountryside.Listeningto"ThatAin'tRight"putsyouinthemindofPrinceteasing,"DigifyouwillthepictureofSlyStonehavinghiswaywithPercyMayfield's'PleaseSendMeSomeonetoLove.'"Theegostrokin’“SayWhat”findsNickirecallingnightclubglorydaysoverthebeatofTaanaGardner’sbedrock“Heartbeat”groovewithamidsongbreakstraightoutofMilesDavis’“SoWhat.”AndifyoufantasizedaboutwhatNicki'sCDopener"Let'sDance"mighttastelike,itwouldbeTomBrowne's"Funkin'forJamaica"andGeorgeDuke's"ReachForIt"blendedoverKrushGroove'dicewithanextractoftheGAPBand'ssupremelychocolaty"Shake."SipatyourownNewYorkfunkfortifiedrisk!...........Theanswertotheobviousfirstquestionofwhyhasitbeensolongsincewe'veheardfrom“DarlingNicki”isaninvolvedone.Thoughherdebutalbumwasmilesaheadofalmostevery"R&B"CDoutatthetime,recordcompanyturmoiltookanunfortunatetollonNickitheartist,yetfreedheruptomakeanoutstandinglivingasanindemandAlistsessionandtouringsingerforthelikesofTinaTurner,MichaelJackson,MickJagger,CelineDion,MaryJ.Blige,LennyKravitz,FrankieKnuckles,LLCoolJ,AnastaciaandtheReverendAlGreen,tonamejustafewheavyweights.Shemarriedanddivorced,sawtheworld,andlivedandlovedenoughfortwolifetimesmemoriesthatfuelherheavilyautobiographicalNickiCD...becausetheartistwithinherneverslept............Thatmeantholingupinherhomestudio,sacrificingbrightsunnydaysforasometimespainfulbutultimatelycatharticstretchofsoulsearchingandsoulbaring.Outpouredsongsaboutlongingforthatonesupremelovefortheages,cleansingpaeansforclarityandunderstanding,andanthemlikeprayersforhumanityfollowingboth9/11andHurricaneKatrina.Mostimportantwerethesongsthatfoundherturningapersonalcornertomanifestchangewithinherself."Iwasreadytotakethebullbythehornsonallfronts,"Nickisays,"andpullmylifeinadifferentdirection.AtfirstIwasgoingtotitlethealbumThingsAreDifferentNow,butitwastoomuchofamouthful."...........Nowadays–rockin’concertswithMadonnaNickifiercelyleadsthechurchyclosingvampof“LikeaPrayer”beforecrowdsof85,000to90,000people!............A.ScottGalloway(ReadFullBioinMyBlogs)