Yahzarah - Blackstar (16 tracks) +Album Reviews

Mixed Feelings

soul seeker | LA, CA | 02/11/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"A great new voice for soul music paired with weak material. The production was dated and lacking in creativity. Sometimes I felt that the vocal arrangements were a little overdone, I would love to hear her sing a very sparse ballad and just let her soul shine through. She is very gifted vocally so less can be more for her, the same cannot be said for many of today's R'n'B singers. Standout track for me is "Black Star""

Voice for Days.

Robert Chapman | Brooklyn - Fort Green | 12/20/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"YahZarah is great. She sings with the kind of freedom and wind flight that builds upon and adds to the tradition of great female soul singing. I'm not going to say neo-soul beacuse that's a stupid market term that is only used to denote newness and difference to a kind of singing that has not changed. Her range is stunning in an out of control way nailing it dead on kind of way. The songwriting is superb..a few lines may fail because of cliche simplicity, but she pulls it off with the vocal strength and great accompaying music. I would bet that she is awesome live. For those who hear a remblance to ebadu...it is probaly more from the fact that she did some of badu's arrangements. I did not give this CD five stars because she is at the beginning of her solo career..she still has heights to reach and when she does the other star will be waiting on her. Please buy and enjoy this CD."

Don't Sleep on YahZarah

Robert Chapman | 05/04/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yahzarah was opening for Rahsaan Patterson when I saw her. I had never heard of her before then. I really enjoyed her. She's a small woman with an incredible voice. If she comes to DC again, I'm definitely going back to see her. I love her CD. It's a nice break from the norm. It's full of diversity and seeing her perform in person makes me love her and her album even more. Definitely do not sleep on this artist."

Best Kept Secret !!!!

K. Williams | New York, NY United States | 01/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not many people know about Yahzarah, I was fortunate enough to see her on the road with Erykah Badu. I enjoy this album almost completely. There are two songs she could've done without, but the rest is something to look out for."

Can we say that Yahzarah IS a SUPERNOVA?

Vickie Beene Beavers | Atlanta, Ga. United States | 12/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I heard Yahzarah's music on WCLK radio in Atlanta but fell in love with this sister's voice when she opened for RES at the Tabernacle in 2002. Although RES was the headliner, Yahzarah and her funk/jazz band STOLE THE SHOW. Chile, the girl sang so hard that she had an asthma attack when she finished. Baby, do you feel me?!! That was the most INCREDIBLE show I've ever witnessed! Pure energy, pure funk and pure showmanship. She's got the funk of an early Chaka Khan, the lyrical stylings and vibrato of a Minnie Ripperton and the sassiness of a Diane Washington rolled up in one. The only way that you can experience the vocal range and power of this itty bitty sistah is to either see or film her LIVE in concert. And I highly recommend that yall see her live so that yall know what I'm talking about. I ain't just saying it to be saying it.I almost missed her live performance here in Atlanta some weeks ago at the High Museum but was able to attend it last minute with a friend--who's been thanking me ever since for the invite. Even in this prestigous..she-she-foo-foo arena, Yahzarah with 2 backup singers and a recorded tape--still turned it out. Now Yahzarah's latest is really her first album, minus a few tracks though, under earlier management. (I still enjoy that CD cause I still reminisce over that incredible band she brought with her for the 2002 performance). Now I debated whether or not I wanted to buy the "same" CD, even with the nicer-looking glamorous cover...cause money's tight you know. But I AM SO GLAD I BOUGHT THIS--again! BLACKSTAR has 6 new songs along with some new instrumentation and rhythms on the old cuts. I can listen to SO AMAZING, NOVA and LOVE IS YOU and not get tired of it because it's just like her performance in concert--slightly reworked yet familiar. It's not a complete reworking of the old album--thankfully. I mean why fix what certainly ain't broke? So until this sistah rides shotgun everywhere I go, I have my personal Yahzarah playing loudly at home and quietly at work--BOTH CDs mind you. I hope you good people are ready for some astronomical sounds--cause the sistah is a SUPERNOVA! Are you ready for the journey?Yo MTV, ya'll may want to consider filming Yahzarah live in concert. She and her band will definitely blow up the set!"

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