Thursday (Nov 4th), I drove from Sheffield to return to Diversity Leaders HQ late in the evening, just for the DL gang to spring-on me – ‘We are off to the London’s Jazz Café; Little did I know that Avery Sunshine and Anthony David were playing the joint!!!! You may ask who is Avery Sunshine??, She is only the latest - and arguably one of the most talented – artists to emerge from Atlanta, Georgia’s thriving underground soul scene in recent years. I feel so very fortunate to catch Avery Sunshine, the acclaimed singer/songwriter/pianist who was playing the UK for the very first time to promote the UK release of her self-titled debut album now available through amazon.co.uk but that night I got mine autographed and personally delivered from Avery to me. Avery Sunshine infuses so beautifully elements of soul, gospel and jazz with her real emotions, so that music literally flows from her heart ….oh so naturally healing my mind, body and soul just like the chicken soup that my mama used to make but with an added sultry spicy kick that held me in riveted attention throughout. Her performance left me full and satisfying, so during the interval I loosened my waist belt because my main man (and President Obama’s also according to recent press reports) was serving up next (see part 2 of my blog on this event).
By that time the intimate Jazz Café venue was so rammed with fans, I ended up the back stairway book ended between the two bodyguards of soul -- Big Mike (from UK vibe) and Big Bri (Diversity Leader’s soulful HR-Media Director). VIP Room’s Fly lady Gail and was flitting through the crowd taking its temperature (uniformly red hot throughout) as the music slurred through London's musical 'dutch' pot. DL’s Business Development Manager, Rosemarie stuck with me, networking the contacts.
For the record, ‘Avery Sunshine’ is mostly co-written-and co-produced by Avery herself alongside her musical partner Big Dane (who also co-wrote/co-produced many of the songs on India Aire’s 2002 Grammy-winning LP ‘Voyage To India’) channeled through the respected UK own ‘soul independent’ Dome Records.
For me, the pick of Avery's set is ‘Ugly Part of Me’ where she literally bears hear heart and soul, freely admitting her very human condition and expressing what must be an all-purpose elixir for many a troubled relationship…which is a remorseful and repentant …’I am sorry’. I said to myself surely this best form of relationship counselling, that I have ever encountered, (Note to self: I must make an urgent appointment with the Misses the very next time Dr. Sunshine is in the UK again). Her website logically explains that AVERY Sunshine ‘expresses with a voice that speaks boldly and tells a uniquely familiar story…a story about love and loss…healing…and finding the newness of oneself in the midst of it all’. Avery Sunshine elaborates that “I am a self-proclaimed therapist! I want to start the conversation that will lead to individual healing and in turn will affect our collective healing’. Surely she is a Diversity Leader.
Avery ended of her set, with her moving take on Anita Baker’s ‘ Sweet Love’. I knew then I was completely healed.
Avery’s Sunshine in concert is not only a musical treat that brings together the sweet sounds of Southern American soul and all of its tradition, but creates for every listener a sense of spiritual and emotional healing that lasts for a long time.
Robert
1st Reputation wins clients/customers already looking for your services and products
FANS, Please look at my pictures from the concert in the Avery Sunshine photo al-bum as part of the Diversity Leaders Online Facebook page
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