Kamasi Washington, Corinne Bailey Rae, D’Influence, Mica Paris and more added to line-up for Love Supreme Jazz Festival 2017
by SUSSEX EXPRESS REPORTER march 30, 2017 Multi-platinum-selling Corinne Bailey Rae, star saxophonist and Kendrick Lamar collaborator Kamasi Washington, acid jazz collective D’Influence and UK soul singer Mica Paris with her acclaimed Ella Fitzgerald Songbook project are amongst the final acts added to the line-up for this year’s Love Supreme Jazz Festival, which returns to Glynde Place in East Sussex in July. read more at: http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/whats-on/music/kamasi-washington-corinne-bailey-rae-d-influence-mica-paris-and-more-added-to-line-up-for-love-supreme-jazz-festival-2017-1-7890206
A star is 'Born Again', with the triumphant return of Mica Paris and her first original studio album in ten years. After twenty- two years in the business, and five albums under her belt, critics are hailing Born Again the album of her career. After becoming one of the country's most sought after TV presenters, Mica comes back to her musical roots.
The album was released Summer 2009 and has been produced by the legendary 'hit- maker', Brian Rawling. Rawling, whose recent single 'Broken Strings' for James Morrison and Nelly Furtado was number one worldwide. The aforementioned James Morrison wrote Mica's lead single and album opener out May 25th, 'Baby Come Back Now' - an up- tempo retro tune, that Morrison penned especially for Mica's soaring vocals.
The collection of songs perfectly showcases the vocals of the UK's Soul Queen, vocals that have been admired and beloved by music legends such as Prince, Peter Gabriel, Dave Gilmour, Chaka Khan, Quincy Jones, and Natalie Cole. A whole new generation of stars have been inspired by Mica's talent, such as Grammy winning artist Estelle, who recently said "I got into music because of Mica, she was my inspiration".
Blending classic Motown grooves with a distinctly modern production and emotive lyrics - Mica is singing from the bottom of her heart. This is no more evident than on the albums title track. 'Born Again' an epic ballad, sweeping strings and cut glass arrangement with a vocal that leaves you tingling. It is no wonder that Whitney Houston wanted this track for her comeback. Producer Brian Rawling insisted that the song was "made for Mica" and Whitney was refused. 'Born Again' is due for release in the UK end of March 2010.
Ballads like the Eric Benet penned tune 'You're the Only One' emit an effortless and creamy smooth R&B flavour, as on the Keisha Cole U.S. number one, 'I Remember', which Mica gives a heartfelt maturity to. Then there is 'Nothing But The Truth' a pop- country influenced ballad that makes you melt. The pleading 'Stay' and inspirational 'Hold On' grab hold and feature her church influenced roots, with a thoroughly spiritual vocal.
Mica reminds us how she can shine on the dance floor and show us what it's all about on up-tempo scorchers 'The Hardest Thing' with its middle- eight vocal that never ends, and 'Breathless' a track that Rhianna gave to Mica personally.
As a bonus, the album is rounded off with the Gershwin classic 'Summertime', which was recorded live at The Royal Opera House for BBC 1's television tribute to musicals, and her signature song that has endured - 'My One Temptation' - sung in acoustic splendour.
Since her debut album, 'So Good' was released back in 1989 Mica has had an incredibly varied career, a career that has endured the many highs and lows of the music business.
Mica admits that she hasn't sat back and enjoyed the ride because as she says, "I've always been into the next thing-always searching for a new vibe but it was the book ('Beautiful Within') that made me realise that I've had an amazing journey"
Mica reflects, "You know what this album reminds me of? When I first walked into Island Records and I sat down and told them that I wanted to bring a lot of the church into my music.
And they said "yes, that's what we want Mica Paris to be all about". It's almost as if I had to go through all the highs and lows of the last 20 years to see that sometimes it's the essentials and the basics that make the best reasons for making music. That's the thing I really want to get across with this album."
Spring 2010 will see the release of a bonus edition of 'Born Again.' This new edition has been repackaged with gorgeous new artwork, and includes three bonus tracks, 'Take It Back,' by Wrapt-up Productions featuring Mica, a wicked remix of 'Take It Back' by Moto Blanco, and a stomping Stonebridge remix of 'The Hardest Thing.'
Manchester venue Band on the Wall opens its doors on Friday after an extensive four-year redevelopment. Jazz pianist Julian Joseph and soul singer Mica Paris feature on an already sold-out double bill at the club on Swan Street in the Northern Quarter to celebrate the return of a venue which in the 1970s saw it established as a jazz club by local jazzer Steve Morris and his business partner Frank Cusick who bought what was the George and Dragon pub.
As well as jazz the club became a beacon for the burgeoning punk and post-punk scene in Manchester and bands such as the Buzzcocks and The Fall played early gigs there. To mark this other important aspect of the club’s post-punk heritage A Certain Ratio return to the club for a gig on Saturday night. The club’s distinctive “Dizzy Gillespie” logo has been retained following the refurb and the programme manager is now Mike Chadwick who brings his experience as a jazz DJ and programmer at the Brewery Arts Centre in Cumbria to Manchester.
Band on the Wall to some on the local scene was a barometer of the health of jazz in Manchester and when it closed its impact was keenly felt although local clubs such as Matt and Phred’s have prospered in the meantime and the summertime Manchester Jazz Festival has built up a reputation for individual programming and an emphasis on encouraging the local scene with commissions. The club’s return may stimulate the local scene to new heights. Band on the Wall aims to pick up where it left off with a programme that can stand shoulders tall with the best eclectic-based jazz rooted clubs in the UK, mature enough to feature a range of genres while mounting credible jazz gigs at the same time.
The “Rebirth” programme from 25 September-31 October features acts from across the musical spectrum including international jazz and world artists with enhanced facilities at BOTW now including an education suite plus audio-visual and sound studios at new multi-use social space, the Picturehouse. Following the opening gigs on Friday and Saturday further opening month gigs include: The Bays (Sunday 27 September); Bugge Wesseltoft plus Stuart McCallum (Thursday 1 October); Jazzanova (Monday 5 October); Mike Walker Sextet (Thursday 8 October); Five Corners Quintet (Wednesday 14 October); African Jazz All Stars (Thursday 15 October); Gwyneth Herbert (Saturday 17 October); Kirsty Almeida (Sunday 18 October); Bassekou Kouyate (Thursday 22 October), and Eivind Aarset (Saturday 24 October).
– Stephen Graham http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/component/content/article/51-2009/10968-julian-joseph-and-mica-paris-open-band-on-the-wall-on-friday
By ANDREW WILLIAMS - Wednesday, October 24, 2007 Mica Paris, born Michelle Wallen, came to fame in the late 1980s thanks to her hit single My One Temptation and the album So Good. Mica and pal Lisa Butcher replaced Trinny and Susannah as presenters of BBC's What Not To Wear this year. Her new autobiography and self-help manual, Beautiful Within, is out now, published by Simon & Schuster.
Your book’s a hybrid of self-help and autobiography. Why did you write it like that? When I started doing What Not To Wear, I realised there are loads of women out there having serious dramas and at the root of it is confidence. They’ve given a lot of themselves to their families and are in a rut. I remember when I went through it. I’ve been a single parent for a while, so, instead of just telling my story, I decided to do it this way. I find self-help books can be quite preachy and I didn’t want to be dictatorial – I just wanted to tell my story while pointing out what got me through my sticky points. Hopefully, people can get something out of it themselves.
Are you worried people will say: ‘Who’s Mica Paris to give advice?’ No, because I’m not sitting on a perch saying: ‘I’ve got all the answers.’ I’m still working on myself and sharing my experience of the things I’ve gone through. I have to make sure I train every week and eat properly but I’m in a better place emotionally than ten years ago, I look better and I’m healthier. Before, I was pretending to be cool but felt like crap inside.
Did being called ‘the British Whitney Houston’ add to your problems? It was a pressure. I knew I had an exceptional voice from the age of ten. I was a prodigy. People would say: ‘Where did that talent come from, she’s such a skinny little thing?’ I just wanted to be me rather than be modelled after someone else. I was angry the record companies would try to make me be like Whitney or Anita Baker or whoever when I just wanted to be Mica Paris. It wasn’t that I was worried I couldn’t match them vocally, I just didn’t want to emulate them.
How did you come up with your stage name? When I was 16, I was earning £1,000 a week as a backing vocalist for bands like Shakatak. I was earning so much, I gave up my A-levels and did it full-time. I used to buy my clothes in Carnaby Street and brooches were hip back then. I saw one with ‘Paris’ spelled out in diamanté. I thought: ‘I want that for my name.’ When I got my deal at 17, it cemented it.
Did you work with any musical heroes? I got to work with Prince, which was amazing. He said: ‘There’s a girl called Mica Paris here,’ in the middle of one of his London gigs and gave me a microphone, and I had to sing Just My Imagination in front of everyone. It was the most nerve-racking moment of my life. I ended up going to Minneapolis to work with him and he wrote a song for my second album.
Did you see his recent London shows? I didn’t have the chance. No one phoned me and asked me if I wanted a ticket. He’s adorable, though, and he’s always been very good to me.
Are you still pursuing your singing? Yes, I’m recording a new album right now. It’s been four years since my last one, which is a long time, and I’m hungry for music again. There was a while when I wasn’t and I’m starving for it now. I’m really excited.
How much of What Not To Wear is a counselling show? I’m not a counsellor but I’ve always been good at making people see they can do great things. It’s about showing people how they can improve the way they look and feel about themselves. I tell people when they look rubbish but I’m prepared to admit to my mistakes too. I’ve made some serious faux pas. I’m sensitive to when people aren’t feeling great and like to give encouragement.
What’s the biggest fashion mistake you’ve made? I’ve made loads. The most recent was a Gucci coat – a Mongolian lamb thing. I can’t wear it. It makes me look like an Afghan hound. It’s wrong.
How did you become friends with Lisa Butcher? We met at a party given by Tamara Beckwith around ten years ago. Somehow, Lisa thought it was a fancy-dress party and turned up in a catsuit. She was about to hightail it out of there and I told her she looked great and not to go. We had a right laugh and became really good friends.
Have you learned any style tips from the programme? Yes. When you get older, you’ve got to make your style evolve with you. A lot of people stick to a time they looked good, which is normally when they’re in their twenties. It doesn’t work, though. You have to change the way you look. Your body changes and you need to dress age-appropriate or you look like a bloody idiot.
What’s your favourite item of clothing? I’ve got a really good pencil-skirt suit by Amanda Wakeley. It wasn’t cheap. It’s beautiful, though. Things that come in at the waist, that old-school glamour, works well for my body because I’m voluptuous. You can get really good stuff on the high street, though. Marks & Spencer, Zara, Mango, they’re all really good. http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=72667&in_page_id=11
Possessed of individualistic delivery and approach, Mica sang in the Sprit of Watts choir before getting her first break with the UK chart band ‘Hollywood Beyond’. She has her own Radio 2 show and one of the finest soul singers in the country.
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