When Crystal Johnson sings, we can feel her soul stirring ours in every note she hits. Her voice is laced with the nuances of a woman who has been there and done that. Grown, sexy, seductive and serious, Crystal Johnson is no newcomer to the game. And we get that. We feel that. We can hear it! With her debut CD "The Day Before Heaven" Crystal is releasing her testimony about life, about nurturing, about giving and getting. Fierce, yet feminine, it is music that fills you, served straight up, no chaser!
Crystal Johnson CD cover"The Day Before Heaven" on Egyptian Fusion Music is a momentous accomplishment for a woman whose life journey has been one long continuous song. Having first recorded at the age of seven with Pink Floyd and the award winning Institutional Children's Choir, this debut release has been a long time coming and is indeed a celebration.
May 10 will mark not only her CD release date but also a listening party and performance produced by Egyptian Fusion Music in association with Ubiquita Worldwide at Drom in New York, her native home. Drom is located at 85 Avenue A and showtime is 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Crystal's incomparable vocals have complimented numerous projects over the years. In fact, her entire life can be viewed as a movement toward this day. At age 11, she landed the original lead role of "Doris Winter" in the smash hit and gospel classic, "Mama I Want To Sing." Soon after she performed in the widely acclaimed opera, "Porgy and Bess", a Shakespeare In The Park Production with the Lincoln Philharmonic Orchestra, starring Theresa Merritt. Crystal then made her debut on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in the original production of "Gospel at Colonus" starring Morgan Freeman.
A warrior of personal achievement, Crystal's musical career as a singer, songwriter, producer, vocal coach and entrepreneur has consistently propelled her. She has musically collaborated with Usher Raymond, Angie Stone and Anthony Hamilton. She also appeared on the soundtrack for "Who's The Man" performing the self written/produced song, "Lovin You". Other collaborations include Mobb Deep's classic, "Temperature's Rising," Heavy D's "Got Me Waiting" and also Pete Rock and CL Smooth's "I'll Take You There". Crystal can also boast working with Dr. Dre on his multi-platinum "Chronic 2001" co-writing "The Message," which featured Mary J. Blige and Rell.
With "The Day Before Heaven" the New York transplant, now living in Atlanta, brings the journey to fruition. Fourteen tracks sway with the fire of a woman who has come full circle and stands rooted in her vocal ability and power. Blending R&B, jazz and hip hop with elements of house and world music, "The Day Before Heaven" rocks to the core. Her "Summer Nights" is a jazzy escapade into the mind of a woman who has traded romance for marital security. Her voice rides a breezy, uptempo cadence in "Feeling Out" and with "Who Am I" she magically whirls us with a breezy spin of melodious rhythms. Crystal slows the pace with the melodious revelation "Butterfly," while the self-produced title track "The Day Before Heaven" sways as a mantra of serenity and affirmation.
"I am the first generation of hip hop, now evolved. My music is from my soul...a story of my triumphs and pains. A song has the ability to take you places within your spirit and with "The Day Before Heaven" it is my wish that we can travel together within those spaces. The women will know what I'm talking about when they hear the music and the men will feel it and be happy they were invited along for the ride!" reveals Crystal.
Journey with Crystal Johnson and preview what "A Day Before Heaven" feels like at
http://www.CrystalJohnson.com.
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Tue May 10, 2011 6:11 pm
