21 Year Old Saxophonist Elizabeth Mis Releases “Breakaway” on Oct 9th, 2012

21 Year Old Saxophonist Elizabeth Mis Breaks Out With New Project on Trippin N Rhythm Records Entitled, “Breakaway” – Coming Oct. 9th, 2012

Not so fast, James Brown–Elizabeth Mis has a little something to say about your searing mid 60’s declaration that “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World.” Inspired by the not too cool reality that the contemporary urban jazz genre has been male dominated since she grew up listening to favorite artists like Grover Washington, Jr., Dave Koz and Kirk Whalum, the 21-year-old saxophonist bursts onto the scene with an infectious and danceable, party-ready new single whose title says it all from here on out: “It’s Uh Girl’s World.”

Released to radio in mid-September 2012, “It’s Uh Girl’s World” is one of ten explosive, soprano driven tracks on her Trippin N Rhythm debut that collectively mount a major Breakaway (the title of the new album) from the same ole, same ole and forge a dynamic new direction for the genre. Keeping it all about the newly emerging generation, Mis invites three other rising young artists to put their stamp on the set, including keyboardist Nicholas Cole and Trippin N Rhythm labelmates Julian Vaughn (bass) and Cindy Bradley (trumpet). Guitarist Tim Bowman appears as a guest on “Sax Appeal.”

Breakway was produced and largely composed by another labelmate, keyboardist Nate Harasim, who won a BET Award and earned a Grammy nomination for his role as composer and keyboardist on Dave Koz’s Hello Tomorrow and has also worked with Darren Rahn and Steve Oliver . Mis, a native of Cleveland who started playing clarinet around age nine before switching her focus to sax a few years later, vibed with Harasim immediately when the two got together at the suggestion of Trippin N Rhythm President and Founder Les Cutmore.
Cutmore was intrigued by Mis’ potential upon hearing Forever & Ever, the first album she had recorded several years earlier—which was produced by guitarist Paul Brown, one of the top artists and behind the scenes names in modern urban jazz. Mis had hooked up with Brown as an ambitious teenager in 2007, asking him if she could sit in with his band when they played at a club in Cleveland. When he said yes, she ran home and got her horn and jammed with them that night—a performance which inspired Brown to agree on the spot to produce her debut. Paul is an awesome producer and I love his old school approach because I’m a big fan of old school jazz and R&B, and it was great to have the opportunity to work with him at such a young age.

“Les liked what he heard from me,” Mis says, “but the process of being signed started out with me doing a song first with Nate, who has a production as well as an artist deal with the label. “The first song we worked on was ‘Breakaway,’ and soon after Les heard it, he offered me a deal.

“Nate brought a new energy and helped me create a new sound that’s what this next generation of players should be,” she adds. “He has a unique vibe and technical background and has a synth flair like I’ve never heard before. I never properly marketed that first CD, so for many people Breakaway will be their first opportunity to hear me play. The album shows a lot more maturity and confidence, and reflects a lot of the excitement of the live performing that I have done these past few years. Since early on in my career, one of my goals was to be one of first who would change the way smooth jazz is heading. The genre needs something fresh and new. And I feel that Breakaway represents all of that. It’s exciting to have the opportunity to bring something new to the table that goes against the stereotype of this genre being strictly for middle aged or older fans. I want to show young fans from my generation that contemporary jazz is really fun and cool.”

Mis fulfills her mission statement from the opening notes of the title track, whose easy rolling clapping funk groove and bubbling synth flow lays the perfect foundation for her soaring sax energy. The next track is truly “Flyin’ High,” starting with a swirl of dense percussion and trippy cool ambience before amping up for a whimsical and fiery burst of melodic soprano intensity. After the joyously danceable “It’s Uh Girl’s World,” the multi-talented musician offers a clever riff on her last name on “Into the AtMISphere,” a laid back, in the pocket soulful ballad with touches of jazz piano harmony by Nicholas Cole and other hypnotic sprinklings. Harasim brings a soul-jazz styled Fender Rhodes flavor into the mix on “Buggin’, a sly and swaggering ballad that evolves into a loose infectious jam.

On the opposite emotional extreme, “Slow Burn’ is a sensual and ambient ballad featuring Cindy Bradley’s bright, wistful trumpet solo complementing Mis’ soprano sweetness. On “Not Too Late,” Mis engages in some delightful moodswings, bursting through with aggressive horn doubling and deep rhythms on the sizzing chorus, then easing into verses colored by dreamy ambiences. She goes for the full throttle disco effect on “MisBehavin’,” making her emotional soprano lines dance over an irrepressible old school funk beat. Tim Bowman’s snappy electric guitar solo complements Mis’ lush sax to bring out the next track’s big time “Sax Appeal.” Breakaway closes with the sweet candelight of “When I’m with You,” a soaring ballad that increases in emotional intensity as it flows by.

While she is still based in her hometown of Cleveland, Elizabeth Mis has come a long way since she was that wide eyed, Kenny G loving home schooled kid who devoted all her spare time to practicing her music and performing around her community – from churches to mall openings. “My tone pretty much came to me,” she says. “I had no idea it was unusual or special. It was just what I did – a God given gift that I could blow like I did the very first time I picked it up. Sometimes I did two performances in one day – and learned quickly that mixing the horn out of my favorite Dave Koz and Kenny G songs, and playing them myself, was a big crowd pleaser.”

In more recent years, Mis has brought that same passion – but with original material – to much higher profile performances, including the all-star KSBR radio station bash in Southern California and the Bob Hope Theatre in Stockton, California, where she opened for Gentlemen of the Night (Marion Meadows, Michael Lington, Paul Taylor).

While in many ways, Mis is still an emerging artist, she still takes the time to give back to others through work with charitable organizations such as African Aid (to which she donated her publishing proceeds from the song “Akwaba” on the first album), Invisible Children and many others. One she has worked with for a while now is Wigs for Kids. “At 14, I started doing things to raise money for the organization which is based here in Cleveland. People from all over the country cut off their ponytails and donate the hair to kids with cancer so they can look like themselves again.” She has also been putting her creativity and computer savvy to other extracurricular challenges such as creating a multi-media, music based marketing campaign for her favorite perfume, Angel.

“The music business is a tough path to go down and to be successful at,” the saxophonist says. “My whole concept in doing Breakaway is that I just want people to know that this is what I live for, I love this genre and the music. It’s my life. And I hope that people can see my confidence, passion, and feel the emotion I put into the music I play. I may not be a vocalist, but the soprano sax is my voice. The music isn’t just about me, it’s about the journey I’ve been on.”

Source & Website: Elizabeth Mis