Introducing Jazz Vocalist Ashleigh Smith & New Album “Sunkissed”

ASHLEIGH SMITH – WINNER OF THE 2014 SARAH VAUGHAN INTERNATIONAL VOCAL COMPETITION – RADIATES ON SUNKISSED

Sunkissed, the title of Ashleigh Smith’s August 19 debut on Concord Records, describes her singing perfectly. The 27-year-old Dallas-based winner of the 2014 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocals Competition possesses an iridescent alto that radiates a spectrum of poised emotions. While clearly she’s capable of tackling material underscored by darker themes such as heartache and sobering social commentary, optimistic rays of light always shine through her voice.

The eagerly-awaited disc reveals Smith to be a gifted songwriter too. She co-wrote five of the disc’s 10 compositions. Like the musicians accompanying her, most of Smith’s writing partners – electric bassist Nigel Rivers and guitarist Joel Cross – were fellow classmates of hers from the University of North Texas, where she studied jazz. Indeed, enlisting a cadre of musicians whom she’s already forged a sparkling rapport imbues Sunkissed with a greater sense of warmth and personal conviction.

Track list:
1. Best Friends (4:19)
Music and Lyrics by Ashleigh Smith and Joel Cross
2. Sara Smile (3:57)
Written by Daryl Hall and John Oates
3. Where Are You? (The World Is Calling) (2:21)
Music by Nigel Rivers and Ashleigh E. Smith, Lyrics by Ashleigh E. Smith
4. Love Is You (3:32)
Written by Chrisette Michelle
5. Blackbird (4:15)
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
6. Sunkissed (4:01)
Music by Nadia Washington and Nigel Rivers, Lyrics by Ashleigh Smith
7. Into The Blue (5:06)
Music by Ashleigh E. Smith and Joel Cross, Lyrics by Lauren M. Smith and Ashleigh E. Smith
8. Brokenhearted Girl (2:10)
Music by Kwinton Gray and Nigel Rivers, Lyrics by Ashleigh Smith
9. Beautiful and True (3:45)
Words and Music by Rosanna Eckert
10. Pure Imagination (1:46)
(from Willy Wonka)

Concord Music Group