SUNDAY, August 15, 2010 Let's keep it real: there are some people who, if given the opportunity, would turn back the clock and relive the days of their youth, but for most of us, there's just something special about being "grown." In the mercurial entertainment industry, the Powers That Be perpetuate the ideas and the looks of being young for their artists as long as possible, but the ability to navigate through life with clarity, confidence and wisdom can only occur with experience, so that's what newcomers and fans will hear when they get an earful of Ashanti Munir's latest CD, Soul of a Woman.
A sultry and well-seasoned follow-up of her 2008 release, Balance, Soul.... contains, along with the first-rate production (Craig A. Eleazer and Felix Mwangi), the hallmarks of artistic self-assuredness and skill. In addition to co-writing seven of the twelve tracks and authoring one exclusively, the Boston, MA native also supplies both lead and background vocals, dabbling in flavors of jazz ("Easy Way About U,"), funk-fringed R&B ("So Smooth"), old-school and pop. Her vocals range from sweet to outright sinewy, recalling Atlantic Starr's Sharon Bryant on the self-empowered mantra, "Don't Be Afraid" and the revelatory ballad, "Until U," where she all but gushes about the man who added color to a drab existence by walking into her life and personifying her nighttime dreams and daytime fantasies.
Ms. Munir is versatile enough to bring different moods to the mix: there's the Quiet-Storm-ready "It Should Be U," the throaty, yet sinuous "Blue" and the anthem-esque title track, where she declares to a potential suitor that he needs to reach higher and dig deeper in order to earn the totality of her womanhood: "You say you want to be in my heart, you need to set yourself, apart./Although you claim to be the one...to reach my soul you must be strong and true/know what to say and what to do." The pair of remakes, a cover of Smokey Robinson's "Ooh Baby Baby" and Mary J. Blige's "Ooh!," are serviceable, but the musical arrangements mirror the original versions too dutifully for Ms. Munir to put her stamp on them creatively.
Aside from a few clunky or clichéd selections ("Sometimes Love" and "Miracles" mean well, but are too self-conscious to make an impact), those who appreciate luxurious and lived-in music will enjoy the contents of this lady's Soul. Ashanti Munir embraces her musical gifts, spins them into appealing lessons about love and life and then passes them on to the world at large, just as any other righteous grown sister would. Recommended.
By Melody Charles
August 15, 2010
http://www.soultracks.com/ashanti-munir-soul-of-a-woman-review
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Genres: Soul / Smooth Jazz / Blues
Website: www.myspace.com/ashantimunir; www.airplaydirect.com/ashantimunir
Indie Label: Grooveallegiance USA
Management: Craig A. Eleazer
Contact: grooveallegianceusa@yahoo.com
Ashanti Munir gained worldwide attention thanks to her debut CD titled “Balance” which was released in 2008. “Balance” peaked at #4 on the Solar Radio weekly chart for 5 weeks. Solar Radio (London) voted “Balance” the #18 Soul CD of 2008! The single “I’m Staying Home Tonight” exploded onto the UK modern soul scene and it’s remix, which featured smooth jazz artist Elan Trotman, later appeared on the 2009 Soul Unsigned CD compilation titled “The Contemporary Soul Songbook vol. 1.”
Ashanti has come a long way from the young lady who traveled to Harlem from Brockton, MA with her 2 babies to compete and win at the legendary Apollo Theater! Ashanti was a background vocalist for Michael Buble. She has performed as a member of the Harlem Gospel Choir. Her voice has graced recordings by Leon Beal and The Singhs. Ashanti has shared the bill with artists like Johnny Kemp, Alyson Williams, Walter Beasley, Terri Lynn Carrington, Helen Rogers (Paul Hardcastle), Athene Wilson, Esperanza Spaulding, Jeff Ramsey, Elan Trotman, Carmen Lundy, IAMDANIELMOORE and most recently Ledisi!
Ashanti Munir is very excited about the 2010 release of her long awaited, sophomore CD “Soul of a Woman!” “Lady Munir” is joined once again in the studio by engineer/producer/composer Felix Mwangi and composer/producer Craig A. Eleazer. She was more confident this time around and took a more active role in the writing of the songs. “Soul of a Woman!” is a true soul CD that incorporates its many genres. Her sound blends electronic instruments with “Live” instrumentation. The CD picks up where “Balance” left off with the funky track “Easy Way About U.” Ashanti delivers three heartfelt ballads in “Until U”, “It Should Be U” and the remake of the Smokey Robinson classic “Ooh Baby Baby.” The first single “So Smooth” was co-written by French producer Wadz and Craig A. Eleazer. It was first released on Wadz’s CD compilation titled “So Smooth: The Funk Project” which includes two alternative versions of the track. “So Smooth” peaked at #13 on Starpoint Radio in London.
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TUESDAY, 2 MARCH 2010
Boston's very own Ashanti Munir is someone that we've all had our eyes on since the release in 2008 of her critically acclaimed "Balance" album, an album that opened the door to the heart of a special, deep and soulful Lady. A genuine soul, open and honest, "Balance" was very much an open book, a heart on sleeve effort that told a story of development and struggle. It was, by any standard a strong foundation set for any recording artist fighting on their own or with major backing. It's with pleasure that 2010 sees the release of the sophomore release, "Soul of a Woman". It's from the strong foundation of her first set of recordings that this album builds from, and built strong it is too. I can see much more in the way of plaudits coming her way thanks to her work here. Ashanti's live performance at the exclusive Soulchoonz party back in August 2008 had no one in doubt that what we had here, live, in front of us was a REAL talent who was certainly no one-trip pony. There was, as far as I could see, a great future ahead and this CD delivers that and promises more!
On the popular wave of her "I'm Staying Home Tonight" we have a similar soon-to-be popular tune "Easy Way About You" which features some great, great sax - this will keep a smile on the face of “Super Gary Spence” quite right too. I absolutely melted with delight when I heard track two, "So Smooth", a cut that would neither be out of place on an MCA album circa 1986 or the latest sets from James Reeno or Cool Million. The 80s are back, baby and this Controllers-type groove paired with some great sax ticks every conceivable box for the likes of this old hack. The funky "Ooh" with its freaky keys and brass touches is another strong, strong effort that allows Ashanti to get low-down, dirty and downright sassy. This is a dirty slab of a tune and should go down very well indeed! The strong, positive messages contained in "Don't Be Afraid" are solid stuff indeed. What we have here is a strong voice of experience and someone who knows what she is singing about through real and bitter experience. For Ashanti, the term 'no pain, no gain' would mean a lot and she has condensed all her experience into one hell of a directional and highly positive message. Also, musically it is SUPERB and definitely one of the album's true joys!
The elegance of "It Should Be You" also cannot be understated. The feeling here is of a classy Jam and Lewis effort with, say, Janet Jackson back in the mid 80s. Such a beautiful, quality song! This does Ashanti much credit. The title song, Soul of a Woman, too will be one to savor and enjoy...it oozes class and wipes the floor with all of today's whining R&B girlies showing that modern US R&B doesn't have to be crass. Fans of Lalah Hathaway's latest sets will weep with pleasure over the gorgeously acoustic "Sometimes Love". This song brought tears to my eyes and goose bumps to my flesh. Only an artist of GREAT caliber can reduce me to this kind of state, and this Lady has that knack. The final song, "Underestimation", is totally, totally essential and is of such a quality you would imagine that it had been lifted from a Marion Meadows or Najee album. This album is a very, very qualified success for a new artist such as Ashanti. To return with a follow-up set is a bonus in these dark times, but to raise the bar and do so with such force, finesse and real confidence is a joy to behold. Ashanti Munir deserves to be one of THE defining soul artists of the 21st Century. An incredibly essential album!
Barry Towler
“The Vibe Scribe”
Reply
Ashanti Munir / Blog
Soul of a Woman Soultracks.com review
SUNDAY, August 15, 2010 Let's keep it real: there are some people who, if given the opportunity, would turn back the clock and relive the days of their youth, but for most of us, there's just something special about being "grown." In the mercurial entertainment industry, the Powers That Be perpetuate the ideas and the looks of being young for their artists as long as possible, but the ability to navigate through life with clarity, confidence and wisdom can only occur with experience, so that's what newcomers and fans will hear when they get an earful of Ashanti Munir's latest CD, Soul of a Woman. A sultry and well-seasoned follow-up of her 2008 release, Balance, Soul.... contains, along with the first-rate production (Craig A. Eleazer and Felix Mwangi), the hallmarks of artistic self-assuredness and skill. In addition to co-writing seven of the twelve tracks and authoring one exclusively, the Boston, MA native also supplies both lead and background vocals, dabbling in flavors of jazz ("Easy Way About U,"), funk-fringed R&B ("So Smooth"), old-school and pop. Her vocals range from sweet to outright sinewy, recalling Atlantic Starr's Sharon Bryant on the self-empowered mantra, "Don't Be Afraid" and the revelatory ballad, "Until U," where she all but gushes about the man who added color to a drab existence by walking into her life and personifying her nighttime dreams and daytime fantasies. Ms. Munir is versatile enough to bring different moods to the mix: there's the Quiet-Storm-ready "It Should Be U," the throaty, yet sinuous "Blue" and the anthem-esque title track, where she declares to a potential suitor that he needs to reach higher and dig deeper in order to earn the totality of her womanhood: "You say you want to be in my heart, you need to set yourself, apart./Although you claim to be the one...to reach my soul you must be strong and true/know what to say and what to do." The pair of remakes, a cover of Smokey Robinson's "Ooh Baby Baby" and Mary J. Blige's "Ooh!," are serviceable, but the musical arrangements mirror the original versions too dutifully for Ms. Munir to put her stamp on them creatively. Aside from a few clunky or clichéd selections ("Sometimes Love" and "Miracles" mean well, but are too self-conscious to make an impact), those who appreciate luxurious and lived-in music will enjoy the contents of this lady's Soul. Ashanti Munir embraces her musical gifts, spins them into appealing lessons about love and life and then passes them on to the world at large, just as any other righteous grown sister would. Recommended. By Melody Charles August 15, 2010 http://www.soultracks.com/ashanti-munir-soul-of-a-woman-review
Reply
Ashanti Munir 2010 One Sheet Bio
Genres: Soul / Smooth Jazz / Blues Website: www.myspace.com/ashantimunir; www.airplaydirect.com/ashantimunir Indie Label: Grooveallegiance USA Management: Craig A. Eleazer Contact: grooveallegianceusa@yahoo.com Ashanti Munir gained worldwide attention thanks to her debut CD titled “Balance” which was released in 2008. “Balance” peaked at #4 on the Solar Radio weekly chart for 5 weeks. Solar Radio (London) voted “Balance” the #18 Soul CD of 2008! The single “I’m Staying Home Tonight” exploded onto the UK modern soul scene and it’s remix, which featured smooth jazz artist Elan Trotman, later appeared on the 2009 Soul Unsigned CD compilation titled “The Contemporary Soul Songbook vol. 1.” Ashanti has come a long way from the young lady who traveled to Harlem from Brockton, MA with her 2 babies to compete and win at the legendary Apollo Theater! Ashanti was a background vocalist for Michael Buble. She has performed as a member of the Harlem Gospel Choir. Her voice has graced recordings by Leon Beal and The Singhs. Ashanti has shared the bill with artists like Johnny Kemp, Alyson Williams, Walter Beasley, Terri Lynn Carrington, Helen Rogers (Paul Hardcastle), Athene Wilson, Esperanza Spaulding, Jeff Ramsey, Elan Trotman, Carmen Lundy, IAMDANIELMOORE and most recently Ledisi! Ashanti Munir is very excited about the 2010 release of her long awaited, sophomore CD “Soul of a Woman!” “Lady Munir” is joined once again in the studio by engineer/producer/composer Felix Mwangi and composer/producer Craig A. Eleazer. She was more confident this time around and took a more active role in the writing of the songs. “Soul of a Woman!” is a true soul CD that incorporates its many genres. Her sound blends electronic instruments with “Live” instrumentation. The CD picks up where “Balance” left off with the funky track “Easy Way About U.” Ashanti delivers three heartfelt ballads in “Until U”, “It Should Be U” and the remake of the Smokey Robinson classic “Ooh Baby Baby.” The first single “So Smooth” was co-written by French producer Wadz and Craig A. Eleazer. It was first released on Wadz’s CD compilation titled “So Smooth: The Funk Project” which includes two alternative versions of the track. “So Smooth” peaked at #13 on Starpoint Radio in London.
Reply
Soul of a Woman Soulchoonz.com pre-release CD review
TUESDAY, 2 MARCH 2010 Boston's very own Ashanti Munir is someone that we've all had our eyes on since the release in 2008 of her critically acclaimed "Balance" album, an album that opened the door to the heart of a special, deep and soulful Lady. A genuine soul, open and honest, "Balance" was very much an open book, a heart on sleeve effort that told a story of development and struggle. It was, by any standard a strong foundation set for any recording artist fighting on their own or with major backing. It's with pleasure that 2010 sees the release of the sophomore release, "Soul of a Woman". It's from the strong foundation of her first set of recordings that this album builds from, and built strong it is too. I can see much more in the way of plaudits coming her way thanks to her work here. Ashanti's live performance at the exclusive Soulchoonz party back in August 2008 had no one in doubt that what we had here, live, in front of us was a REAL talent who was certainly no one-trip pony. There was, as far as I could see, a great future ahead and this CD delivers that and promises more! On the popular wave of her "I'm Staying Home Tonight" we have a similar soon-to-be popular tune "Easy Way About You" which features some great, great sax - this will keep a smile on the face of “Super Gary Spence” quite right too. I absolutely melted with delight when I heard track two, "So Smooth", a cut that would neither be out of place on an MCA album circa 1986 or the latest sets from James Reeno or Cool Million. The 80s are back, baby and this Controllers-type groove paired with some great sax ticks every conceivable box for the likes of this old hack. The funky "Ooh" with its freaky keys and brass touches is another strong, strong effort that allows Ashanti to get low-down, dirty and downright sassy. This is a dirty slab of a tune and should go down very well indeed! The strong, positive messages contained in "Don't Be Afraid" are solid stuff indeed. What we have here is a strong voice of experience and someone who knows what she is singing about through real and bitter experience. For Ashanti, the term 'no pain, no gain' would mean a lot and she has condensed all her experience into one hell of a directional and highly positive message. Also, musically it is SUPERB and definitely one of the album's true joys! The elegance of "It Should Be You" also cannot be understated. The feeling here is of a classy Jam and Lewis effort with, say, Janet Jackson back in the mid 80s. Such a beautiful, quality song! This does Ashanti much credit. The title song, Soul of a Woman, too will be one to savor and enjoy...it oozes class and wipes the floor with all of today's whining R&B girlies showing that modern US R&B doesn't have to be crass. Fans of Lalah Hathaway's latest sets will weep with pleasure over the gorgeously acoustic "Sometimes Love". This song brought tears to my eyes and goose bumps to my flesh. Only an artist of GREAT caliber can reduce me to this kind of state, and this Lady has that knack. The final song, "Underestimation", is totally, totally essential and is of such a quality you would imagine that it had been lifted from a Marion Meadows or Najee album. This album is a very, very qualified success for a new artist such as Ashanti. To return with a follow-up set is a bonus in these dark times, but to raise the bar and do so with such force, finesse and real confidence is a joy to behold. Ashanti Munir deserves to be one of THE defining soul artists of the 21st Century. An incredibly essential album! Barry Towler “The Vibe Scribe”
Reply