AbbyDobson Aruba was great!!! Thanks BlackPlanet!! - Jun 02 add/view comments (0)

"Sleeping Beauty: You Are The One You Have Been Waiting On."

"Go Make The World You Dream"

Some singers need to be surrounded by a variety of equipment to move people, but this powerful artist simply needs an audience. She is one of those rare songbirds that effortlessly stimulate sensual, soulful and raw emotions using just her vocal instrument, a voice that you don’t just hear…you feel it. Having been influenced by the likes of legendary soul and jazz powerhouses such as Sarah Vaughn, Anita Baker, Donny Hathaway, Bill Withers, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin, Abby is not your typical artist who tries to woo a crowd with technical acrobatics or lyrical clichés, but instead captures a crowd using captivating melodies and emotionally charged words brought to life by the ache and honey in her voice. Devoted to her craft, Abby has studied classical voice since Junior High school. But it was the introduction to Billie Holiday and Hathaway that taught Abby how to draw people inside her in such a way that you feel her essence. Abby’s music is heart music. “I want to touch people. I wanna make you feel.” Drawing on a wealth of musical influences, from Mozart, Whitney Houston, Sarah Vaughn, Dolly Parton, The Carpenters, Pat Benatar, Kathleen Battle, Jessye Norman, Tracy Chapman, Barbara Streisand, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Allison Krauss & Union Station to Anita Baker and Bob Marley, Abby’s sound is the alchemy of soul, folk, jazz, gospel, R&B, country, rock and pop, forging a gem that erases musical boundaries in its making. In fact, one could imagine fans of Anita Baker, Mary J. Blige, Sade, Jeff Buckley, Lizz Wright, Patty Griffin, John Legend, Martina McBride, Keisha Cole, Sheryl Crow, Cassandra Wilson, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys and Mindy Smith nodding together in appreciation at one of Abby’s shows or after listening to her music. And, her songwriting is as emotional as it is soothing. In a word, Abby Dobson’s music is mesmerizing. A lover of melody and words, Abby has also been deeply influenced by authors, poets and essayists, including Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, J. California Cooper, Emily Dickenson, James Baldwin, Patricia Williams, Kimberly Crenshaw and Margo Jefferson. By instinctively blending the musical herbs and spices that have influenced her (Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Pop, Country, Folk, classic R&B, Rock and Soul) into her own sonic stew, Abby affords old-school and new-school music lovers alike an opportunity to vibe together in harmony. Abby has performed throughout New York City performing to rave reviews at well-known venues like S.O.B’s, The Knitting Factory, The Cutting Room, Joe’s Pub, and the legendary Blue Note. This performer has three times been a featured singer/songwriter at the New York Songwriter’s Circle, performed on BET’s 106 & Park, was a finalist in the R&B category of the John Lennon Song Writing Competition for her song “Deeply”, which has also been featured on television (“The Shield”, “Jack & Jill” and “Any Day Now”), performed in 98.7 KissFM sponsored shows at the South Street Seaport, and was hailed by 98.7 KissFM as a “rising superstar”. Abby also won the BMI Atlanta 2002 Urban Music Showcase. You can hear Abby Dobson lending her vocals to “Get By” from Talib Kweli’s album “Quality” (Rawkus/MCA). Abby Dobson also won the 2003 Absolut Jam R&B Competition held at Zanzibar in Washington, DC. Abby and her band were Northeast Regional Champions and National Finalists in the 2003 SoulCityCafe Music Quest competition sponsored by Jewel (Atlantic Records) and Soulcitycafe.com (www.SoulCityCafe.com). Abby and her Band have also opened for Kindred, The Family Soul (Hidden Beach), Javier (Capitol), Leela James, Ledisi, Dwele, Rahsaan Patterson, Chrisette Michele and Floetry. Abby’s song “Unconditionally” also received an Honorable Mention Award in the 2003 USA Songwriting Competition Lyrics Category. Abby Dobson has also sung backgrounds for several recording artists, including Talib Kweli, John Legend, Consequence and Urban Mystic. Abby’s music can be found on two compilations both available on iTunes: “The Rooftop: A Live Shot” and “While U Wait” Abby also currently performs with Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber, a New York-based, twenty-plus member ensemble know for improvisatory orchestral performances that combine all manner of vocal, instrumental and electronic music. The group is led by founder and conductor Greg Tate. Abby is also currently finishing up recording for her debut independent project slated for release in Fall 2009. This recording project, entitled "Sleeping Beauty: You Are The One You Have Been Waiting On", is a concept record loosely based on a fairytale. An analog girl in a digital world, “Sleeping Beauty” was recorded live to analog tape and features some of the best musicians in the country, including Shelton Garner (Easy Star All-Stars), Robert Glasper (Nicholas Payton), Nate Jones (Estelle), Skoota Warner (Santana), Wes Mingus (Glenn Lewis), Christian Ver Halen, Marvin Sewell (Lizz Wright & Cassandra Wilson), Gerald Menke, Raymond Angry (Joss Stone), Lafayette Harris Jr., Chris Rob (John Legend ), Keyon Harrold (Jay-Z), Daniel Sadownick (Raul Midon), Teodross Avery (Amy Winehouse), Maurice Brown (Wynton Marsalis), Jacques Schwarz-Bart (Maxwell), Lonnie Plaxico (Cassandra Wilson) and Kenny Muhammad (Angie Stone) to name a few. Abby is constantly busy sharing her timeless voice and giving back to society, which is why she volunteered to direct a gospel choir, became an advocate for youth and community organizations using her enormous talent as a tool of hope, performed in neighborhood choruses, churches and a host of other social engagements including lending her heartfelt lyrics and melodies to various fundraising events for the Bronx Community College Upward Bound program, Music of Choice for Youth Benefit Performance, Better Youth.org, Lifebeat’s Heart and Voices, The Brotherhood SisterSol, Sista 2 Sista, The Lower Eastside Girl’s Club and the Ronald McDonald House for children living with Cancer. Abby is no assembly line artist. No gimmicks. No studio manufactured antics. She is to soulful music an innovative and compelling force, a tender voice bringing people together…bringing you joy… through the gift of song.