OLETA RELEASES LET'S STAY HERE...

E1 Music releases Let's Stay Here, the new album by Oleta Adams and you can get the album now! CLICK HERE.

Oleta has earned her devoted fan base by staying with the essentials: honest, soulful vocals, unforgettable songs, and uplifting arrangements. Let's Stay Here is prime Oleta: she delivers each song's message with grace, clarity, and quiet power, whether it's her own composition or a classic cover, such as the version of Nina Simone's 'Feelin' Good' that was central to the 2007-8 Buick campaign. Let's Stay Here, is a new statement of pure soul, ten messages of hope and love for our tough times.

MUSIC REVIEWS: LET'S STAY HERE - OLETA ADAMS

Adams aims to musically lift spirits ''You want to be the balm for all of the hurt and wounded in the world,'' says singer Oleta Adams.
By Andrew Gilbert
Boston Globe Correspondent / May 6, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO - Oleta Adams looks like a million bucks and she wants you to feel the same way. Even when she's not singing gospel, her first musical home, she seeks to lift the spirit, infusing her performances with affirmations, advice, and affection for her audience. "I'm here tonight to tell you that you're beautiful and there ain't nothing wrong with you," she declared recently at the city's premiere cabaret venue. Then she launched into "Picture You the Way That I Do," a gently grooving pop number with a softly imploring hook from her new album, "Let's Stay Here" (E1 Music).

"I'm here tonight to tell you that you're beautiful and there ain't nothing wrong with you," she declared recently at the city's premiere cabaret venue. Then she launched into "Picture You the Way That I Do," a gently grooving pop number with a softly imploring hook from her new album, "Let's Stay Here" (E1 Music).

Looking tired but radiant after a nearly two-hour show and another 45 minutes greeting fans, Adams made her way back to the green room, where she mostly ignored a glass of cabernet sauvignon.

While "Let's Stay Here" is her first secular album in eight years, Adams made it clear that her mission remains the same, no matter what genre she's exploring at the moment.

"You want to be the balm for all of the hurt and wounded in the world," says Adams, who opens a two-night run at Scullers on Friday with her superb working quartet.

Adams is no Pollyanna. She faces the hard facts of life squarely in her songs, addressing issues such as domestic violence, school massacres, and romantic despair. And she gives Dr. Phil a run for his money when it comes to relationship counseling by illustrating the "art of fighting fair" with examples from her own marriage, a potentially sticky endeavor considering that her husband, John Cushon, is her drummer and music director.

"It's not a problem," Cushon says after the show. "She's very honest. What you see is what you get, and our relationship is great. We worked together for three years and it was strictly professional. I looked at her one night literally as a woman, and went 'Oh! And she's gorgeous too!' It's like you have what Oprah calls 'Aha!' moments."

Onstage, Cushon gives Adams all the support she needs, filling out the quartet's sound with rhythm tracks and prerecorded background vocals. With her prodigious pipes and glorious, throaty contralto, she could easily do without, but Adams believes that fans want to hear the arrangements they're familiar with from her recordings.

Accompanying herself at the piano, she's an accomplished songwriter who started composing as a teenager for the Southern Baptist congregation in Yakima, Wash., where her father was the minister. When she felt the need to expand her musical horizons beyond the bounds of sacred music, she wrote the tune "I've Got to Sing My Song."

"That was pivotal and I'm still performing it," Adams says. "It was for my dad, because I had to explain to him why I chose this as my career, and I wrote it in a gospel vein, because that's what he would understand."

She was living in the Kansas City area when her big break came through an entirely unanticipated avenue. After hearing her local act, the British new wave band Tears for Fears recruited her for a prominent role on the hit 1989 album "The Seeds of Love." Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears ended up coproducing her debut release, "Circle of One," featuring an anguished gospel-powered version of Brenda Russell's "Get Here," which became one of the defining hits of 1990.

She has thrived ever since, despite some lackluster efforts by producers. On her new album, Adams produced or coproduced (with Paul Peterson) almost every track, and she supplies herself with a satisfying array of grooves and moods, while throwing in an occasional twist.

Amid all the songs seeking uplift and healing, Adams offers a pleading version of Billie Holiday's "Don't Explain." A quintessential example of what vocalist Wesla Whitfield once called the "hello-I'm-a-doormat, step-on-me" category of masochistic standards, the song seems to heighten the contradictions of her career.

"Today I'm all of that," she says. "I am carnal and I am sacred and a holy saint. I try to get away from the carnal part, but the human part of me is still there. What we do is to try to allow the righteousness to shine forth through the music."


MUSIC REVIEW: LET'S STAY HERE - OLETA ADAMS

In 1989, Tears for Fears released their album The Seeds of Love, the band's third and the follow-up to Songs from the Big Chair which had been released in 1985. The album included "Woman in Chains," on which Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith performed with Phil Collins guesting on the drums and Oleta Adams featured on vocals. Adams had been invited to collaborate on The Seeds of Love when Orzabal and Smith heard her in Kansas City, Missouri, while they were on tour.

"Woman in Chains," though not a song about a cheerful topic, resonated with me in a way that no other Tears for Fears song ever had before. And it was all in response to Oleta Adams' soaring vocals. Even today, I probably listen to that one song at least once a month or so.

For some reason, I never followed Adams' solo career even though I felt her voice made that song what it was. But when I heard that Adams was releasing her first major pop or soul album since 2001, I knew I should give it a listen. I was not disappointed.

Let's Stay Here proved that after 20 years, this vocal powerhouse has not lost her touch. This is a mix of soulful jazz and pop tracks that definitely got my attention.

Oleta starts off the album with "Feelin' Good" and doesn't let up from there. Each song features her gorgeous, warm, and soulful vocals backed by a talented jazz/soul band who complements her talents to a "T". (I really want to know who played saxophone on "Feelin' Good" - whoever it was has a dark, smoky jazz solo that sounds amazing -- I'd swear it was David Sanborn, but can't tell for sure.)

"We Can't Stay Here" is another favorite of mine on the album, once again pairing the sweet saxophone with Oleta's seemingly ageless voice. If only all upbeat jazz ballads could be this simple, yet smooth arrangement.

But without a doubt, my favorite on the album is the "Best That I Can Do". Opening with a screaming saxophone solo and leading up to Oleta crooning "Baby, it's the best that I can do..." with a back beat that called out to me.

If you've been looking for another release from Oleta after her long absence, wait no longer. She's back. Let's Stay Here will have a prominent place in my music collection.

Oleta, please don't let Let's Stay Here be your only release for another 9 years.

--- BlogCritics Music



OLETA ADAMS - POWERFUL ENTICING VOICE

Oleta Adams blasts the walls of the Rrazz Room at the Hotel Nikko with her unique sound that is at once familiar and friendly. Most the songs that Oleta sings are written by the interesting and complex star. Adams background in singing came from classical training, and the influences of gospel music. One star that she credits with being one of her most important Idols is the great Roberta Flack. It was these influences that paved the way for her to find her own niche in the music world where she was able to extend her vast talents beyond just vocals into songwriting as well.

Adams has a dedication to writing sturdy and simple story songs. People that she has met during her lifetime inspired many of the songs. There is one about a relative, another about a friend that was abused by her husband. With her original music and words, she brings what I would call little Play-lets to life. Somewhat like Country Music that always tells a story to music.

The Gospel influence is very much there. As a matter of fact I enjoyed the Gospel touch more than anything else. For one thing, they are a little quieter and the music beat is not as overwhelming. It was a good time to just absorb the emotion of these engaging ballads. Have some wine, mellow out, and let OA spark your evening. If you liked the legendary Anita Baker then you are going fall in love with Adams.

You want excitement? Then nothing like the song from her song "Power of Sacrifice" from her "Love Album" will send you on a rocket to the moon. Also wonderful is the song "Let's Stay Here" -- a song that Adams wrote for her husband and their marriage. It's Jazz with heart tugging soul. One of the most beautiful things that Adams brought to the stage is "Long And Lonely Hours", a song that Adams tells us "It's a prayer song." By the way on a tour of Italy she and the Oleta Adams band sang her Gospel songs in a Catholic Church. How cool is that? Really, really cool, I think! Another song that is really going to make your socks roll up and down is called "Safe and Sound". It's about children.

Adams left us with her Big, Big hit "Get Here". Even if you don't remember the name, you will instantly remember this international hit song. Here's an interesting story about it: a couple of ladies sitting next to me told me that when they first met "Adams was singing that song." It became their love song. And that is why they showed up to see her again. It's a song that they will never forget. Oh, and by the way -- they are officially married. Now, tell me again that music is not powerful. Oleta Adams didn't know it -- but she is a MatchMaker.

Oleta Adams performing live. I think that you should surrender yourself to a great treat. Forget politics and the office. Just kick back and fall into a dreamy, glossy evening of upbeat, fantastic, incendiary singing.

--Lee Hartgrave, contributor San Francisco Chronicle


OLETA ADAMS LET'S STAY HERE
The pop/R&B artist, also known for gospel, has just released this soaring new secular album. Adams' rich, warm alto consistently captivates.

--thedailynews edition, Paulo Alto, CA


CATCH OLETA ON TOUR IN 2009...

Visit Oleta's Tour Page to check out her upcoming tour stops! More dates will be coming soon so check back often!

NEW PHOTOS FROM OLETA...

Oleta shares some new pics with you from her recent trip to London and Germany. Check out Oleta's Photo Gallery to get a glimpse of Oleta taking the stage, photos with the rock band Keane, and others!

Take a look in Oleta's Photo Gallery to check out some personal pics of Oleta's recent journey's.

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Last updated: 5/7/09