Detroit, MI) Jazz Cafe is proud to present the one-two punch of Grammy-nominated jazz trumpeter Russell Gunn and his Quartet featuring Grammy-winning vocalistDionne Farris, as they combine for a very special two nights (2 sets each night 8pm & 10pm),Friday and Saturday, April 25-26, 2013
The Russell Gunn Quartet, ensures an eclectic genre bending experience that fuses Ms Farris multi faceted vocal ability which melds, hip-hop, pop, soul, gospel, R&B and now with this innovative Quartet, she adds Jazz to her repertoire.
According to Creative Loafing Atlanta, “these Atlanta-based musical heavyweights are taking the stage (for two shows each night) — along with the members of Gunn’s Quartet to serve up, says Gunn, “the Dionne Farris songbook with arrangements by yours truly.”
Atlanta Jazz Festival: Late Night Jazz Concert
2013 BLACK WOMEN ROCK
New Muzik: Dionne Farris is not “Hopeless” she’s “Blessed” CONNECTINGTHADOTZ
"I'm Blessed" by Dionne Farris
Dionne Farris is a female R&B/soul musician, formerly an unofficial member of hip hop group Arrested Development. In 1995, she had a hit solo single called "I Know," and in 1997, she had another called "Hopeless" (written by Van Hunt) from the Love Jones soundtrack. Her newest album, For Truth If Not Love, was released in 2007. It features a new feel of the classic rock song "Stuck in the Middle".
Everytime "Hopeless" shuffles up on my playlist one question always comes to mind: Where the hell is Dionne Farris? That question was answered, kind of, when Dionne surprisingly popped up during Arrested Development's episode of Unsung. There is also a musical answer to that question as well. Though she's been releasing music under the radar for some time now, Dionne created a mixtape, Lady Dy the Mixtape Part 1, in 2011 with the assistance of producer (and rapper) Count Bass D. Describing it as "a collection of raw textures and colors in sound, beats and lyrics," the collection, showed just what mainstream music has been missing out on since losing track of her in the '90s. "I'm Blessed" is a prime example. Over a sweet and simple R&B backdrop, Dionne enumerates the myriad reasons why she's thankful to God for keeping her and why she's happy for the life she leads. Dionne is currently in the studiocooking up her next outing. While we keep an eye out for the new new, get current by listening to "I'm Blessed" below and picking up the nine-track Lady Dy the Mixtape via her site for $15. Soulbounce.com
Dionne Farris In Arrested Development's Classic Episode of Unsung (Full Episode Here)
signs of life
Top 10 Soul Albums of 2011 CREATIVE LOAFING ATLANTA
This year turned out to be a good one for soul music. We saw an ass-load of new releases from familiar faces, brand-new folks and artists we haven't seen in a hot minute. But, for me, 10 albums stood out as the cream of the crop in 2011.
Signs of Life, Dionne Farris: You never know how much you a miss an artist until that artist drops off the map. That’s how I felt listening to Dionne Farris’ latest project — which is arguably the best CD of her career. Though she’s been, for all intents and purposes, off the scene for years, on Signs of Life Farris doesn’t skip a beat in her quest to evade being pigeonholed — and to push the envelope on what can be done with soul (or pop or whatever) music. Plus, these are just some pretty-ass songs.
"~FOR TRUTH, IF NOT LOVE~ THIS SPEAKS VOLUMES! DIONNE FARRIS ALBUM" @mayacarr_tfl
The Lost Album
The year was 1992, and everywhere around the world there was a rich, husky voice lacing the Arrested Development hit with just enough red dirt and molasses (by way of NJ) to lift the #1 Grammy-Award winning hit, “Tennessee” into something spiritual, something more than anyone thought possible for hip hop before. Two years later, we heard the voice again talking about “I Know” with funk rock band members David Harris and Milton Davis from Follow For Now on her hit project “Wild Seed—Wild Flower.” Two years after that, in 1997, we got what appeared to be a final taste of that voice with the hit single “Hopeless” from the now historic “Love Jones” soundtrack. Then, suddenly, the short haired, plaid shirted lady known as Dionne Farris seemed to disappear.
Young and Bold Dionne
Only she didn’t really. Oh, Farris settled down and had some kids in Atlanta for a time. Grew her hair out and filled out her shape from its tomboy beginnings, but she stayed in good voice. And, by the mid-2000s Farris was regularly gigging and recording, bringing the house down with covers of Nina Simone’s “See-Line Woman” and songs from her little heard 2007 album “For Truth If Not Love."
Dionne Wild and Free
The project that nobody heard is a brill assortment of grown woman songs with heavy, cinematic lyrics that have much in common with the full-blooded women of Pedro Almodovar films. “For Truth If Not Love” is more adult rhythm and blues than the altie-rock influenced “Wild Seed—Wild Flower,” and is equal or better to anything a so-called neo-soul diva has put out in the last decade. Which is why it kills me every time I hear fans at a new Dionne Farris concert says: Why she ain’t come out with anything since “Hopeless?” Well, she had, and owners of cuts like “Laughing & Crying,” “Possibilities” or “So Blind” can probably catch a mint for those tracks since Farris recently pulled the project from iTunes and Amazon. But, never fear 2010 promises to bring a new LP entitled “Signs Of Life” with lead singles “Baggage” and “For U” already ready for true fans. Now don’t miss out this time, not unless you were just a trendy granola-eating, back-packing Farris fan for play, play not for real, real. For truthseekers only.
Published by L. Michael Gipson on Friday, January 8, 2010 at 1:36 am.
"Ridin' The Rails to Soul Train" The 2010 Soul Train AWARDS Tribute to Anita Baker. Dionne Farris' exclusive Purple Carpet and back stage pass the the awards!
The Best of Twitter according to LADY DY
"If I could take a time machine back to the first time I heard a specific song, it would be I Know by Dionne Farris." @willpracht
"Dionne Farris might be the most unjustly overlooked artist from the 90's. Wild Seed - Wild Flower is a forgotten gem." @hotterthanjuly
"When I listen to Dionne Farris, I'm reminded of Tupac <33" @FoolishDarling
Wait a damn minute! The singer for Arrested Development was Dionne Farris!! I'm late!!!!!!!!😂@imjustjos
#nowplaying @DionneFarris -Signs of Life. Her music is so much more than Tennessee and Hopeless @clylesvibe
#DionneFarris Black Goddess Divine @Empereur_JN
"1500 word paper and about 500 words in. Dionne Farris type of night #needtofocus" @Ah_day_show_la
"Earlier, I was wondering where @DionneFarris was. Then, @DionneFarris, a plucky intern or sweet baby Jesus hisself answered." #SociaMediaWin@Mathilde1469
"@DionneFarris: Thought abt Legendary Awards n had to search you n follow. Need your version of We are the Champions on Itunes right now!" @shira_chic " Has anyone used "Hopeless" by Dionne Farris and turned into "Popeless" yet? Too easy? @viejotigre
