Review by Jonathan Widran. Reposted with permission. Visit: www.JWVibe.com One of contemporary jazz’s true breakaway artists of 2018 with three consecutive Billboard charting hits, keyboardist/composer Carol Albert keeps the momentum flowing with her latest single “Femme Flight,” which was the #2 most added track on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart its first week out! A bright and high spirited, Brazilian-tinged celebration of creative freedom, the track features Carol on piano and wordless vocals in an ensemble featuring two of the genre’s most acclaimed emerging female artists, flutist Ragan Whiteside and saxophonist Magdalena Chovankova from the chart-topping German band Threestyle. Produced, written and arranged by Carol and mixed by Paul Brown, the track features the dynamic rhythm section of Nathaniel Kearney (from Dave Koz’s touring band) and drummer Jay Williams (from Gerald Albright’s band). Carol’s most recent chart success was “Chasing Waterfalls,” which stayed on the Billboard National Smooth Jazz Airplay chart and Smooth Jazz Songs chart for 10 weeks, peaking at #15. It also was #1 on Groove Jazz for two weeks, reached #4 on the Smooth Jazz Top 20 and also reached the Top 20 on the SmoothJazz.com chart. Her previous single, the title track to her album Fly Away Butterfly, stayed on the Billboard charts for 18 weeks, peaking at #5. The collection’s first single “One Way,” reached the Top 30 on the Billboard charts. “It’s been very rewarding to see how my new music has resonated with people, and the radio airplay and appreciation from listeners are a wonderful confirmation that I’m on a strong creative path and achieving my goals on this very personal quest,” says Carol, whose multi-faceted career includes five albums dating back to the 90s, including the new age oriented releases Morning Music and Night Music. “The songs on Fly Away Butterfly represented a true healing phase in my life, and I am happy to note that one friend who heard ‘Femme Flight’ said, ‘I see your butterfly has morphed into another winged animal’ in free flight. It’s a song that reminds me of being free and having the strength to not only endure but to express that freedom and love of life to the fullest. I always envisioned the track as a female ensemble piece, and I’m delighted that I could showcase the talents of two incredible musicians in Ragan and Magdalena.” “Femme Flight” is the lead single for Carol’s currently in progress new full length album, due for release April 12.
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