LC: Barbara, Barbara, Barbara!!
BF: Oh my!! Is that three strikes you’re out? What’s up baby boy? Have not talked with you since we recorded the remake of My Funny Valentine. By the way, that was great!!!
LC: Actually, those recording sessions were really nice and your rendition of My Funny Valentine is still one of my favorites because you sang it with such emotion. I really enjoyed engineering that project, but I have to tell you that
I love this CD, "Soulful Reflections."
BF: You’re making me feel real good. Thank you. I am just overwhelmed by the response of this project.
LC: Have you ever tried to analyze why you just love certain recordings? I did just that with "Soulful Reflections" and came to the realization that: 1) Barbara, your voice is a familiar voice to me. 2) Some of the songs are jazz and R&B standards, and are familiar to me. 3) I have the desire to listen to the CD over and over again because it is nice and it makes me feel good. So, have you tried analyzing why you love what you love, when it comes to music?
BF: I have tried but it usually comes out that I just love it, meaning, I love everything about it, the expression, the instrumentation, the melodic things, etc. The familiarity of it is usually other artists and songs that I respect, admire, and love. The song choice was definitely contemplated. We tried to choose songs that would touch someone in some unique way. We thought about people driving home from work after a long, hard day or someone that just wanted to kick back at home and relax. Lastly, we wanted this CD to be about love and I have heard some stories.
LC: Oh really? Like what?
BF: For example, someone said to me that their husband said “I have been listening to Barbara Fowler’s CD, can we go make love. I have also heard, this is one of those baby-making CDs. It’s all good though, don’t get me wrong. I love it!!! It is very enlightening as an artist to know that people feel that way about your music.
LC: What is one of your favorite cuts on "Soulful Reflections" and tell us if you can, why?
BF: You really want me to pick one?
LC: Yeesssss!
BF: I am not sure I can do that, (smiling) so feel me on this one okay? I enjoyed doing this entire project, and there’s a lot that goes into a song. Your psyche, your feelings and emotions, your heart, etc., and I had all of that, with all of the songs on the project, but to answer your question, I’ll give you a few of my favorites. All of the originals, and Betcha By Golly Wow.
LC: Gee Barbara, next time I'll ask you to just pick one (laughs). I know it's not a fair question. It's like asking a mother to choose only one of her babies and you have beautiful babies on this CD, so to speak. Is this CD a personal milestone for you?
BF: Yes, I would have to say that it is. I have been doing funky rhythm & blues and dance music since the beginning of my recording career and to have an opportunity to do something that could show some versatility or another side (my softer side) was quite exciting and I loved doing it.
LC: The CD package is great, from your performance to the music production, down to the layout of the CD. Who are some of the people that you worked with on this project?
BF: Bernie Zahren (Executive Producer) who financed the project, and Amy Twill (project manager) who really kept it going. Chris Davis (producer) whose genius brought the project to musical light, came up with the concept of the CD cover, and hired all of the wonderful vocalists and musicians. To his credit, he strategically picked the right people for each of the songs whether it was a background vocal part or an instrumental part. He knew what type of voicing would sound best for the song, although everyone chosen was outstanding. He just knew the right fit. Jackie Buster-Lawrence designed the layout of the CD.
LC: Sounds like a great team. Now, I got into a discussion with a few musicians who are very familiar with your vocal ability and they kept arguing the point that you were not singing on 'Soulful Reflections" like the Barbara they have come to know. Like the Barbara that would tear the roof off, build it back, and then blow it off again. To them I say two words, Smooth Jazz. What do you say?
BF: I appreciate and respect the fact that people love me for what I do, and I can’t wait to get back to doing what they love, however, at the same time, I am a singer, and as a singer, I should be able to do it all. The CD is, as you say “smooth jazz,” and I respect it for what it is. This was an occasion to expand my horizons and open new avenues to draw in listeners from different worlds. I know how I can explain this, okay let’s take a look at Queen Latifah. On the Dana Owens Project she sang big band jazz (something that no one could have ever expected, probably not even her) and guess what? It worked. It shows her ability and it shows that she is not locked into one genre of music. Artists should reach and I say go for it if you can.
LC: It is so bothersome to me when people try to define or categorize your musical sound, and then try to hold you to their definition. I can still hear "Come And Get My Lovin' " and your voice creating an emotional whirlwind on that track and yes it's not the same record as Soulful Reflections but it is the same artist and both performances are different but great. Did you have to work at toning it down for this CD?
BF: It is funny you should characterize it that way. That is exactly how I would have said it. "Come and Get My Lovin’" was an “in your face” expressive song that I absolutely love, and needed to do at the time. Not to mention that every producer was looking for that type of power and release as well. From the onset of the Soulful Reflections project, it was understood what the CD would reflect. It was an ambitious undertaking that would require a lot of self-control. I had to stay focused and remember the ultimate goal of the project, and I am happy that goal was satisfied. I love the release of power but I can express myself in other ways to project a different kind of release, and Soulful Reflections is a testament of that.
L.C: The song "Betcha By Golly Wow" written by Tom Bell and Linda Creed was recorded by several artists like, the Stylistics, Prince, and Phyllis Hyman. The song is one of my R&B favorites because of the lyrics; melody and the chord progressions just blow me away. What made you decide to record it for this CD?
BF: First, I love the song and second, I absolutely loved Phyllis Hyman and I miss her voice in today’s music. I had an opportunity to work with her on a couple of occasions. Twice while doing showcases in New York, and we also shared the same stage along with the late great Luther Vandross and some others while touring as Sinnamon back in the mid-1980’s. So I really wanted to reflect on her greatness. I felt this might be a song that people wanted to hear again. I have to mention also that when I was looking for remakes, my goddaughter mentioned it because I sang it at her wedding a few years ago, as a tribute to Phyllis Hyman. Her husband is the second cousin of Phyllis and wanted it as a gift to his parents.
LC: It is easy to hear your vocal ability but many people aren't aware of your songwriting abilities. I see where you teamed up with Chris Davis to pen "Can't Wait" the first track on Soulful Reflections, cut #3 "Bermuda Waters", cut # 5 "Don't Change" and cut #9 "I Guess I'm In Love With You." Were these ideas that you had and brought to the production or did you and producer Chris Davis develop them from scratch?
BF: I do not play an instrument so I usually do collaborate with any producer that I am working with lyrically and melodically. Chris is the musical genius and I have always been inspired by his musical expression. All of the originals are songs that were written based on our personal experiences, and the passions and emotions are real.
LC: "Fragile", the Sting composition is nothing, nothing but sweetness. It is so soothing and your voice along side Timmy Maia is very effective. What is interesting here, is that you, a vocalist, took the song "Fragile" which was originally recorded by Sting with lyrics, and used your voice like a solo instrument and worked the melody without being intimidated by it. Brilliant. Whose idea was that?
BF: This was the idea of Chris Davis. I had not heard this song prior to working with it on this project. He mentioned that it was a song that many jazz artists embraced. I listened to it a couple of times by a few different artists and we took it from there. The edited version took out a lot of the adlibs and phrasing because it was thought that an acoustic guitar would work well too. I agree because I love what Wayne Bruce did with it. I also love Timmy Maia because he is just so smooth and he blends well with just about anyone.
LC: Was it easy working with other vocalist on these sessions?
BF: We live in a world with great technology. It is not often that two musicians or singers are in the same room at the same time unless they are doing a “We Are The World” video.
LC: Isn't that the truth. Today we can record simultaneously with two artists in two different parts of the world, but if we, as artist, don't bring emotions or a certain realness to the performance, then we don't get that special blend that can make or break a recording. "Soulful Reflections" has that blend. On the CD cover you are smiling under that red hat. One could deduce that you were tickled pink because you just knew that this was going to be an excellent CD. Would that be somewhat of a symbolically true statement?
BF: Well, perhaps but the real concept was an air of mystery. There was some indecisiveness initially and this was a result of the second picture production. I am tickled pink that you have made me feel so good about how you feel about this CD. I love that, and it is important. Thank you.
LC: Not a problem, my pleasure. Truth is truth. Do you have any other thoughts on Soulful Reflections?
BF: Someone told me that Soulful Reflections was a gem and not to ever forget it!! So to that I say, I only hope and pray that this is the result of something much bigger. Between you and me, I am in the process of reuniting with Yasha Barjona, however, I do not want to elaborate right now because we are working on the details of that reunion.
LC: Okay, that will be our little, little secret.
BF: I thank you and I am going to give you a shout out “much love for your time and interest Lionel.” Looking forward to working with you again.
