"There is a
woman in the room," Ashley Cleveland
announces on "Queen of Soul," the rousing
lead-off track from her latest release,
Before the Daylight’s Shot. Though she
may be singing about Aretha Franklin, that
simple declaration could double as
Cleveland’s own motto as an artist.
In a music
scene overpopulated by breathy girls and
melismatic vamps, Cleveland is that rare
thing - a woman who sings like a
woman. A woman with grit and passion. A
woman who’s not afraid to follow her
longings into places both light and dark.
Yes, she can roar and wail with maximum soul
wattage (her voice inspires regular
comparisons to locomotives and hurricanes).
But she can also be soft, tender, sly,
wistful, open-hearted, melancholy, wise,
seductive, wry - all those facets that make
a vocalist deep and compelling. And whether
she’s delivering a regretful ballad like
"Streams Of Mercy" or a mighty rocker like
"The Blessing," she connects emotionally
with a strength and clarity that would make
Cingular jealous.
It’s that
emotional connection - a combo of
Cleveland’s natural wonder of a voice and
fierce songwriting talent - that has been
thrilling listeners since her debut in 1991.
Blending rock, blues, gospel and folk with
her distinct open-tuned guitar playing, she
has forged an unmistakable sound that has
won her two Grammy Awards, three Dove
Awards, a place on countless year-end Top
Ten lists and a legion of devoted fans.
Beyond her
own career, Cleveland is also one of
Nashville’s most in-demand session singers,
having performed on over three hundred
albums, for artists including Emmylou
Harris, John Hiatt, Jars Of Clay, Don
Henley, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Delbert
McLinton, Etta James, Rodney Crowell, Pam
Tillis, Patty Smyth and Michael McDonald.
A
spokesperson for SHARE (Songs of Hope And
Recovery for Everyone), Cleveland regularly
performs at national events focused on
addiction recovery.
Her seventh
album, Before The Daylight’s Shot,
finds Cleveland at the height of her powers.
Whether she’s singing about purpose ("Ready
Or Not"), faith ("Deeper Walk"), fulfillment
(a bluesy take on Stevie Wonder’s "Higher
Ground") or enduring married love ("Twilight
Hour"), there’s a clear-eyed maturity and
depth of artistry that lifts her into an
exclusive class.
Other
contemporary female vocalists may be content
to throw shadows and strike girlish poses.
But when Ashley Cleveland sings, you can be
certain of one thing: there is a woman in
the room.
