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Val
Watson
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Val
Watson is best recognized as the songbird of Club Nouveau, the
80’s super group that made musical history with hits like
“Jealousy,” “Situation #9” and the Grammy Award
winning cover of “Lean On Me.” As the signature female
voice of the trio, for many fans, Club Nouveau is Val Watson.
With the release of her debut solo effort, Urbal on June 8
from Thump Classic R&B, however; Watson sets out to prove
her fans delightfully wrong. Club Nouveau may be Val Watson,
but Val Watson is certainly not Club Nouveau. With Urbal, the
vocalist breaks out her Club Nouveau shell and introduces us
to a new vocal persona. Urbal is a free flowing musical ride
that reveals her funk face, her jazz side and her just plain
ol’ groovin’ back base.
And
speaking of fans, the Nouveau-lite has plenty of them,
including George Clinton, George Duke, Bootsy Collins, Gerald
Albright, Patrice Rushen and Michael Cooper. And to prove it,
they all join her on the project!
“This
solo effort has been budding inside of me for a long time. I
love Club Nouveau. The group and I are family, but sometimes a
sister just has to bust out with it! Urbal allowed me the
opportunity to show a different side of me. I’m excited
about the project because Club Nouveau members Jay & Mario
are excited and it feels good when the members of the group
you’re in not only genuinely support you, but openly push
for you to have the solo success they feel you deserve, “
explains Watson.
Urbal is
an eclectic blending of funk, R&B and jazz. Its flow is
earthy, like the title suggest, while at the same time
organically rhythmic. On “The Real (Do-Do)” Bootsy and
Michael Cooper join Watson for some up tempo house party fun.
The vibe is more relaxed and vintage Watson on the dreamy
ballad, “Whether You Know It” where she is joined by Jane
Eugene of Loose Ends.
While
“Soul Shack” takes us all the way back to our ‘70’s
groove roots, “Do What Come Funky” is a trip to the
mothership, with George Clinton navigating the way. “High
(It’s My State of Mind)” is a breezy feel good jam that
proves the spirit can be elevated with just song and a
beautiful voice.
With
Patrice Rushen lending her signature keyboard stylings on the
CD’s finale, “Alright,” it’s a perfect conclusion for
a project that provides an Urbal remedy to the classic
ailments hankering today’s overburdened music generation.
Val Watson’s Urbal, like a strong cup of hot herbal tea,
will stir you from the inside out…and you’ll find yourself
the better for it.
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