MP3 Journey Into The Fourteenth Hour - JAZZ: Smooth Jazz

Journey Into The Fourteenth Hour is a collection of neosoul present-day and still jazz originals. It is a high-impact, dateless body of work simply to be savored and listened to again and again.

9 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Unruffled Jazz, URBAN/R&B: Present-day urban

Journey Into The Fourteenth Hour Songs


Details:
Anna Maria Flechero was born in San Francisco, California. Even though she was raised by her grandmother, Big Mama, singer/songwriter Anna Maria was heavily influenced by her mother, Leola, a pianist and choir leader for several local churches. She was also influenced by the remarkable voices she heard coming from these choirs. This music would be the beginning of Anna Maria's musical journey and its lasting impression would forever remain. As a child, Anna Maria's mother always encouraged her to sing, play the piano and perform in church plays. "Just Because" was inspired by her mother.

As a teenager, Anna Maria's brothers Rufus and Celestino along with several childhood friends formed singing groups and won several music contests. Self-taught and playing by ear, Anna Maria played the piano, composed the music and wrote the lyrics for many of their songs. "I Betcha Never Thought" is a song inspired by the dreams of her brothers and childhood friends.

Fascinated by the creative process and the largeness of music, Anna Maria formed a five-piece band, Blessed Soul, in collaboration with a long-time friend, Jorge Ellington. Blessed Soul, quickly grew to a nine-piece Latin-jazz band, which performed to standing room only crowds throughout the Bay Area. After Blessed Soul, Anna Maria continued songwriting and ventured out as a solo artist performing original songs (her passion) at small clubs, coffee shops and private events throughout the Bay Area. From this work, Anna Maria was noted as a "modern day" blues singer by an entertainment reviewer for the San Francisco Chronicle's pink section.

As a result of this exposure, Anna Maria was offered and spent several months living and performing as a solo artist in Japan. Well received, Anna Maria was asked to renew her contract, however, upon briefly returning to the United States Anna Maria was faced with several family emergencies. For the love of her family, Anna Maria met this challenge with love and devotion. Over the ensuing years she raised her great-nephews, Darin and Damen, and her great-niece, Shalon. She also raised three other extended family members Victoria, Celia and Jermaine.

Never forgetting her love of music, Anna Maria has continued to write and perform original songs. The lyrics from "I Believe" refer to Anna Maria's love of her family and friends and her dedication to her community. It is without a doubt a present-day reflection of our times.

"There have been times that I felt, my heart, my soul, my body melt, yet despite all the pain, my belief in myself remained. . ."

Journey Into The Fourteenth Hour is a powerful collection of neosoul present-day and still jazz originals. Journey is about life: love and devotion, truth and honesty, dedication to one's community and the belief in one's self and the passion to create. It is a high-impact, dateless body of work simply to be savored and listened to again and again.