Smooth, pop-tinged, latin flavored jazz from New Orleans

13 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Smooth Jazz, URBAN/R&B: R&B Pop Crossover



Details:
Born into a New Orleans musical family, "The Chatters", singing is her passion. Reina has proven that "a dream deferred is not a dream deterred" by completing her debut CD - MYSTERY.

The songs on MYSTERY show the variety of musical
influences in Reina's life. The classical influence is
from her mother (Wylene Chatters Heron) and her
aunt (Shirley Chatters Bloom). The Latin flavor to
her music comes from her father's (Samuel Heron)
hispanic background (LaCeiba, Honduras) and love of
music. The gospel and R&B influence is from her aunts (Jocelyn Chatters, Edvidge Chatters Jordan, and Judith Chatters Bell). The early jazz influences came from listening to her uncles (Maynard Chatters, Edward "Kidd" Jordan, and Alvin Batiste). Later jazz influences were from her brother (Elton Heron) and her cousins (Kent Jordan, Marlon Jordan, and Jonathan Bloom). Reina also enjoyed listening to musical plays, country music, and other genres, which colored her writing and singing styles.

Ten of the thirteen songs were written by Reina and her husband Huey Sorapuru. There is a thread of emotions that tie the songs together. The title tune "Mystery" is jazz flavored with pop, classical, and funk. The tune "Take Me Home" is jazz tinged with the latin influences that Reina was exposed to in her life. The other tunes also reveal the same types of influences and as Reina says,"they can be placed in many genres of music, especially the genre of "good" music." The standard jazz tune "Summertime" has a latin/funk twist. The medley ("The Shadow of Your Smile/Ain't No Sunshine") makes you want to dance as you listen to the unexpected combination of these tunes.

The MYSTERY CD was supported by other noted New Orleans musicians: John Brinson- producer/piano/keyboards, Donald Ramsey- bassist, Terence Higgins- drummer, Jonathan Bloom- percussionist, Huey Sorapuru- tenor saxophone, Gregory Dawson- alto & soprano saxophones, Mark Chatters- trumpet, Derwin "Big D" Perkins- lead guitar, Chris Cortez- rhythm guitar, Marc Hewitt- classical guitar, and the background singers- Reina, Yolanda "Pebbles" Windsay, Donald Ramsey, and Huey Sorapuru.