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| Labelle Reunites On Verve Records Embodying one of music's most enduring one-word brand names, and boasting a genre-defying legacy that has successfully spanned three generations, our era's most influential female powerhouse is about to show a stifled music industry how to really turn it out. Labelle is back! Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx, and Sarah Dash, R&B's most original and formidable trio are reuniting via Verve Records to deliver their first full length studio album in more than 33 years. The new CD, to be completed in June and on course for a global unveiling in the fall of 2008, is being produced by a trio of icons equally up to the task - cutting edge funk rocker Lenny Kravitz and 2008 Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame inductees Gamble & Huff. Transforming themselves from the classic-style 1960s girl group Patti La Belle and the Bluebelles (with a young Reggie Dwight aka Elton John on piano for one UK tour) into what one writer coined as 'the genre-bending rock supernova' of the 1970s, the innovative trio deftly combined glam rock, soul, funk, pop and gospel into a brash amalgam of breakthrough Labelle stalwarts such as "You Turn Me On, " "Can I Speak to You Before You Go To Hollywood?, " "What Can I Do For You?" and the groundbreaking "Lady Marmalade." Labelle redefined the creative arc of the girl group, celebrating their three distinct personalities by donning outrageous costumes and addressing controversial issues in song and demeanor, shunning the cookie-cutter stereotypes that plagued most female singers of the era. The group continually pushed gender boundaries in music of black origin, opening up for rock icons such as The Who and the Rolling Stones as they revolutionized the roles women played in R&B, rock n' roll, and even fashion. Often cited as a key influence for a new generation of female trailblazers, such as Erykah Badu and Christina Aguilera, (the 2001 Missy Elliott produced remake of "Lady Marmalade" featuring Aguilera, Mya, Pink, and Lil' Kim snagged MTV's Video Of the Year, among other awards) the distinctive new songs – many crafted by Labelle's own Nona Hendryx - also reflect the growth, wisdom and healing that exemplifies their individual storied paths after going their separate ways more than 32 years ago (there have been several special events and live reunions since). Braced, as always, by their trademark vocal firepower, the 2008 version of the supergroup still relies on their expansive range, show-stopping sense of theatricality, and as Nona puts it - their innate ability "to "pull together as sisters and 'Labelle-ize' the music and the vibe and the spiritual side of what we do like nobody else on the planet." Concocting an energized blend of uptempo songs and heart-wrenching ballads, the new CD includes the mesmerizing "Candlelight, " the driving "System, " the scorching "Superlover, " and the more traditional big ballad "Living Without You". These songs go to create an edgy and fan-pleasing album that once again finds Labelle embarking on a riveting musical narrative. "The thread that always runs through is that we're sisters and we'll always be sisters, " declares Patti; a connection between the three that may have frayed now and then over the years, but always remained 'unbreakable.' It was Nona who tapped eclectic rocker Lenny Kravitz for initial production duty on the new disc. "We're friends and admirers of each other's work. We talked to him about the idea of us getting together and invited him to a session. He showed up that day at 5:00 and we haven't stopped working." Where Kravitz represents the next-generation appeal of the Labelle magic, legendary songwriters/producers Gamble & Huff were part of the Philadelphia/New Jersey nexus that gave birth to the most popular soul sounds of the 1970s (O'Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, and others). In fact, Kenny Gamble grew up with Patti on the same Philadelphia street and their friendship throughout the years opened the door for Kenny to help launch the Labelle reunion. Such foundational strengths anchor the new album, eliciting the same kind of confidence that enabled Labelle to break the mold back in the 70s, with each member eventually taking flight in inspired solo careers that accentuated their respective gifts. Patti went on to sign with Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records in the early 80s, releasing the seminal album I'm In Love Again that cemented her long and acclaimed solo career. Her subsequent duet with Michael McDonald, "On My Own, " soared to #1 on the charts, with scores of hits and an impeccable live reputation rounding out more than two decades of acclaimed releases, TV and film appearances, sold-out shows across the globe, and multiple awards, including her April 2008 Humanitarian Award presented in New York by the "We Are Family Foundation" chaired by Nile Rodgers. Patti is currently working on a new line of spices, writing her third cookbook which will be out in September along with an instructional cooking DVD. Nona and Sarah (both hailing from Trenton, NJ) have also sustained compelling and highly successful individual careers. Sarah Dash has collaborated with such notable artists as Nile Rodgers and the Rolling Stones, (she even sang back-up on the Steel Wheels tour). Sarah also drew raves as a celebrated fixture of Keith Richards' solo outfit The Expensive Winos. She too, has written for the stage and is currently penning her autobiography. Her recent appearance in San Francisco's hit interactive theatre presentation, Teatro Zinzanni, seamlessly blended her commanding performing style with European cirque, opera, and musical theatre. During her thirteen-week stint on the waterfront at Zinzanni, Sarah broke all previous attendance records. The role of the "chanteuse" had previously been performed by Joan Baez and R&B sensation Thelma Houston. Nona's acclaimed songwriting and producing talents include collaborations with such diverse artists as Dusty Springfield, Talking Heads, Prince, and Peter Gabriel - to name a few. Her solo recordings have garnered top ten hits including "Bustin' Out, " "Why Should I Cry?" and "Transformation." Branching out into the worlds of film, TV and theatrical music has brought her even more acclaim, including Drama Desk and Emmy award nominations. Her amazing versatility is demonstrated on projects ranging from a song for a Disney-animated children's TV special ("People"), to 11 new songs for the Roundabout Theatre's off-Broadway smash hit "Blue" (a 'play with music' by Charles Randolph Wright, starring Phylicia Rashad), to music and vocals for Paul Haslinger's score of the soundtrack for the award-winning Showtime series "Sleeper Cell", and songs for the upcoming feature film, "Mama I Want to Sing, " featuring Patti LaBelle. A new feather in Nona's cap will be starring as The Acid Queen in a major stage production of "Tommy" in Los Angeles this June. After that, she and her band will join Cyndi Lauper's 'True Colors' Tour on the West Coast. Labelle's long-awaited return to the studio signifies yet another chapter in the historic legacy of the group. But all three members are quick to assert it's not the final curtain. There will be a tour. After all, the live component of Labelle has often been cited as their most unforgettable dynamic. "We're going to bring to the fans everything they've been asking for. We haven't lost our edge, " assures Nona. "I feel we're better because of everything we've gone through, " seconds Sarah. For a group whose roots indeed go all the way back to opening up for icons such as James Brown and Otis Redding, leave it to Patti to wrap it up - true Labelle style. "I think all you gotta say is 'we're here.' We're like that caged bird. If you love it, you open the door and let it fly because you know it's going to come back stronger. Well, we're back, baby. Anyone that knows Labelle knows we don't know how to hold anything back.” write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |