Robin McKelle's "Melodic Canvas offers listeners a timely social commentary with a rich, soulful sound" - U.S. Tour Dates Set for November
(Published: July 24, 2018)

For Immediate Release                                                                                                       
July, 2018


"Blending elements of blues, jazz, gospel and soul, the album is an inspired work of pure, aural bliss"

Robin McKelle's "Melodic Canvas offers listeners a timely social commentary with a rich, soulful sound"

U.S. Tour Dates Take Shape for November

In recent interviews, CD reviews, TV/radio appearances and tour coverage, singer/writer Robin McKelle has earned praise for her new album, ‘Melodic Canvas': "Tackling tough subject matter including politics, faith and more, McKelle's Melodic Canvas offers listeners a timely social commentary with a rich, soulful sound. Blending elements of blues, jazz, gospel and soul, the album is an inspired work of pure, aural bliss" (Eponymous Review).  McKelle is a musical enigma, and proudly so. On the acclaimed new album, she's empowered by the alchemy, embracing her genre-blurring style and no longer trying to fit into a box. The result is a deeply textured, rich collection - somewhat of a sonic return to her jazz roots, yet subtly so.

A recent U.S. tour stop in Rochester yielded local television, radio and print placements, and links are below. A new round of U.S. performances are in the works for November, with shows currently confirmed for New York's Rockwood 3 on November 7th, Boston's Regatta Bar on the 8th, and the Exit Zero Jazz Festival in Cape May NJ on November 10th and 11th. McKelle regularly tours in Europe, and additional U.S. dates will be announced soon - stay up to date here: http://robinmckelle.com

A sampling of recent placements follows:

Eponymous Review - Interview Feature
By Laurie Fanelli, 6/23/18
Robin McKelle talks preserving the earth & her new album ‘Melodic Canvas'
https://www.eponymousreview.com/3735/interview-robin-mckelle-new-album-melodic-canvas/
Excerpt/introduction: Robin McKelle has something to say on her new album Melodic Canvas. The singer-songwriter explores a range of social issues on her forthcoming LP, which is set to be released on July 6. Tackling tough subject matter including politics, faith and more, McKelle's Melodic Canvas offers listeners a timely social commentary with a rich, soulful sound. Blending elements of blues, jazz, gospel and soul, the album is an inspired work of pure, aural bliss.
McKelle took a more acoustic approach to Melodic Canvas, which also marks a return of sorts for the artist, to the jazz form. On it, she works with a number of accomplished musicians including Chris Potter, who's featured on the tender track "Come To Me" and a fervent cover of Allen Toussaint's "Yes We Can Can."


VENTS Magazine - Interview Feature:
6/13/2018
http://ventsmagazine.com/2018/06/13/interview-robin-mckelle/


FOX TV - Rochester - Live on-air Performance
https://foxrochester.com/news/good-day-rochester/greece-native-returns-home-to-play-at-jazz-festival



The Record-Journal - CD Review (Meriden, CT)
By Jim Pasinski 5/2018
http://jpsmusicblog.blogspot.com/2018/05/new-music-from-indie-artists-rich.html

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - CD review as show preview:
"A lovely, sensitive, funky and seductive soul and jazz singer..."
https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/lifestyle/columnist/garner/2018/05/31/new-music-jazz-fest-artists-robin-mckelle-geoffrey-keezer-others/659686002/

Jazz90.1 Radio in Rochester Live, on-camera interview with:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qinapfYhJB4

JAZZIZ Exclusively Premiered the animated video for ‘Do You Believe', here: https://www.jazziz.com/jazziz-exclusive-watch-video-premiere-robin-mckelles-upcoming-single-believe/



More about Robin McKelle and the new album:
A savvy songwriter and a powerhouse vocalist, McKelle has long found a home where soul, jazz, pop, gospel, blues and the American Songbook cross paths. On the new cd, her sonic template takes listeners on a trip down to the Old South, or sprinkles in a sound that could've emerged from the Motown era, or even a Sade album. In her live performances, she exudes a bandleader's moxie that recalls the Rat Pack era.

There's an insightful storyteller's voice that connects the new songs, a narrative thread that feels smart and soulful. McKelle's characters are vividly drawn, from the struggling teen in ‘Lyla' to the immigrant tale of  ‘Simple Man'; the moments of social awareness, in ‘Yes We Can Can' (an Allen Toussaint cover featuring Chris Potter) and ‘It Won't End Up', are wise and inspiring without feeling heavy-handed; on first single ‘Do You Believe', McKelle questions religion, hate, misogyny.

For the new CD (which she produced,) McKelle sought a more ‘acoustic' vibe with a focus on percussion, to allow the subtleties of her voice to shine. In her songwriting and in the arrangements/production of the album, she mixes her varied influences together with strength and grace.



A recent bio is here: http://robinmckelle.com/bio/



Visit: http://robinmckelle.com
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More Information: http://robinmckelle.com