remember clearly the day I walked into a now defunct record shop and saw a cd by an artist I had never heard of. The disc was literally jumping off the shelf and sending subliminal messages like : “Buy me! You may not know me but once you hear me, you’ll be hooked on me. I’m a songstress who can really sing and write my own lyrics as well.” I tried to resist but eventually I gave in and purchased “Soulsinger” by Ledisi. Needless to say, my risk turned out to be my reward because Ledisi’s debut was one of the best releases of 2000. That was followed with “Feeling Orange But Sometimes Blue”. An album that displayed her skills as a jazz singer but also offered some soul tracks as well. Fast forward to 2007 and “Lost and Found”, her debut on Verve Record that captures the sassiness and raw emotion that her fans have become familiar with. On the opening cut, “Been Here”, Ledisi makes you feel as if you are sitting in the front row and she has just entered the stage. This song is just a tease but a sign of good things to come. The track “Joy” finds Ledisi singing about all the love she has for her man over a bubbling mid-tempo beat. Ledisi slows things down a bit on “In The Morning” where she get can’t let go of the man who goes in and out of her life. One of the most powerful songs is “Lost and Found (Find Me)”. Ledisi yearns for someone to bring some joy in her life after enduring so much pain. After years of struggling as a independent, it’s Ledisi’s time to have her music heard by the masses. “Lost and Found” will move her far beyond cult status. Recommended.
