Willie Hutch

Stunning debut album out by Joyce Elaine Yuille entitled Welcome To My World. Joyce grew up in the East Harlem section of Manhattan, better known as Spanish Harlem or El Barrio. She decided to focus on something distinct after many years of “live” performances in Europe... A tangible yet multifaceted project: the album you have before you.

“When you perform youʼre giving a lot of emotion, youʼre giving a lot of energy, but once the concert is finished, I feel it’s important that people can still connect with you, the music
and what they felt while they watched you and listened to you perform live. You know? The whole thing with me as a performer, is I want to leave a good and lasting impression on people”.

“Welcome To My World” represents a transition for Joyce: whereas for some musicians the recording studio is a safe haven, for others it may represent an intimidating environment: with her debut album, Joyce embraces a new challenge that is able to carry forth her stage energy and perfectly recreates in the studio that strong “live” element which characterizes her performance. As she explains, “When Iʼm recording, I basically try to put myself in a scenario where Iʼm doing a live show and that helps me overcome the fear of being in the studio and making mistakes, because when youʼre doing live, you just go, youʼve got to do it, you got to sing, you know, whatever is going on inside you, you just have to bring that out and I try to do the same thing, while Iʼm in the studio”.

As you listen to her warm vocals throughout the album, which include a slight hint of soulful prowess, thereʼs no fear that cannot be overcome. Her heartfelt interpretations welcome us into her world, where an intricate and honed voice texture reveals her incredible qualities as an interpreter. Nuances of Jazz, Soul, Swing, Blues: “Welcome To My World” is Joyceʼs gift to us – for the fortunate ones who have had the pleasure of hearing her live it would be effortless to recognize her warm timbre and equally warm heart – this album is concrete proof of her talent and personality.

Joyce co‐wrote most of the songs on the album, original compositions and her lyrics that reveal her profound nature through music – “I wrote a number of songs that kind of reflect my life situation, situations in my friends lives, world events, situations I see daily, maybe just walking down the streets.” Songs like “Late I Rise”, a tune that speaks about perseverance and staying positive, or “Come With Me (The Ride Is Free)”, where she urges us to forsake our biases, to refuse to partake in prejudices and judgement and just enjoy our time on earth, respecting others and ourselves. “A Time For Love Again”, composed by Marco Bianchi with Joyce’s lyrical skills, is another example of how this album goes beyond music and expresses a powerful and strong message: with this song Joyce speaks about disillusionment in love, telling us how thereʼs no sense in closing ourselves in a shell and giving into the fear of feeling and the ability to love again. We can all love again, reach out to others and feel amorous again. The album also includes some stand out covers, classics such as Marvin Gayeʼs “Itʼs Madness” and Donny Hathawayʼs “Trying Times”.

The album features the renowned and astounding Finnish sax player Timo Lassy and his band – musicians who are amongst some of the best Jazz players on the international jazz scene. Timo and his guys bring that extra something, a subtlety with a powerful impact and a groove that was needed to fulfill the dream and the vision of Joyce Elaine Yuille. Joyce has excitedly stated, “these guys are wickedly fantastic, I keep telling everyone, donʼt close your eyes on Finnish Jazz scene, because these guys are really kicking major ”! She smiles... (bandcamp)


Playlist for Sunday 10-05-2015



hour one (sorry not edited this week)
Will Downing - This Song Is For You
Charlie Wilson - Magic
Gabor Szabo/Bobby Womack - Breezin'
Rupert Holmes The Pina Colada Song
Staple Singers - Let's Do It Again
Melba Moore - Hard Not To Like You
Plush - We've Got The Love
Steph Mills - Keep Away Girls
Randy Brown - We Ought a Be Doin It
LJ Reynolds - Keys To The World
Jermaine Jackson - You Like Me Don't You

Willie Hutch x3
1 The Way We Were
2 Never Let You Be Without Love
3 Give That Good Old Love

hour two
Benny Golson - Always Dancin' To The Music
Maze feat: Frankie Beverly - Before I Let Go
Vibrations - Shake It Up
Kashif - Help Yourself To Love
Aretha Franklin - Half A Love
Johnny 'Guitar'Watson - Lone Ranger
Al Hudson & His Soul Partners - Spread Love

Willie Hutch's Biography:

Born in 1944 in Los Angeles, California, Hutch was raised in Dallas, Texas. He joined a doo-wop group, The Ambassadors, as a teenager. After graduating from Booker T. Washington High, he shortened his surname when he started his music career in 1964 on the Soul City label with the song "Love Has Put Me Down". After his move to Los Angeles, his music caught the eye of the mentor for pop/soul quintet The 5th Dimension, and Hutch was soon writing, producing, and arranging songs for the group. In 1969, he signed with RCA Records and put out two albums before he was spotted by Motown producer Hal Davis, who wanted lyrics to his musical composition "I'll Be There", a song he penned for The Jackson 5. The song was recorded by the group the morning after Hutch received the call. Motown CEO Berry Gordy signed Hutch to be a staff writer, arranger, producer, and musician shortly thereafter. More @ wiki