Christie Dashiell: Journey In Black

Christie Dashiell is an award-winning vocalist, composer, and educator born in Washington, DC and raised in Greenville, NC. Dashiell is a product of a musical family that influenced her to begin singing at an early age. Jazz bassist Carroll Dashiell, Jr is her father. Daughter and father are well known on the Washington DC music scene. Journey In Black consists of nine songs, seven which are original works from Dashiell, and two jazz classics that she recreates nicely. On Journey In Black Dashiell focuses on spirituality, love, grief and ancestral traditions in her expression.

on "Ancestral Folk Song" Dashiell begins with a powerful, inspirational African chant to the ancestors. Her vocal improvisational skills, or scatting techniques are phenomenal and reminiscent of John Coltrane on soprano saxophone improvising. Bassist Romeir Mendez controls the melody along with pianist Allyn Johnson. "Grief" is a beautiful ballad about how one struggles with the truth of it all. Dashiell's sound is amazing with a beautiful calming vocal range. "How It Ends" is a medium tempo ballad about love and what happens when you are missing someone. Dashiell's singing is superb with sincere lyrics. The band embraces a jazzy soft piano solo. With "Anyone Who Had a Heart" Dashiell demonstrates her talent for singing the classics. She makes this song as one of her own. There is a beautiful piano solo. "Always Stay" opens with soft and sultry vocal harmonies. Christie sings about the staying power one gravitates to when in love. "Influence" is a collaboration of Christie scatting to improvisations from the band. It has a classic upbeat jazz tempo with highlights from soft keys and drum techniques. "The Things You Do" features Marquis Hill on trumpet. This song tells the story about love and the things that one does to capture the heart and the soul of another. Beautiful trumpet solo from Hill. "Invitation" happens when one fantasizes and has illusions of inviting love into one's heart. Dashiell's vocal range is wonderful. Nice piano solo. "Brother Sister" is a heartfelt tribute to all the brothers and sisters that are dealing with the injustices of this society such as police brutality, unemployment, unequal wages, self-hatred and racism. A declaration to the unborn children that those before them will fight for a better life so that they can live free in this world.

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