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Washington D.C, May 26th, 2023- Washington D.C. Washington D.C. based vocalist Hazel Mitchell-Bell has released her second CD, Sack Full Of Dreams on her own H.M.B. Records!
Music came early to Hazel Mitchell-Bell. Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina to Ernest and Roberta Mitchell, the family moved to Washington, D.C. when she was a toddler.
A young Hazel started singing in elementary school, continuing through high school glee clubs, performances, talent shows and participation in the Mount Carmel Baptist Church youth choir!
Hazel comes from a musical family. Her mother was a professional singer from North Carolina who sang gospel as well as jazz and R&B. One sister had her own band and a younger brother and sister appeared on “Showtime at the Apollo.” It is only natural that she shares their singing ability.
Read more about Hazel Mitchell-Bell's storied career here and here!
Pianist and Sack Full Dreams producer Vince Evans and Mitchell-Bell began working together in 2016. In 2018 they released the CD Stronger Than Ever, which includes standards from the Great American Songbook backed by an 11-piece orchestra.
With the new release Mitchell-Bell says "I wanted to offer a variety of music. As well I wanted to pay tribute to the icons whose shoulders I stand on!"
Well, both objectives are well accomplished with this release! The 12-tune set starts with the great classic and title track, Sack Full Of Dreams which has been covered by greats from Donny Hathaway to Ernestine Anderson. Sung here in a very rich and soulful style while the flugel horn's solo and live strings add just the perfect accents!
Where Is Love with its bossa nova arrangement is up next. Sung here with such smooth crispness and detailed articulation. Another standout!
It's been said that the true testament to a singer's ability to sing is the ballad. Mitchell-Bell certainly embrace's the ballad and proves that to be true. With track 3, Save You Love For Me she sings with range, tenderness and grace! The saxophone solo is just sultry enough!
The blues and Nina Simone lover's are spoken to on Nina's Do I Move You. Done here in grand tradition!
Hazel Mitchell-Bell has taken the great Dinah Washington classic This Bitter Earth and made it her own! With the string lead intro, the bluesy flugel horn solo and the supreme vocals this version is outstanding!
An objective with this release, as with many artist, was more variety. With adding in the great soul classic Hurry Up This Way Again with a terrific jazz arrangement and sung as only Mitchell-Bell can is superb!
With When Did You Leave Heaven, Hazel Mitchell-Bell pays tribute to one of her inspirations again, Nancy Wilson. One can simply say, bravo!
Similar can be said with Throw It Away another tip of the hat to an inspiration, Abbey Lincoln! An outstanding arrangement and accompaniment from the musicians on board!
Another flawless shift is with Spirit In The Dark a nod to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin! While the spirit of the original is present it's quite original and fresh and smartly sung in true Hazel Mitchell-Bell style!
This set includes a wonderful arrangement and jazz vocal interpretation of the Luther Vandross classic Dance With My Father sung with create sensitivity and passion.
Finalizing things are two wonderfully sung, emotion packed ballads! Where Is Love the show tune and Meet Me On The Moon a cover of the Phyllis Hyman classic!
With a Sack Full Of Dreams Hazel Mitchell-Bell has crafted an in-creditable mix of some of the great songs by some of the great artist and writers that have inspired and moved her to sing! To that we say job well done!
Visit the music world of Hazel Mitchell-Bell here!
Jazz radio add date is June 12th, 2023
The tracks and the musicians!
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