Patti Austin
Intimate
(Mosaic Contemporary – 2007)
by Paula Edelstein
Patti Austin crosses all musical genres, has made 16 solo albums, and has performed her award-nominated hit songs on the Grammys and the Oscars. As a performer, songwriter and vocalist she has had a star-studded career that began at the age of four, making her one of the most beloved artists literally the world over. The daughter of a jazz trombonist and goddaughter of musical legends Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington, Patti Austin made her stage debut with Dinah Washington at the world-famous Apollo Theater in Harlem. During the 1970s she was the undisputed “Queen” of the New York commercial jingle session scene.
Her voice was heard on literally hundreds of commercials, behind everyone from Paul Simon, Cat Stevens and Joe Cocker to Bette Midler, Roberta Flack, Luther Vandross and Diana Ross. At the beginning of the 1980’s, Quincy Jones gave Patti exposure to a wider audience through her participation on his best-selling album STUFF LIKE THAT and the Grammy-winning classic THE DUDE. Her debut album for Quincy’s Qwest label included the chart-topping hit “Baby Come To Me,” a now classic duet with James Ingram. The pair reprised their success with the Oscar nominated “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” In 2002, Patti recorded FOR ELLA, her critically acclaimed and Grammy-nominated tribute to the legendary Ella Fitzgerald in Cologne, Germany. In 2007 Patti celebrated the title of one of her biggest hits, “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” by signing an exclusive recording and media project development deal with Rendezvous Entertainment.
Her first offering with Rendezvous was the release of AVANT-GERSHWIN, a new and adventurous big band rendering of Gershwin songs. Again, for AVANT-GERSHWIN, Patti worked her magic with the WDR Big Band of Cologne, Germany. In May 2007, Mosaic Contemporary introduced their INTIMATE SERIES. INTIMATE PATTI AUSTIN features 12 of Patti’s most intimate songs including “Stop Look, Listen” and “Baby Come To Me.” Her extraordinary career continues to cross over boundaries and reach new heights. Learn more about Patti Austin at www.pattiaustin.com.
Reprinted with permission of…
