'JazzTimes' calls Jacqui Naylor "an incomparable triple threat, serving up classic covers with the best of them, delivering top drawer originals and inspiring with the musical marriage she calls acoustic smashing." Indeed this San Francisco-based vocalist may be best known for her technique of singing a jazz standard over a rock classic or vice versa, yet she has been equally praised for her original music and sensitive treatment of jazz ballads. She released her fifth recording, The Color Five, in 2007 in the United States, Europe and Japan and tours regularly. This is her debut appearance at Unterfahrt where she promises a groove-infused evening of jazz and rock.
With The Color Five, Naylor has created an eclectic yet seamless recording of five originals, five covers, and five of her trademark "acoustic smashes." Acoustic smashing is a technique invented by Naylor, and is the singing of a rock tune over a jazz standard or vice versa. "There is true genius at work here," claims legendary DJ Ken Dashow from New York's only classic rock station, Q-104. For example, Naylor sings the American Songbook classic "Summertime" over the music from The Allman Brothers' southern rock classic "Whipping Post." Another surprising "acoustic smash" on the new album is U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" sung over Miles Davis' "All Blues."
"I wanted to blend genre in the interest of storytelling and bring out all of who I am and who we are as a band," said Naylor. Her quintet includes Jacqui on vocals; co-writer and co-producer Art Khu on piano and guitar; Jon Evans on bass, Josh Jones on drums, and Yoon Ki Chai on violin. Working with this group was a thrill for Naylor; she added, "We had a blast making this recording!"
The Color Five follows Naylor's four previous releases. She received critical acclaim for her self-titled debut CD in 1999 and for her follow-up CD in 2001 entitled Live at the Plush Room. Her 2003 release, Shelter prompted Vogue en Espanol to call her "the new voice of jazz and pop" and JazzTimes deemed her "the next-big thing with originals that are Joni Mitchell good."
Her breakthrough fourth release, a double-live CD entitled Live East/West, was released in 2005, and includes original works, jazz standards, and the debut of "acoustic smashes." One of the smashes featured on that album featured "My Funny Valentine" sung over AC/DC's "Back in Black," a crowd favorite at Naylor's live shows.
The Color Five is just the next step on Jacqui's successful path, one that has taken many twists and turns along the way. Raised in Saratoga, CA, Naylor first became interested in music through her parents' collection of antique automated instruments and vintage jazz recordings. While learning songs from mechanical drums, music boxes, and player pianos of the 1930s, she didn't realize her tastes were not exactly contemporary. Jacqui explains, "I didn't think this was old music, just what I liked and listened to."
Although she sang in musicals and talent shows during high school, Jacqui put her desire to perform aside and pursued a traditional college degree in marketing at San Francisco State University. But after listening to a recording of Sarah Vaughan singing Gershwin in a music appreciation class, she recognized that music was indeed her true passion. In 1991 she began studying with renowned San Francisco vocal coach Faith Winthrop, and continued to do so for the next four years.
Simultaneously, Jacqui worked full-time as the director of marketing for clothing designer Lat Naylor. She spent her spare time honing her vocal skills through lessons and by singing as a soloist with the Sacred Heart Gospel Choir. She also trained with Shirley Calloway (Anne Hampton Calloway's mother). In 1997 Jacqui returned to San Francisco with one thing on her mind: to make singing her full-time career.
It didn't take long for jazz community to embrace Jacqui Naylor. Phil Elwood of the San Francisco Examiner described her distinct sound, which reminisces the bygone days of jazz greats, as "Billie Holiday's inflections and a touch of June Christy." But Jacqui's gospel-influence is just as recognizable, especially in jazz interpretations of her own generation's music and her originals. It's this combination of past, present, and future that explains her ability to attract old-time aficionados, new jazz enthusiasts, and fans of modern adult pop music. As Cabaret Magazine puts it, "She can make you sway gently with a blues-flavored melody, heat up a room with a strong R&B sound and then cool it right down with a smoothness that slides gently into your ear."
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All My Life
Jacqui Naylor Lyrics
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Thankful to the stars above all my life for you
When the party is all over and we're no longer new
I'll be standing here my heart next to you
If you think some silly thing you do will send me on my way
I'll be standing here wanting one more day
Thankful to the stars above all my life for you
If we knew what was coming what would be the fun in that
An adventure love shows where we're at
The good the bad the ugly it's a gamble every day
Love that stands true nothing in our way
'Cause I know who I want is you all my life it's you
I'm thankful to the stars above all my life for you
You're the one I want to see every morning when I rise
And when evening comes to look in your eyes
A thousand little things you do and say make me smile
All those little things make my life worthwhile
So when my days are over I'll be happy that I spent
All my life with you
All my life with you
When the party is all over and we're no longer new
I'll be standing here my heart next to you
And if you think some silly thing you do will send me on my way
I'll be standing here wantin' one more day
When my life is over I'll be happy that I spent
All my life with you
All my life with you
The lyrics of Jacqui Naylor's song "All My Life" convey the depth of the singer's love for her partner. She repeatedly emphasizes that the person she wants in her life is her partner, whom she has loved all her life. She is thankful to the stars for bringing this person into her life. She mentions that even if the party ends and their relationship progresses, and her partner says or does something that might send others away, she will always stand by their side, wanting more time with them. The lyrics clearly convey the depth of the singer's devoted love for the person she is addressing in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I know who I want is you all my life it's you
My desire for you has remained constant throughout my life
Thankful to the stars above all my life for you
I am grateful to the universe for bringing you into my life
When the party is all over and we're no longer new
When the excitement of our relationship fades away
I'll be standing here my heart next to you
I'll still be by your side
If you think some silly thing you do will send me on my way
If you believe that a minor mistake will drive me away
I'll be standing here wanting one more day
I'll continue to desire more time with you
An adventure love shows where we're at
Love takes us on an unpredictable journey
The good the bad the ugly it's a gamble every day
Our love faces uncertainty and risk every day
Love that stands true nothing in our way
Our love prevails despite any obstacles
You're the one I want to see every morning when I rise
I yearn to wake up next to you every day
And when evening comes to look in your eyes
I want to gaze into your eyes every night
A thousand little things you do and say make me smile
Your actions and words bring immense joy to my life
All those little things make my life worthwhile
Your presence in my life gives my life meaning
When my life is over I'll be happy that I spent
When my life ends, I'll be satisfied that I spent
All my life with you
My entire life with you
All my life with you
My entire life with you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MATT NAYLOR, LES PIERCE, STEVEN M. STERN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind