'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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Fix You
Jacqui Naylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
When the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will I will try to fix you
High above and down below
When you love too much to let it go
But if you never try how will you ever know
Just what your worth
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try I will try to fix you
Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face and I
Tears they may stream down your face
But I promise you I'll learn from all my mistakes
Though they may stream down your face oh I
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try I will try
I will try to fix you
Jacqui Naylor's captivating song Fix You is a powerful testament to the fact that life is full of ups and downs. The opening lines of the song, "When you try your best but you don't succeed/When you get what you want but not what you need/When you feel so tired but you can't sleep" portray the frustration and disillusionment of someone who has worked hard but finds himself or herself in a difficult place. The phrase "Stuck in reverse" emphasizes the sense of feeling powerless that accompanies such experiences.
The chorus of 'Fix You' ("Lights will guide you home/And ignite your bones/And I will try to fix you") is both haunting and uplifting. The singer's promise to help fix the pain of a broken heart is not just a gesture of love but an act of empathy that soothes the wounds of those who have been hurt. The phrase "And ignite your bones" suggests a sense of new beginnings and a feeling of renewed hope for a brighter future.
The second verse of the song touches on the frustration of loss and disappointment, "When the tears come streaming down your face/When you lose something you can't replace/When you love someone but it goes to waste/Could it be worse?" The final verse underscores the importance of taking risks, "But if you never try how will you ever know/ Just what your worth". The final line of the song cements the idea that the possibility of fixing one’s pain and heartbreak is always within reach.
Line by Line Meaning
When you try your best but you don't succeed
Even if you give your best, if you don't succeed, it can be disheartening.
When you get what you want but not what you need
Sometimes getting what we wanted, may not be what we needed.
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Feeling drained and exhausted, but unable to find rest – which can be exhausting in itself.
Stuck in reverse
Feeling trapped and unable to move forward, making any progress seems like a distant dream.
When the tears come streaming down your face
Crying uncontrollably can be a powerful and emotional experience for anyone.
When you lose something you can't replace
Losing something valuable or irreplaceable in life can be shattering.
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Loving someone deeply, but the relationship eventually ending can leave one feeling helpless and lost.
Could it be worse?
When life is not going well, one might ponder if things could be any worse – and realize that it perhaps can.
Lights will guide you home
Hope is always there, all one needs is to follow the guiding light which will lead them to a better place.
And ignite your bones
This light will not only light up your path but give you strength.
And I will I will try to fix you
Even though life can be harsh and unforgiving, one still strives to help and fix others – and themselves.
High above and down below
The highs and lows of life are natural, and everyone must go through them in life.
When you love too much to let it go
The emotion of love can be powerful, making it hard to let go of someone or something.
But if you never try how will you ever know
Trying is a crucial element in life, for without it, one will never learn or know what they could have achieved.
Just what your worth
Through the journey of trying, one discovers their true potential and worth, building the confidence to move forward in life.
Tears stream down your face
Crying can be a beneficial and healing experience, allowing the release of pent-up emotions.
Tears they may stream down your face
Tears can indicate various emotions, not only sadness but joy or gratefulness.
But I promise you I'll learn from all my mistakes
Mistakes are natural, but accepting and learning from them is the key to growth and success in life.
Lights will guide you home
Once you find your guiding light, it will always lead you home, where you feel the most at peace and secure.
And ignite your bones
This light will fuel you with the energy and drive, empowering you to continue the journey of life.
And I will try I will try
Trying is the foundation of growth and progress, and one must try and keep trying in life to achieve success.
I will try to fix you
Amid all the ups and downs, one tries to make things right and fix things as much as possible to keep moving forward.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHRISTOPHER ANTHONY JOHN MARTIN, GUY RUPERT BERRYMAN, JONATHAN MARK BUCKLAND, WILLIAM CHAMPION
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind