Soulful, daring, sultry and edgy! Ragan Whiteside’s much anticipated Quantum Drive is alive with energy and a unique style of contemporary jazz, “boom bap,” and R&B.
With the release of her third album due out July 8, Ragan Whiteside, who recently won Flutist of the Year in the 2014 Black Women in Jazz Awards, proves she is truly a one-of-a-kind talent and triple threat in the contemporary jazz music world. Her extraordinary talent for writing and producing music is unmatched. Add her sexy vocals and creativity to the mix and you have pure magic!
“The sound has not really changed,” says Whiteside, of her new project. “We have just expanded on what we have been building over the years. The mix of R&B and jazz is what defines my sound.”
Along with her co-producers, songwriter/arranger Dennis Johnson and keyboardist/songwriter/arranger Bob Baldwin, Ragan Whiteside has assembled an all-star roster featuring Bob Baldwin, Patrice Rushen, Frank McComb and Althea René. Quantum Drive also showcases up-and-coming hip-hop artist Bo Valentine, who pushes the boundaries on the funky dance groove, Work It Out.
While she is known for her electrifying flute playing, Whiteside lays her vocals on this energetic hip-hop/R&B tune, fused with down and dirty southern harmonica riffs. “We like to make feel-good music for people of all ages. Dance tunes are universal and they bring people together,” says the Atlanta based Producer & Songwriter, who hails from Mt. Vernon, NY.
It’s been two years since Whiteside released a recording and her new music is brimming with soulful vocals and hip arrangements like on the flautist’s remake of Patrice Rushen’s classic tune Remind Me, which features Patrice Rushen on keys.There is no doubt that Whiteside is in the driver’s seat and taking more risks than ever. She also is laying down more sultry vocals and her R&B tune Gentle Touch showcases more of Whiteside’s versatility as an artist.
Quantum Drive takes her listeners on a musical journey filled with surprising twists and turns, especially with the tracks Soul Biscuit and Wing & A Prayer. Whiteside’s impressive musical feel and technique on the flute can be heard on this new duet with smooth jazz Flautist Althea René.
On the tune Smokey Room, she teams up with Bob Baldwin and Frank McComb, two of the contemporary jazz industry’s heavy hitters on the piano and rhodes, and creates a breathtaking jam session. Whiteside’s collaborations on Quantum Drive bring together some of the hottest smooth jazz artists and talents.
Since the release of her 2012 album, Evolve, Whiteside has been writing and expanding her musical palette. Her new album features an array of writers (Lennox Armstrong, Tyrone Iris, Zoiea Ohizep) whose contributions fuel Quantum Drive with excitement and positive energy.
Ragan Whiteside evokes a sweet, imaginative yet powerful sound that will surely seduce its listeners into a whirlwind of bliss. Get ready for Quantum Drive!
About Ragan Whiteside
Ragan began her musical journey at the very early age of 5. She played the piano, drums, and the violin, but found her true love in playing the flute. Ragan’s passion for music led her to realize another new love: Songwriting and Arranging. After winning numerous competitions in both classical performance and music composition she decided to further her music studies and attended the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Harid Conservatory, where she earned a Bachelor of Music-Performance degree in Classical music.
After graduating, Ragan returned to New York to begin her career as a professional musician and immersed her composition abilities within the genres of Jazz, Funk, and R&B. After winning the Capital Jazz New Artist Competition, she released her debut album, Class Axe in 2007. Since her debut album, this award-winning artist developed a heightened focus in the writing, producing, and editing process of her sophomore release, Evolve. Evolve showcases not only her melodious musicianship as a flutist, but her sultry vocals and soulful compositions. Ragan recently won Flutist of the Year in the 2014 Black Women in Jazz Awards and in July 2014, Ragan returns with her 3rd studio album, Quantum Drive, further pushing the boundaries of Contemporary/Urban Jazz and R&B. Guest artists on this highly anticipated album include Bob Baldwin, Frank McComb, Althea Rene, and Patrice Rushen. Learn more about this dynamic artist at www.raganwhiteside.com
About Randis Music
Randis music is a record company founded in 2007 by contemporary jazz flutist/vocalist Ragan Whiteside and producer/engineer Dennis Johnson.While creating and producing music on their own in a dramatically changed digital music world, Whiteside and Johnson felt a need to combine their musical prowesses along with their professional business savvy to create a unique sound and approach to get their brand of music heard. Constantly pushing the musical envelope and thinking way beyond the norm, Randis music continues to break from the norm, while gaining the respect of even the most critical listening audience.
Comments