Rondi Quote Sheet

Will Crutchfield, The New York Times: 
Rondi Charleston is in tune with herself and her material and is a joy to hear. She works her way into her listeners hearts and her emotional range is wide. She is utterly delightful! ”

Downbeat:
Rondi Charleston is one of those rare artists for whom a song’s meaning is as important as its melody. Her personal, thought–provoking, original songs slow the heartbeat and raise the mental senses with a documentarian’s acuity.

Hot House:
These are some of the most memorable new songs to come from a jazz singer since Abbey Lincoln. Charleston delivers vocal artistry at the highest level on this collection.

Jazz Inside:
Kicking off her national tour, the much lauded jazz vocalist and songwriter, Rondi Charleston, joyously celebrated the release of her new jazz CD, Who Knows Where The Time Goes, at Joe’s Pub on May 26, 2011.Charleston is the epitome of today’s contemporary singer, intelligent, multi-faceted, and dedicated. Backed by an exceptional group of renowned jazz musicians that featured the illustrious James Genus, the brilliant Lynne Arriale and the distinctive Dave Stryker, Charleston radiated polish, poise and personality on her opening number. Rondi’s original compositions aptly demonstrates an inherent natural ability to touch people where they live – she is an excellent communicator whose lyrics are vividly visual, poignant, inspiring and, accessible which gives her songs a commercial appeal as well. The band opened up jubilantly on Bobby McFerrin’s “Freedom Is A Voice,” with Rondi rising to a resounding crescendo and raising the spirits of everyone in the room before exiting the stage. Mrs. Charleston concluded her performance with her social anthem, “Song For The Ages”, and tied the final golden threads of her stunning performance into a beautiful bow of “better things to come”.

Icon Magazine:
Singer/songwriter Rondi Charleston makes music that’s close to jazz nirvana. Her voice has a wise, burnished patina that goes a long way in making this album accessible, which at times flirts with perfection.

Beck/Smith Hollywood:
Exquisite new album…Charleston is remarkable! Rondi Charleston has won rhapsodic praise from The New York Times, Downbeat and an array of other music publications. She’s being extolled as a songwriter with great storytelling gifts as well as for her plush voice. Small wonder her original work is en route to being used in a film – details later.

The Celebrity Cafe:
Charleston evokes a sense of timelessness that is delivered effortlessly by her vocal command. Self penned tracks such as Your Spirit Lingers, pay homage to an ancestral past that are universally transcendent thanks to her descriptive
talents.

Inside World Music: Charleston’s latest release of jazz music is one for the ages. Her four originals with languid vocals make
the songs last forever, but that is a good thing… find the time to enjoy Rondi’s timeless music.

Jazz Corner: Performing music is as natural as storytelling for Charleston, whose instincts provide the warm lucidity of
her work. Her luminous flexibility and immediate timbral richness are heard throughout the recording. Charleston writes and sings with
full engagement and zero pretense.

The International Review Of Music: Charleston has an adventurous, probing spirit. Her version of Bobby McFerrin’s “Freedon Is A Voice” reminds you that jazz can careen joyfully between its folk, blues and Afro-latin roots; there is rhythm at its core and optimism at its soul.

The Cincinnati Inquirer: The album has been well-received by the jazz music press. And to Charleston’s surprise, the highest praise has been for her four original compositions telling stories with lyrics by Charleston and music by pianist Lynne Arriale.

CD/DVD News & Notes: A refined jazz singer with a penchant for uncovering the essence of what makes a song a classic. Charleston
makes Who Knows Where The Time Goes radio friendly for a new generation of quiet storm jazzers.

Jazz Police: The distinguishing aspect of Charleston’s singing career is her incisive storytelling. The resounding strength of her this recording is her ability to dive deep into the heart of the matter and bring each emotional nuance to the surface.

The Daily News / In Tune: One of the best jazz vocalists plying her trade these days…equally adept at writing her stuff as she is interpreting the works of others. Charleston, like her music, is a treasure.

BVS Reviews: Rondi Charleston is one of those rare talents that comes around far too seldom. She is a gifted storyteller. I became an instant fan.

Jazz Times Magazine: A richer, smokier, more mature sound is now in full evidence on Charleston’s album. The title track sets the tone and serves as a lovely reminder of the purity of Charleston’s tone. The extent of her interpretive imaginativeness is realized, with sensuously sinuous “I Hear Music,” a bluesy “Please Send Me Someone to Love” and an insightful “This Nearly Was Mine” that, quietly appreciates the lyric’s desolation. All four originals are equally affecting, extending from the hushed might of “Your Spirit Lingers,” an ode to our forefathers’ fortitude, to the enduring fulfillment of “Dance of Time.”

All About Jazz: This breathtaking album is a showcase for one of the most compelling artists in contemporary music. Her collection
of tunes is marked by honest words, skillful writing and intelligent music. Charleston’s unique style is a wonderfully accessible form of jazz and jazz inspired songs all delivered with the ease of a classic American standard or the brilliant simplicity of a Top 40 tune.