Adriana Evans

Found this online thought I would share it:Produced by rapper/producer Dred Scott, Adriana Evans' self-titled debut is a twelve song experience through a realm without boundaries, a locale where exploration is the first commandment, discovery the second, and restriction an unpardonable sin. A gifted singer/songwriter blessed with a voice and style reminiscent of the late, great Minnie Ripperton, Adriana Evans' songs evoke a vast range of emotions, blending the sounds of R&B, hip hop, and jazz on her PMP/Loud/RCA Records debut album. Exhibiting a notable quality of sheer confidence, Adriana was born to sing. It's in her genes, her heritage. Her mother, Mary Stallings, spent some time on stage, singing behind such jazz greats as Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie. With the addition of having legendary saxophonist Pharoah Sanders as her godfather, music has been for Adriana a wonderful essence of life. "Jazz has always been my background. Because my mom sang with Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie, I basically grew up listening to jazz along with soul music and hip-hop, but jazz is my foundation. My influences, vocally, were Dinah Washington and Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, and Carmen McCrae...these are the people that I really listened to a lot. I think the album has a lot of those overtones because those are my roots. I basically went back to what I knew best, and that is straight ahead jazz," Evans explains. Born and raised in San Francisco as an only child surrounded by loving relatives, Adriana's childhood and teenage years were colored by the intense musical scene of the city during that time. While growing up in the Bay Area, it was not unusual to see such diverse acts as BB King, Jefferson Airplane, Tower of Power, Miles Davis, or Sly and The Family Stone on the same bill, sharing music for music's sake. "I tagged along with my mother to various festivals and clubs throughout the world. Occasionally, she'd pull me up on stage, but I didn't really hit the jazz circuit." Her mother still tours Europe and has several critically acclaimed albums. Adriana left San Francisco when she was 18 and moved to her present home of Los Angeles to attend college. It was there where she met producer/collaborator Dred Scott. "It had nothing to do with music. It was so far removed from the music business, but its weird how energy and karma work. You never know the reason why you meet people, but things just kind of developed. We became friends and we worked together, coming up with incredible melodies. He's so well versed in music in general: jazz, blues, everything." Evans sang on a Dred Scott hip-hop composition in 1993, "Check The Vibe," which was released on his "Breaking Combs" album. Evans recalls: "We realized that we worked well together. From there, it just grew into another song, and another song, and here we are with an album." Using all the diverse elements of jazz, soul, funk, and R&B has created a rich tapestry of songs on "Adriana Evans". "We had a complete autonomy on this record, which is very rare. For me, it's very important that I express myself musically and artistically. But I realize that there is an audience and it's equally important that the audience gets it." Evans came to the attention of PMP records CEO Paul Stewart about three years ago when he heard an obscure demo that featured Evans. Evans came to Stewart's attention again, this time visually, in the "Check The Vibe" video. He called Scott and asked for a tape, but was unable to do anything independently. He passed the demo on to friends at Capitol, who signed Evans. She recorded, but Capitol was in the midst of restructuring and closed its Black Music Department. Stewart had just formed PMP Records and immediately signed Evans to the label. All of the music on "Adriana Evans" was created by Dred Scott and all of the lyrics were written by Evans. Spend a moment listening to the album and the listener gets a feeling of soft sensuality. The music stays true to Evans' and Scott's R&B/ Funk sensibilities with jazz oriented styling. The lyrical content explores the bitter-sweet theme of the experience of life and all that it entails. Relationships are explored on several different levels on "Adriana Evans". The opening tune, "Love Is All Around," is a song about a different kind of love. "I got tired of the same old love songs," Evans says. "Love goes beyond sex and romantic relationships. I wanted to write a song that said 'look around, open your eyes, love is everywhere!'" The seductive melodies of "Say You Won't" and "I'll Be There" are Adriana's testament to the complexity of romantic relationships." It's about seeing the writing on the wall," Adriana says. "It's about everything your mom told you from the giddy up. Realizing your self worth." The first single, "Reality," a Roy Ayers-ish, xylophone-laden tune, was written by Adriana during a time when she was living deep in the hood. "We'd be working on music and there would always be chaos happening in the world right outside my window. My writing was definitely colored by what I was experiencing at the time." Also of note is the throwback to the old-school styled "Lookin' For Your Love," a song that builds subtly and gives the feeling that a lot of thought went into its structure. "That's a special song for me. Growing up in the 80's and being a kid in the early 70's, there was so much great Black music around. Dred and I wanted to do something that referenced that." Indeed, love is everywhere to be found on "Adriana Evans", an album that successfully melds a range of emotions. "It comes from my soul. I hear certain words and I hear certain melodies. The most important thing to me is to create good music. Ultimately, for me, it's about making people feel good." "Adriana Evans" is a passionate endeavor, exploring musical boundaries, treating the listener to a discovery of unrestricted creativity, full of inspiring melodies and timeless songs. This singer/songwriter is blessed with a gift, and her debut album is a testament of her love for her craft, and with all the grace of her lineage, it's a modern pleasure. Bio courtesy of Loud Records

This is an incredible cd by a woman with an incredible voice and this woman can sing all types of music and there are many artists out there that cannot do this ; Well Ms. Evans can she can deliver on any type of music she can do neo soul, jazz , Rhythm and Blues and other good music this is a great cd and every song on this cd is good and I do mean every song on this cd but my favorite is "Seeing is Believing" I discovered Adrianna on a compilation cd and "Seeing Is Believing " is on the cd with various artists it is a nice mixed cd and I had just listened to it the other day so I came to amazon.com to do a little research and saw how she had so many rave reviews and how everyone had enjoyed this cd I had loved "Seeing is believing" and had saw how a lot of people had enjoyed the cd so therefore I gave her a try and I am very glad that I had did and I really enjoy this cd this cd will now belong in my cd changer instead of the original case !!!!! You go girl and I hope that Adrianna is gonna come back and do another album I can't believe this album didn't get any exposure because this album is wonderful and I enjoy it if you like Trina Broussard then you will enjoy this cd because she sounds like Trina Broussard and has a similar style of singing like Trina's so therefore if you like neo-soul or jazz therefore you will definitely enjoy this cd so therefore I would reccommend everyone to go out and buy it every track on the cd is good !!!!!

My original cd i had when it came out cracked and i was so pleased to find a copy in great condition & at a great price!!

by a young lady channeling Minnie Riperton. Adriana doesn't have Minnie's high octave range, but she does have a beautiful voice and a way with the 12 tracks on this CD. I feel Minnie when I listen to this CD because every cut is smooth and hypnotic, just like Minnie's classic debut, "Perfect Angel" some 30 years ago. I used to get a internet radio channel that had a channel for "Divas." It was here that I heard and fell in love with Adriana's voice and the songs on this CD. Favorites are: "Love is All Around;" "Seein' is Believin';" "Reality;" "Looking For Your Love;" "Say You Won't;" and my absolute favorite, "Swimming." The arrangements and the flow of the CD are so well put together, you can put this on and never get tired of listening to it. A must for anyone who's tired of the same old same out today that's popular; and if you love Jill Scott, Erykah Badu...and Minnie.

I originally bought this CD in the late 90's, along with Davina. I loaned it out and lost track of it...happy to purchase again, very nice, quality R&B album.KB

Why Adrianna isn't a household name(and a BILLIONAIRE)for devising an album this,beautiful,is beyond me!!From begining to end,this album is,entrancingly,pleasant!!!!the songs"In the Sun"and "Reality"are so soothing,thoughtful and beautiful,both nearly bring me to tears'each and every time that,I listen to these "musical miracles!!"InThe Sun"is a song that causes one,to appreciate the things of nature that we so easily take for granted,like:the NURTURING warmth,and COMFORTING light of the Sun!!This song is so,beautiful,that I've(twice)run straight OUTDOORS,while listening to it(on a sunny afternoon)to BASK,in the rays of the Sun,that Adrianna manages to make,seem SO very,wonderful!!"Reality"on the other hand,fills me with melancholy,in its descriptions of certain life situations,that for some,may seem so TRAGIC,and HORRIBLE,but to the poor souls,experiencing these situations:nothing seems to be wrong or out-of-the-ordinary because:It's THEIR Reality!!It's a flat-out CRIME,that this beautiful(BOTH,physically and creatively)woman,is largely unknown,by the masses!!Something's,WRONG,with this world,when,a creation as splendid,as this album,isn't being ENGULFED,in accolades!!!Adriannas' voice,is so SWEET,I can ONLY describe it thusly:"A,MARSHMALLOW,soaked in,HONEY,and sprinkled with CINNAMON!!!

Originally purchased tho back in 1998 then accidentally took it alongside many others to a local charity shop. Tried to find it on my music streaming app but sadly (and astoundingly) it hasn’t been uploaded! Purchased via Amazon for a great price!! Welcome home Adrianna!!

This CD is very comforting, the music and lyrics makes you feel relaxed, it was just by chance that I chose this CD. I checked out the comments from people who bought this CD and took the chance to buy it - I must say it is a superb album - will check to see whether there are other albums by this singer - mmmn very good!

Best soul album i have ever heard . I would go as far as to say its the best material this artist has released up to this date. I still play this after fifteen years . Purchased this because my first was stolen.

Excellent CD glad I purchased this even though it is several years old.

This arrived in good time. I bought this CD when it was first released but someone decided to 'borrow' it from me and I never saw it again. So happy that I have it back in my collection. It's still a beautiful album after all these years