Her sound is deep, rich in the myriad traditions that she mixes so confidently. She is a storyteller who paints word-pictures that give her tales of hardship, survival and love a vivid sense of reality. A dynamic musician, Maya Azucena bravely disrupts the popular metaphors of wealth and glorified sexuality, forcing us to rethink artificial images of life and beauty. Her release, Live From New York proves she is all these things in one.
A Brooklyn native who first found her voice at the age of four and developed her skills at New York’s High School of the Performing Arts, Azucena has already had an impressive career although her debut album has yet to be released. Some of her career highlights include opening for Roy Ayers and the Isley Brothers, performing at the world famous Blue Note, forming her own band, and starring in a film and musical. Her music is indicative of these exciting experiences and shows that this vocalist has remarkable potential.
With songs such as “G-Hetto”, “Walk for Miles” and “Runaway Blues”, on her LP, Azucena poignantly addresses the pain of inner-city life when dreams and ambition are all that one has. However, leaving no room for pity Azucena radiates a dynamic energy through these same songs that lead to inspiration. With a powerful band, and live performances, this vocalist fuses jazz with the blues, R&B and soul. You can hear the influences of Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Prince and the Sugar Hill Gang. A little Latin flava rounded out with some serious hip-hop flows makes this quite an eclectic sound. With a cultural background that includes being part African-American, Cherokee, Jamaican, Scottish and English, Azucena embraces many looks and sounds. Her music might not be what you except, but sometimes we all need something different to spice up our lives.
