★★★★★
Rachelle Ferrell's latest release Individuality (Can I Be Me?) was easily one of the most anticipated releases in 2000. Ferrell had not released a studio recording since her "jazz" recording First Instrument was released in 1995. Ironically First Instrument was actually recorded prior to her eponymous debut in 1992. In what a very savvy move, Capitol released the R&B/lite jazz flavored Rachelle Ferrell first in the hope that she wouldn't be pigeonholed as a "jazz" artist...
- www.popmatters.com
2011-01-20
★★★★★
Sweet as the prospect of a live Rachelle Ferrell compilation is, the album's title is a bit misleading. Fans expecting selections from seven years' worth of Montreux performances will be disappointed to discover that this is, in fact, a collection of nine tracks recorded in 1991 with a trio of "bonus" selections from the 1997 festival...
- www.jazztimes.com
2010-02-19
★★★★★
Making up in musicianship (i.e., jazz) what she lacks in songwriting (i.e., pop) ("Will You Remember Me?" "Individuality [Can I Be Me?]").
- www.robertchristgau.com
2009-07-10
★★★★★
On her self-titled (and largely self-penned) debut, R&B;/jazz vocalistRachelle Ferrell, a composer of the Anita Baker ilk, wails lush,ear-boggling low notes, mellifluous middles, and sirenlike highs ? aswell as operatic cadenzas that rival those of Kathleen Battle forprecision, and cascading jazz riffs that would give Charlie Parker arun for his money.
- ew.com
2009-06-12
★★★★★
Rachelle Ferrell doesn't like to call herself a jazz singer. She released her debut CD, First Instrument, in 1990 in Japan specifically to avoid being pigeonholed as a jazz artist by American audiences, a label that could have limited her marketability here. But while her original songs and her delivery have a lot of pop, soul, R&B; and maybe even easy rock in them, she most definitely belongs to jazz. (And not just because jazz fans love to co-opt what they feel is superior music...
- www.jazzreview.com
2009-06-08
★★★★★
Nobody can break glass with the sound of a voice like Rachelle Ferrell. Not even the sadly missed Minnie Ripperton--who caused pop radio listeners in the 1970's to swoon when they heard "Loving You"--carried the force of Ferrell.And that's a good thing. Ferrell's earlier Blue Note CD, First Instrument, bowled listeners over with an all-out attack on their defenses as she teamed up with the likes of Michel Petrucciani, Terence Blanchard and Wayne Shorter...
- www.jazzreview.com
2009-06-08
★★★★★
While her album entertains with a pleasant groove and a variety of electronic textures, Rachelle Ferrell shares only about half her true talent with the audience. Preferring instead to cover the session with background vocals, droning hip-hop rhythms and movie soundtrack effects, she weaves an acrobatic voice around originals that offer stories of romance and other personal relationships. Her extended vocal range allows the singer to perform difficult passages with ease...
- www.allaboutjazz.com
2009-06-05
★★★★★
Rachelle Ferrell is back, if not with a vengeance, at least with an attitude. An attitude of confidence, perseverance and hope. Jazz enthusiasts couldn't help but be bowled over by Ferrell's extraordinary technique on her 1995 Blue Note album, First Instrument. And then, nothing. Reports of occasional performances here, irregular publicity there. What happened to her...
- www.allaboutjazz.com
2009-06-05
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