CECILY “Songs of Love and Freedom” CD

A modern-day Minnie Riperton! A dazzling, brilliant debut album from Washington DC singer Cecily! Filled with positive strength, it's a beautiful soundtrack for self-exploration!

"A gorgeous, beautiful and talented young woman. Watch out!"
--Patty Austin

■ Cecily is a singer-songwriter born and raised in Washington DC, where her father loved Miles Davis and her mother loved Smokey Robinson. Fascinated by the works of Minnie Riperton, Gil Scott-Heron, Anita Baker, and Phyllis Hyman, she began her career as a vocalist and songwriter after graduating from college. She has opened for award-winning jazz and soul artists Gregory Porter and Jose James, R&B stars such as Johnny Gill, Kenny Lattimore, and Elle Varner, and alternative soul pioneer Bilal in her hometown, and we present her first album.

■ Her sweet soprano voice is reminiscent of Minnie Riperton and Deniece Williams! The album opener "Pisces" sounds like a fusion of Minnie Riperton's "Perfect Angel" and Deniece Williams' "Free," and her crystal clear voice and organic sound are very pleasant. The album was produced by Jason "Brother Spanky" Edwards and John E. Days of the soultronica group Columbia Knights, also from DC, as well as multi-talented pianist/singer-songwriter Aaron Abernathy and Cecily herself. This is a brilliant and brilliant first album with a deep spirituality. One of Bandcamp's best soul albums of 2018.

■Track list