N'Dea Davenport
N'Dea Davenport | |
|---|---|
 Davenport | |
| Background information | |
| Born | May 6, 1966 |
| Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Instrument(s) | |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels | |
N'Dea Davenport (born May 6, 1966)[1] is a Grammy nominated American recording artist, songwriter, dancer, performer and producer. She was the lead vocalist in the UK acid jazz band, The Brand New Heavies and made pioneering contributions to the genre of acid jazz.
Biography
Her diverse projects include collaborations with music producers and artists, such as Mark Ronson, Louie Vega, Roger Sanchez, Guru’s Jazzmatazz, Madonna, Natalie Merchant, Mos Def, Sly and Robbie, J Dilla, and Malcolm McLaren. Dance scholarships, acting and music were the core of her developments as an artist and entertainer. Immediately after finishing college, she left her then home of Atlanta, Georgia, en route to Los Angeles. There she engaged in theatrical productions and commercial music video and was embraced by artists in both art, music and popular culture. Her legacy as an artist began also with her involvement in the burgeoning Los Angeles underground club and rave scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Working simultaneously as a dance artist and recording and commercial studio session singer, Davenport was soon connected with Fab Five Freddy, who recommended her to a DJ friend at new upstart label Delicious Vinyl. Eurythmics member and producer Dave Stewart offered Davenport a recording contract a year prior when introduced through a collaboration with Bootsy Collins and Malcolm McLaren, where she was featured on McLaren's Waltz Darling LP. She declined Stewart’s offer at the time due to his requirement for her to relocate to London, England. Later to ink a solo development deal with Delicious Vinyl, who made introductions to her future bandmates, The Brand New Heavies who at the time had no singer. With the core band members based in London, she decided to relocate there.
The band’s initial UK indie label Acid Jazz Records, struck a deal with London Records for distribution in Europe and the rest of the world. During this period, the band produced a string of international albums and singles, invigorating a global movement and popularized the musical term known as acid jazz. Parallel to this, Davenport completed work on Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1, with Guru.
In 1995, Davenport left the group citing irreconcilable differences, returning to the US and choosing New Orleans as a home base while she pursued other collaborations, and completed work on her solo recording with Delicious Vinyl. Encouragement received from her associate and record producer Daniel Lanois, resulted in the completion of her debut solo effort as producer, all except for four songs, produced by Dallas Austin. While her association with Delicious Vinyl was dissolving, Davenport's project was picked up by the newly formed label owned by Sir Richard Branson. In 1997, her self-titled debut solo recording on V2 Records was released. She toured extensively in support of the album, around Europe, North America and Australia and with the concert series Lilith Fair. When the relationship at V2 came to an end she continued musically primarily focusing on European dance music projects.
Davenport held residency in New Orleans but lived primarily in New York City. Her diverse musical tastes led to an eventual stance as a New York club DJ and she continues to DJ on special events around Asia. In 2006, she re-emerged once more with the Brand New heavies for one last album release of Get Used To It. Her latest project is with collaborator Katsuya Everywhere, focused in the multi-media based electronic and acoustic duo, Celectrixx, which was conceived in Japan.
Discography
Albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B [2] |
US Heatseekers [2] | |||
| N'Dea Davenport |
|
56 | 14 |
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B [2] |
US Dance [2] |
UK [3] | |||
| 1998 | "Bring It On" | 75 | — | 52 | N'Dea Davenport |
| "Bullshittin'" | — | — | — | ||
| 1999 | "Underneath A Red Moon" | — | — | — | |
| "Whatever You Want" | — | — | — | ||
| 2006 | "One Day My Love" | — | 10 | — | Non-album single |
| 2011 | "Destiny" | — | — | — | |
| "Love With Desire" | — | — | — | ||
| 2013 | "I Might Do Something Wrong" | — | — | — | |
Featured singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | US R&B | |||
| 1993 | "Trust Me" (Guru featuring N'Dea Davenport) | 34 | — | Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 |
| 1995 | "Freedom (Theme from Panther)" (with Various artists) | — | 18 | Panther |
| 2001 | "You Can't Change Me" (Roger Sanchez featuring Armand Van Helden and N'Dea Davenport) | 25 | — | First Contact |
| 2015 | "Touch the Sky" (Guri Guri Boys featuring N'Dea Davenport) | — | — | Non-album single |
Additional information
- The acid jazz label applied to The Brand New Heavies music was popularized by Eddie Piller and British record executive Gilles Peterson, perhaps in hopes that he could keep interest in the music on a par with the then-ubiquitous acid house music. The musical style was patterned after an admiration for 1970s funk ranging from James Brown to Rufus and the Average White Band. Peterson named his fledgling label Acid Jazz Records as well, and the Heavies recorded for this label in the United Kingdom.
- Davenport recut the vocal track on "Never Stop", "Stay This Way" and "Dream Come True", after Jay Ella Ruth (the band's prior lead vocalist and co-writer) had ceased to be a member of the group[citation needed], but preceding the major release of these recordings.
- Davenport participated in sessions for both Malcolm McLaren's Waltz Darling and Madonna's I'm Breathless. The similarities between the videos (Deep in Vogue and Vogue) is a source for debate.[4][5]
- Davenport recorded Buddy Johnson's Save Your Love For Me, a song which has been covered many times and was a big hit for Nancy Wilson.
- Davenport appeared in the music video for Breakfast Club's "Right On Track", singing back-up dressed as a singing hen in 1987[citation needed].
- Davenport appeared in the 1988 music video for Steve Winwood's "Roll with it"[citation needed] which was choreographed by Paula Abdul.
- Davenport was the female backing vocalist on Gregg Alexander's 1989 debut album Michigan Rain. Future releases by Alexander would feature Danielle Brisebois as both female backing vocalist and co-writer, but at this point the two had not met.
- Davenport appeared on 2 Hip 4 TV[citation needed].
- Davenport is also a drummer.[6]
- Davenport is a spinto soprano[citation needed].
Notable collaborations
- Davenport provides vocals on Michael Paulo's "One Passion." Track: "If You Ever Change Your Mind." (1989)[7]
- Davenport provides vocals on Dead Prez's Turn off the Radio: The Mixtape Vol. 3: Pulse Of The People[citation needed].
- Davenport provides vocals on Dilouya's album Faithful Circus. Track "The Right Time".[8]
- Davenport provides vocals on DJ Krush's album 漸-Zen. Track: "With Grace".[9]
- Davenport provides vocals on the Everlast (House of Pain) album Eat at Whitey's. Tracks: "Love for Real" and "One and the Same".
- Davenport provides vocals on Fred Everything's album Lost Together. Track: "Don't Nobody".[10]
- Davenport provides vocals on José Padilla's album Navigator. Track: "The Look of Love".[11]
- Davenport provides vocals on Natalie Merchant's album Ophelia. Track: "Break Your Heart".
- Davenport provides vocals on Robbie Williams's "Lovelight", both a CD single and a track on the album Rudebox. Fellow Brand New Heavies member Andrew Levy provided bass.[12]
- Davenport provides vocals on Sly and Robbie's album Version Born. Track: "For the Living".[13]
- Davenport provides vocals/writing on Return of the Headhunters!! with The Headhunters Band. Tracks: "Tip Toe", "Watch your back" (with Tre Hardson).[14][15]
- Davenport provides vocals/writing on Roger Sanchez's #1 European dance album First Contact. Track: "You can't change me" (with Armand Van Helden).[16]
- Davenport provides vocals/writing on Okino Shuya (Kyoto Jazz Massive)'s album Destiny. Tracks: "Deep into Sunshine", "Destiny", "Look ahead".[17]
- Davenport provides vocals/writing on DJ Kawasaki (Okino Yoshihiro/Kyoto Jazz Massive)'s album Black & Gold. Track: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"[citation needed].
- Davenport provides vocals on Gabor Deutsch's Maxi Single "Love With Desire" (2011)
References
- ^ Brown, Tony. "Happy Birthday N'Dea Davenport (The Brand New Heavies)!". wdasfm.com. iHeartMedia, Inc. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
- ^ a b c d N'Dea Davenport - Chart History. Billboard. Retrieved on May 28, 2017
- ^ N'Dea Davenport UK Chart History. Official Charts. Retrieved on May 28, 2017
- ^ "Madonna-Free Zone; Malcolm did it first". 12 February 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ "Short-Cut: Malcolm McLaren – "Deep In Vogue" – CATCH FIRE". www.catch-fire.com. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ Murray, Bill (August 1, 2006). "An interview with the Brand New Heavies — Brand New Heavies on Get Used To It". Remix Magazine.
- ^ Jonathan Widran. "One Passion - Michael Paulo | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
- ^ "Album on Just Funked". Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ "DJ Krush - 漸 -Zen-". Discogs. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ "Fred Everything - Lost Together". Discogs. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ "José Padilla - Navigator". Discogs. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ "Robbie Williams - Rudebox". Discogs. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ "Sly & Robbie - Version Born". Discogs. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ "Return of the Headhunters! - The Headhunters - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ "The Headhunters - Return Of The Headhunters". Discogs. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ "Roger Sanchez - First Contact". Discogs. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ "Shuya Okino - Destiny". Discogs. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- 1966 births
- 20th-century American singers
- 20th-century women singers
- 21st-century American singers
- 21st-century women singers
- Acid jazz musicians
- African-American female singer-songwriters
- African-American singer-songwriters
- African-American songwriters
- American contemporary R&B singers
- American female singers
- American female singer-songwriters
- American funk singers
- American singer-songwriters
- American sopranos
- American soul singers
- Delicious Vinyl artists
- Living people
- Musicians from Atlanta