MAYSA LEAK
BLUE VELVET SOUL
To know Maysa Leak is to know soul. If you know Maysa, it may be tied to Incognito, which by music industry standards is a classic example of soul perfection. With over 20 albums, and musical legends such as Chaka Khan, Mario Biondi, Leon Ware, Ursula Rucker, and countless others lending a hand, it is not hard to understand why Maysa is enjoying the amazing solo career she is after leaving Incognito and striking out on her own.
Joining Incognito in 1992, Maysa became a staple vocalist for the group. She soon discovered that was only the beginning. During a brief interview, it was remarkably evident that she has a presence that is timeless. To see a woman that did not miss a beat and laughed with everyone in the room as if she had known them for years was amazing. When asked what she does to maintain her voice, which was nothing short of timeless, Maysa says “Nothing.” With the sweetest smile and conviction in her soul, she goes on to explain, “The understanding that this is a gift from God is what I acknowledge. If I use it for what he intended I will never go wrong.”
I contemplated how I could label Maysa’s sound by music industry standards, and it was hard to label a woman with a voice so powerful without giving in to emotional descriptions. Yes, she is considered a Jazz, Funk and R&B vocalist for all intents and purposes, but that just isn’t enough. You cannot mention her without feeling that Blue Velvet Soul which is ironically the title to her 2013 album. That album was not only # 3 on the top contemporary jazz charts but held #13 on the top R&B album chart. Ultimately these chart toppers led to a Grammy nomination, so when she said to me that she stayed so youthful and full of energy by absorbing the energy from her crowd while performing, I knew then that this woman was not stopping anytime soon.
I wish there were more words in the dictionary to give the parallel that I saw between Maysa and her music. During the time I had the pleasure of interviewing her, she noticeably had family with her. Baltimore being her home town, it was clear that any family she had loved her more than enough to travel to Washington, D.C. to see her. The love in the room was overwhelming, yet Maysa made time to answer every question that I had, while giving time and attention to her answers and all around her. Dedication is clearly not a downfall for this woman. Being a mother, a world traveler, musician, as well as a world renowned vocalist would seem to take a toll on a person. I soon found out that was only the beginning. I guess it took all of that to become a member of Stevie Wonder’s “Wonderlove” group. Yes, I failed to mention that Stevie Wonder himself was quoted as saying “Maysa is wonderful!”
With all this notoriety and all of these accomplishments, what could be next? Maysa simply explained to me “more music, more shows”. If you think she is stopping now, don’t. I can only believe the best is yet to come. For more information on Maysa and to hear her music, you can check out www.maysa.com for a complete discography and biography.
Nicole Isaac
