Cassendre Xavier: Bandleader, songwriter and arranger, vocals, acoustic and electric lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards and piano.
Giscard Xavier a.k.a. JEE EYE ZEE: Keyboards, programming, production, engineering, arrangements
Guest musicians:
James Claiborne: Vocals
Felicia M. Webster: Vocals
Na' Tanya' Davina' Stewart: Vocals
Previous band members:
Tamara L. Xavier a.k.a. moon wisdom: Vocals, dance
B.C.: Percussion
Jeff Wuollet: Bass
Cindy Felice: Percussion
Dena Underwood: Vocals
Previous guest musicians:
Monica McIntyre: Cello & vocals
Susanna Calvin Thomas: Vocals
Previous recording session players:
Juan Avila: Guitar and percussion, arrangements, production, engineering
Ronny Crawford: Drums & percussion
Jack Kinslow: Upright bass
Chico Huff: Bass
Julia Haines: Celtic harp
Influences
Sade, Sting, Nina Simone, 70s singer-songwriter/acoustic folk-pop-rock, Billy Joel, Willy Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Barbra Streisand, Neil Young, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gary Moore, Grace Jones, R&B, James Brown, funk, lots of different kinds of music that get you in a sexy groove and keep you there and happy.----------------------------------------------------------
RUN TO YOU (CAPABLE OF LOVE) ORIGINAL SONG
-------------------------LARGER THAN LIFE - ORIGINAL SONG--------
-------------------------FIRE – BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN COVER-------------
------------------------O SHENANDOAH – TRADITIONAL, NEW ARRANGEMENT---------------- ------------------------ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY LIFE (EVERYTHING GETS BETTER ALL THE TIME) ORIGINAL AFFIRMATION SONG----------------
---------------------------MONEY COMES TO ME (ORIGINAL AFFIRMATION SONG)
---------------------------------CASSENDRE'S MAILING LIST
"A cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya" (Borders Music Expert Steven M. Wilsong). Also: Amethyste Rah (CX pseudonym), Tania Maria, Roberta Flack, Eva Cassidy, Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell, India.Arie, and many more fine female singers with sultry, natural voices.
[THIS JUST IN!!! On December, 26, 2007, Philadelphia City Paper music critic M.J. Fine honorably mentioned Cassendre's CD, "Live at Tin Angel", as 9 of "Top 21 Local LPs of 2007"! See blog for details.] -----------------------------------------Cassendre Xavier (a.k.a. Amethyste Rah) is an acclaimed singer-songwriter, guitarist, and recording artist described as "a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya" (Steven M. Wilson, Borders Books & Music). ----------------------------"Her stage presence is one part sex kitten serenading in heels, two parts powerhouse kickass feminist troubadour poet. In concert with Cassendre Xavier, there is never a dull moment." (Debra D'Alessandro/Producer & Host of Amazon Country, WXPN 88.5). ------------------------------------------- "Cassendre Xavier has combined an unlikely mixture of contemporary and timeless influences to create a smooth yet distinguishable style beyond the usual singer songwriter pattern. It is hard to tell where her jazz, folk and rock influences inform her sensibility, yet informed by all of these she is. It is as consistent as it is memorable, soulful, and real." -David W. Wannop/Journalist and Concert Promoter------------------------------ Heather Corcoran of CoffeeHouse Tour says, "[Xavier] captivates the listener with her angelic voice, smoothed over with powerful lyrics and the affair she holds with her guitar."-------------------------- Xavier's songs span the range of the pop genre from folk to blues to rock. Her studio albums showcase her rich, sweet singing voice and inspired, impressive guitar picking, plucking, or strumming. Live recordings boast a particular gift for entertaining audiences with jokes and witty banter. She has also released guided meditation spoken word CDs and downloads under her self-assigned soul-name Amethyste Rah. These recordings featuring the beautiful, angelic music of Thaddeus (used with permission), and are currently available at http://stores.lulu.com/cassendre -----------------------A self-described "renaissance negresse", Cassendre is also an actress, a multi-genre published writer, and a former community cultural arts advocate. She is founder of Philadelphia's annual Black Women's Arts Festival (est. 2003), which is now directed by cellist/vocalist Monica McIntyre. Cassendre won the 2005 Leeway Transformation Award for her work in art and change. On December 31, 2007, Cassendre returned to her birth city of New York to begin putting her 16 years of independent artistry and recording towards the new goal of being a signed artist. ------Visit www.cassendrexavier.com for complete biographical information.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stand By My Side - original song - Cassendre Xavier-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Hope (Find Me This Way) - original song - Cassendre Xavier----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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See Me - original song - Cassendre Xavier---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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The Thrill Is Gone - B.B. King Cover - Cassendre Xavier---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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CASSENDRE XAVIER: Live at Tin Angel
[7th Album/2006] "Recipient of Honorable Mention - 9 of Top 21 Local LPs - — M. J. Fine, Philadelphia City Paper. M. J. also says Live at Tin Angel is, "A fine example of why [Xavier is] so well-suited for the [live] format. Dig the groove-worthy 'A Little Bit of Love,' the bluesy a cappella 'Nothing Is All I Need' and a beautiful 'Beautiful'". (Recommended if you like James Taylor, Sting, Gary Moore.)
CASSENDRE XAVIER: The Cassendre Xavier Collection, Vol. 1
[6th Album/2004] 6 soulful originals plus 3 marvelous interpretations of American pop classics by Carole King, Pat Benetar, and Roberta Flack. An absolute essential for any fan of this gifted singer-songwriter-guitarist. (Recommended if you like Sade, Carly Simon, Carole King.)
CASSENDRE XAVIER: live at the kraftbrau, kalamazoo
[5th Album/2004] A great live show at the famous Michigan beer-lovers' pub featuring newly recorded originals "Your Eyes", "Don't Believe in Love," "One Lucky Girl", "Hope" & special bonus track. (Recommended if you like Tracy Chapman, Joan Armatrading, Corinne Bailey Rae.)
CASSENDRE XAVIER: Beautiful
[4th Album/2004/CD] Well deserving of its title, this stellar CD is Xavier's 2nd studio release. Most notable are Crow's "Strong Enough", Flack's "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", originals "B.O.G.'s Song", "A Little Bit of Love", and "Beautiful".
CASSENDRE XAVIER: 4our: a sampler
[3rd Album/2003/CD] 4 songs taken from her first two CDs "The Whittenberg Sessions" and "Live at Cafe Improv"; a wonderfully affordable way to introduce yourself to this warm & gifted artist.
CASSENDRE XAVIER: Live at Cafe Improv
[2nd Album/2002/CD] Smooth, rich voice, guitar; humor & audience laughter. Highlights: Carole King's "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?", B.B. King's "The Thrill is Gone", Neil Young's "From Hank to Hendrix" & wonderful originals.
CASSENDRE XAVIER: The Whittenberg Sessions
[1st Album/2002/CD] A debut beloved by the lesbian community, featuring Pat Benetar's "Love is a Battlefield", Nina Simone's "Four Women", funky original "Friend" & the redemptive a capella mantra "Nothing is All I Need".
Thanks for the add request. Hope you'll take the time to listen to my music and send me a comment if you like it. You are welcome to my friends list. Roy Young www. royyoung. net
How's the subway treating you? We haven't run into each other since that first time at Union Square. I hope it means you are busy doing something wonderful.
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