RACHELLE FERRELL– Individuality (Can I Be Me?) (2000) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Ferrell's rich, textured voice strokes these often-formulaic songs along. Dipping into modern pop, R&B, gospel, and jazz, Ferrell paints some splendid portraits here (even if she does tend to over-sing her lines occasionally). Best is the funky "Satisfied," an amalgam of everything Individuality (Can I Be Me?) sets out to be. A breakthrough album from a behind-the-scenes artist deserving more. Michael Gallucci
Tracklist :
1     Individuality (Can I Be Me?) 4:53
Lyrics By – Jef Lee Johnson
Music By, Lyrics By – Rachelle Ferrell
2     Sista 3:59
Music By – George Duke
Music By, Lyrics By – Rachelle Ferrell    
3     Will You Remember Me? 6:17
Music By – Jef Lee Johnson, Rachelle Ferrell
Producer – Jef Lee Johnson, Rachelle Ferrell    
4     I Forgive You 5:30
Music By, Lyrics By - Rachelle Ferrell
5     I Gotta Go 5:06
Music By, Lyrics By - Rachelle Ferrell          
6     Why You Wanna Mess It All Up? 5:30
Music By, Lyrics By - Rachelle Ferrell
7     Gaia 5:44
Featuring, Guitar – Jonathan Butler
Music By, Lyrics By – Jonathan Butler, Rachelle Ferrell    
8     Run to Me 4:04
Music By, Lyrics By - Rachelle Ferrell     
9     Reflections of My Heart 5:10
Featuring – Russ Barnes
Music By – George Duke
Music By, Lyrics By – Rachelle Ferrell    
10     Satisfied 5:32
Music By – George Duke
Music By, Lyrics By – Rachelle Ferrell
11     I Can Explain 8:02
Music By, Lyrics By – Rachelle Ferrell
Credits :
Backing Vocals – Kenny Lattimore (faixas: 1, 6), Russ Barnes (faixas: 1, 6)
Bass – Byron Miller (faixas: 4 to 6, 8, 11)
Drums – Lil' John Roberts (faixas: 1 to 3, 9, 10), Ricardo Jordan (faixas: 4 to 7, 11)
Guitar – Jef Lee Johnson (faixas: 1 to 6, 8, 9, 11), Tony Maiden (faixas: 11)
Keyboards – George Duke (faixas: 2 to 11)
Keyboards [Bass], Guitar – George Duke (faixas: 2, 9)
Keyboards, Bass – Jef Lee Johnson (faixas: 1, 3)
Percussion – Lenny Castro (faixas: 4 to 6, 8, 9)
Producer – George Duke (faixas: 1, 2, 4 to 11)

RACHELLE FERRELL - First Instrument (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Rachelle Ferrell made her name performing R&B, but this strictly acoustic jazz CD is her earliest recording. Her voice is quite soulful, making her later shift to R&B less of a surprise in hindsight, but Ferrell seems quite unsure of how to use her wide range, and her improvisations are often quite eccentric. Her lack of warmth and subtlety (along with a tendency to scream and screech in unexpected spots without a buildup) makes it difficult to listen to several of the numbers on this standards-oriented set. Trumpeter Terence Blanchard and Wayne Shorter on tenor make worthwhile cameo appearances, but Rachelle Ferrell at that point in her career did not really sound ready for prime time, despite her potential. by Scott Yanow

Tracklist:

1-You Send Me. 

Sam Cooke / Clarence Paul / Ed Townsend

2-You Don't Know What Love Is. 

Gene DePaul / Don Raye

3-Bye Bye Blackbird. 

Mort Dixon / Ray Henderson

4 Prayer Dance

Morris Bailey / Eddie Green

5-Inchworm.  

Frank Loesser

6-With Every Breath I Take.  

Cy Coleman

7-What Is This Thing Called Love?.  

Cole Porter

8-My Funny Valentine.  

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

9-Don't Waste Your Time.  

Rachelle Ferrell

10-Extensions.  

Rachelle Ferrell

11-Autumn Leaves.  

Joseph Kosma / Johnny Mercer / Jacques Prévert

Credits:

Rachelle Ferrell, Piano, Vocals

Lenny White, Drums, Producer 

Terrence Blanchard, Trumpet 

Tyrone Brown, Bass, Stick Bass

Stanley Clarke, Bass

Kenny Davis, Bass

Alex Foster, Sax (Soprano) 

Doug Goldstein, Synthesizer, Drums

Gil Goldstein, Synthesizer, Piano

Eddie Green, Piano

Pete Levin, Synthesizer

Doug Nally, Drums

Michel Petrucciani, Piano 

Wayne Shorter, Sax (Tenor)

RACHELLE FERRELL - Rachelle Ferrell (1992) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Rachelle Ferrell wore two hats in the 1990s: straight-ahead jazz singer and commercial R&B/pop singer along the lines of Anita Baker, Miki Howard, and Angela Bofill. Produced mostly by George Duke, this self-titled album is an example of her R&B/pop side. With this smooth, classy effort, Manhattan/Capitol was obviously intent on appealing to the more adult-oriented tastes in the urban contemporary market. While artists like Mary J. Blige, Bell Biv DeVoe, Babyface, and Janet Jackson were making R&B relevant to hip-hoppers, Ferrell opted for maximum quiet storm appeal with this album. If you were buying a lot of Baker, Luther Vandross, and Freddie Jackson albums in the early '90s (along with some Grover Washington, Jr. and Joe Sample, perhaps), you were exactly the type of listener Manhattan/Capitol had in mind with sophisticated numbers like "It Only Took a Minute," "'Til You Come Back to Me," and "Sentimental." Most of the songs are appropriate vehicles for the Philadelphian's big, rich voice, but while this collection of mood music isn't bad, it isn't the gem that Ferrell had the ability to deliver. As pleasant and likable as much of the material is, one got the impression that she was capable of a lot more. by Alex Henderson  
Tracklist:
1 I'm Special 6:07
Backing Vocals – Rachelle Ferrell
Bass – Freddie Washington
Drums – Ricky Lawson
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – George Duke
Written-By – Rachelle Ferrell
2 Welcome To My Love 5:37
Backing Vocals – George Duke, Jim Gilstrap, Rachelle Ferrell
Bass – Freddie Washington
Drums – Ricky Lawson
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – George Duke
Piano – George Duke
Written-By – Donald Robinson, George Duke, Rachelle Ferrell
3 Waiting 6:00
Backing Vocals – Rachelle Ferrell
Bass – Al Turner
Cymbal – Doug Nally
Guitar – Michael J. Powell
Keyboards – Vernon Fails
Percussion – Michael J. Powell
Programmed By – David Ward, Paul D. Allen
Written-By – Michael J. Powell, Rachelle Ferrell, Vernon Fails
4 It Only Took A Minute 4:40
Backing Vocals – Carolyn Perry, Darlene Perry, Lori Perry, Rachelle Ferrell, Sharon Perry
Bass – Freddie Washington
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – George Duke
Piano – George Duke
Written-By – Danny Sembello, Donnell Spencer, Marti Sharron
5 With Open Arms 6:19
Backing Vocals – Rachelle Ferrell
Bass – Freddie Washington
Drums – Ricky Lawson
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – George Duke
Organ [Hammond] – George Duke
Piano – George Duke
Written-By – Donald Robinson, Rachelle Ferrell
6 'Til You Come Back To Me 6:12
Backing Vocals – Jim Gilstrap, Lori Perry, Lynn Fiddmont, Rachelle Ferrell
Bass – Larry Kimpel
Drums – Ricky Lawson
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – Brian Simpson, George Duke
Written-By – Karyn White, Steve Harvey, Valerie Davis
7 You Can't Get (Until You Learn To Start Giving) 3:42
Backing Vocals – Alex Brown, Josie James, Rachelle Ferrell
Bass – Freddie Washington
Drums – Ricky Lawson
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Horns – George Duke
Percussion – George Duke
Written-By – Rachelle Ferrell
8 Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This 6:25
Arranged By – Rachelle Ferrell
Bass – Anthony Jackson
Drums – Buddy Williams
Guitar – Kevin Eubanks, Mike Campbell
Percussion – Steve Thornton
Piano – Barry J. Eastmond
Vocals – Will Downing
Written-By – Rachelle Ferrell
9 I Know You Love Me 3:53
Arranged By – Rachelle Ferrell
Backing Vocals – Rachelle Ferrell
Bass – Freddie Washington
Congas – Paulinho Da Costa
Drums – Doug Nally
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Horns – Rachelle Ferrell
Keyboards – Rachelle Ferrell
Organ – Rachelle Ferrell
Programmed By – David Ward, Paul D. Allen
Strings – Rachelle Ferrell
Tambourine – Michael J. Powell
Written-By – Rachelle Ferrell
10 Sentimental 3:37
Arranged By – Rachelle Ferrell
Bass – Freddie Washington
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – Rachelle Ferrell
Percussion – George Duke
Strings – George Duke
Written-By – Rachelle Ferrell, Tena Clark
11 Could've Fooled Me 4:36
Backing Vocals – George Duke, Jim Gilstrap, Rachelle Ferrell
Bass – Freddie Washington
Drums – George Duke
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – George Duke
Percussion – George Duke
Piano – George Duke
Written-By – David Foster, Dennis Lambert
12 Too Late 4:05
Arranged By – George Duke, Rachelle Ferrell
Bass – Freddie Washington
Drums – Ricky Lawson
Guitar – Carlos Rios
Keyboards – George Duke
Piano – George Duke
Saxophone – Kirk Whalum
Trombone – George Bohannon
Trumpet – Oscar Brashear
Written-By – Rachelle Ferrell
13 Peace On Earth 4:19
Arranged By – Rachelle Ferrell
Piano – Rachelle Ferrell
Written-By – Rachelle Ferrell