I've heard the future of soul music and her name is Monica Dillon!
All I Have Is A Moment is a fantastic debut and an independent release by Monica and her manager Stephanie Burns. She may just have a moment to grab your attention, but for every soul music fan, this will be time enough, especially if you hear one of the vocal tracks of her album that let's you gasp for more.
The music is all handmade with Monica playing acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3 organ and percussion. She is being supported by Carl Baham (drums, percussion), Jasmin Cardriche (drums), Monica McIntyre (cello), Edwin Livingston (bass) and Roy Joseph (Fender/Gibson guitar). Together they create an overall warm, organic sound that just oozes soul with obvious jazz influences.
Except for three cover versions all songs were written by Monica, so she's a very impressive talent which in parts reminds me of music by Vivienne McKone or Cassandra Wilson but all in all Monica really has her own style that digs deep into the roots of Southern soul and jazz.
The album starts with the smooth instrumental T.S. Isidore, that features some fine piano playing from Monica, gets real funky towards the end and manages it to stay away from smooth jazz territory.
One of the best songs I've heard for a long time is My Baby, a haunting and deep soul-jazz song, that gaines its atmosphere from Monica's voice and simply by reduction on a few instruments with Monica McIntyre on cello (and background vocals), Jasmin Cardriche on drums and Edwin Livingston on bass.
Think Of Me (Madrugada Mix) is another instant winner with Monica singing and playing fender Rhodes, a great modern soul song that fans of Frank McComb certainly will love at once.
Think Of Me is also included as the closer of the album as a stripped down version with just Monica and piano and I really can't make up my mind which version could be the better one since they are both great.
No deals with the serious issue of domestic violence and is a fine example what a good singer/songwriter and pianist Monica is to create this politically conscious song in the tradition of 70ies soul.
Monica also plays the Hammond B3 organ on We Make Do. This is just another brilliant example of how easily Monica can create a soul song full of deepness.
But Monica can also record unique cover versions of songs like You Don't Know What Love Is. This has the same haunting and deep atmosphere like My Baby and is Monica singing to sparse percussion and the cello again. A great version that really captures the essence of this rather sad song.
Always a good choice for a cover version is Curtis Mayfield's People Get Ready. And if it's done with the conviction and musicality of Monica and her musicians then you have to add her name to the list of people who've recorded a convincing versions of Curtis song like Terry Callier did on his Timepeace album.
To add a little variety there are some more intrumentals on this album, the groovy Like Friday, Johnnie's Song and another cover in the shape of Jesus Loves Me, an excellent piece of Monica's piano play.
All I Have Is A Moment is really a tremendous debut album from a truly gifted artist and hopefully the start of a long-term career since I can't wait to hear more from Monica in the near future. And if you only buy a few albums per annum you better make sure All I Have Is A Moment is among them.