A native of New Orleans and big star in his longtime adopted home of the Dominican Republic, pop, R&B and jazz influenced vocalist Anthony Jefferson is keeping it real by calling his latest album All I Am.
Drawing on a wide range of influences and elements of his fascinating, multi-faceted life journey and career, he pours his rich baritone and imaginative vocal passion into an ultra-romantic, exquisitely produced collection that finds him exploring classics from the Great American Songbook (“Willow Weep For Me,” “Summertime,” “Night and Day”) and golden age of pop/soul (“You’ve Got a Friend,” “Me and Mrs. Jones,” “Rainy Night in Georgia”).
While Jefferson’s musical background and educational history is lengthy and fascinating and involves stops at Berklee and studies with Ellis Marsalis at the University of New Orleans, there’s a single aspect of it – taking musical theatre courses at LA City College – that explains everything about his deeply dramatic approach to these songs. He makes every song seem like it’s part of a larger musical – and how many artists can make you feel that?
Kudos are also due to veteran pianist, arranger and producer Corey Allen, who has been on board since Jefferson’s 2013 debut But Beautiful and spins his hypnotic magic around the artist here as well.