finetune artist: Jazzyfatnastees

This smooth soul-jazz duo comprises Tracey Moore (b. November 1970, Rochester, New York, USA) and Mercedes Martinez (b. September 1969, Canary Islands, Spain), both of whom grew up in California. Jazzyfatnastees started off in 1992 as a classically-styled vocal quartet, featuring Martinez, Moore, Dawn Beckman and Arlynn Page, but within a couple of years had slimmed down to the central duo Their unusual name, according to Moore and Martinez, refers to their "jazzy" lyrics, "fat" harmonies and "nasty' tracks. The duo recorded an unreleased album for the Tommy Boy Records label in 1994, but gained release from their restrictive contract to concentrate on fashioning their own distinctive sound. A turning point in their career followed when they met up with Philadelphia-based hip-hop crew the Roots, backing them at live shows and contributing vocals to 1996's acclaimed illadelph halflife. The duo made a name for themselves with contributions to recordings by De La Soul, Eric Bent, Stevie Wonder and Outkast, and landed a major label contract with Universal Records. Their debut album, The Once And Future, featured most of the Roots crew as producers or backing musicians but was otherwise a showcase for Moore and Martinez" songwriting and vocal talents on a collection of understated, mellifluous gems. During the same year the duo set up the Black Lily female artist showcases in Philadelphia and New York, and contributed a cover version of Ruth Brown's "I Don't Know" to the soundtrack of the Rubin Carter biopic, Hurricane.

Listen to Jazzyfatnastees at Finetune.

(1999) The Once and Future

Unconventional Ways
Breakthrough
How Sad
The Wound
Let it Go

myrav26 on 2007-12-27 10:29:00.333:
That's alright wit me!!!!!!!!!!