[DSD][OF] Vanessa Fernandez - Use Me - 2014 (Contemporary Jazz, Vocal)

Singapore-based vocalist Vanessa Fernandez, 31, has performed hip-hop (Urban Xchange/Parking Lot Pimp) and been a DJ “Vandetta,” or “Miss Vandetta” on Mediacorp Radio’s 987FM. Groove Note and ORG reissue producer Ying Tan decided that Fernandez deserved the audiophile recording treatment and so brought her to Ocean Way Recording in Los Angeles in mid-January 2014 to record this album to analog tape in five sessions.
Fernandez covers Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes and others in an album filled with funky grooves provided by a stellar back-up band anchored by bassist Leland Sklar, with session guitarist Tim Pierce (Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Patti Smith, Joe Cocker, Michael Jackson) drummer Victor Indrizzo (Scott Weiland, Chris Cornell) keyboardist Jim Cox (Lyle Lovett, Mark Knopfler, B.B. King) and others.
The album of audiophile-quality covers of soul and R&B classics from the ’70s and ’80s was done in an “unplugged” style with acoustic instruments and arrangements used on all of the tracks. Vocals are tremendously dynamic (no compression or limiting used), with superb presence and detail for all other instruments including the drum set.
The album introduces and throws the spotlight on the fantastic voice of the Singaporean vocalist Fernandez. The song selection includes tunes by Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Earth Wind & Fire, Bill Withers, Al Green and others.
“Tasty as is the back up band and are the outstanding acoustic arrangements, Ms. Fernandez steals the show with a voice that is as unlikely as her cover photo would have you thinking “funky black chick”…While the cover shot makes her look somewhat academic and perhaps reserved, trust me, there’s no governor on her voice or the rawness of the emotions she pours forth. When appropriate she dials it down to a simmer as on a great cover of Al Kooper’s BS&T classic “More Than You’ll Ever Know”. She even covers the somewhat obscure John Deacon- Freddie Mercury track “Cool Cat” from Queen’s Hot Space album…Ms. Fernandez’s performance on this slow simmer will have to convince you that she’s the real deal…Sometimes these “audiophile” productions meet your sonic expectations but disappoint in other ways. In this case, Ms. Fernandez does not disappoint. ”
~ Michael Fremer, Analog Planet, Music 10/11, Sound 11/11