While Maysa is no newcomer to the music scene, her ninth solo CD, Motions of Love (Shanachie Entertainment) that boasts cameos by the legendary Stevie Wonder and neo soul crooner Dwele, promises to introduce the veteran soul and smooth jazz vocalist to the widest audience of her career. She first gained fame as the featured voice on British acid jazz band Incognito’s defining `90s era hits such as “Don’t You Worry About A Thing”, “Still A Friend of Mine” and “Deep Waters.” She then launched a concurrent solo career with the hits “Am I Wrong (For Lovin’ You),” “Friendly Pressure” and “Hypnotic Love.” With a sultry alto on par with Phyllis Hyman and Patti Austin’s honeyed notes, Maysa should be one of the biggest names in the urban mainstream but instead she’s earned a loyal underground audience.
“This album has more popular appeal than my other stuff,” Maysa offers as a remedy for her status as Urban AC radio’s best-kept secret. “I love my cult following. I have no complaints about that because that’s more meaningful to me than anything. I don’t want to walk into a store and have to have bodyguards and all that crap. I don’t want that. If people come up to me in the supermarket and give me a hug, I love that.
When I was a kid I prayed to God that I would have longevity in the music industry and that’s what I have. I haven’t gone anywhere. I’ve been working 20 years straight.”
The Motions of Love project, primarily shepherded by Chris “Big Dog” Davis who has also produced Will Downing and Kim Waters, marks a new chapter in the book of Maysa’s career. “The original album title was Uncharted Territory because I kind of branched out a little bit on this record,” she confesses. “I had planned on having a rock song, I rapped a little bit and I had a country song. The country song and rap made it but the rock song didn’t make it because we didn’t have time to finish it. My degree is in classical performance. If I wanted to, I could go into opera if I put my mind to it. This was supposed to be an all R&B record with no jazz at all because I’ve never done a whole R&B album before.”