Paula Hanke CD Release Celebration: 'The Only Voice' with Free Planet Radio

Fiery and soulful vocalist Paula Hanke celebrates her debut cd release titled ‘The Only Voice’ on Friday Sept. 7^th 8pm at Jubilee!. Paula will be accompanied by World-Music Super Group Free Planet Radio for an uplifting evening filled with sultry, heart driven, melodic and harmonious based repertoire. The evening will include some very special guests as well. Tickets available at Malaprops

For more info: (828) 225-3232 or paulahanke.com.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Jubilee! Community Outreach.

About  Paula Hanke & her debut Cd ‘The Only Voice’

Paula Hanke is a seasoned performer with a professional career spanning over 30 years, including performances from Atlantic City to TV’s Star Search to New York’s Bitter End, and appearances from Las Vegas to Tokyo, Japan. Hanke has contributed vocals to CD's produced by Capitol Records and We 'B' Records.

Hanke's writing for her debut cd titled ‘The Only Voice’ began emerging in 2009.  Graciously and vibrantly talented, Paula Hanke sings just about every style of music imaginable and was curious what would come into fruition if allowed the time to write and nurture her own music. Hanke posed the question: “What would I have to say and how would my voice sound saying it?”

‘The Only Voice’ is the answer to this question. 

"What emerged is deeply heart- connected, empowering and uplifting. The messages of the songs evolved by sitting very quietly and listening to my heart”, reflects Hanke. Melody and harmony driven, Hanke is influenced by songwriters and artists like James Taylor (whom she opened for in 2007), Sting and early Jonatha Brook. Paula eloquently transposes what she feels when she listens to their music into her own musical expression and journey.

Early developmental vocal influences that inspired Hanke include Roberta Flack, Luther Vandross and Gladys Knight to her current favorites, Susan Tedeschi and Lizz Wright which Hanke vigorously incorporates with vocals that span clear and tender to soulful and sultry.

On her new CD, Paula collaborates with some of Asheville’s finest musicians, from Grammy-winning bassist Eliot Wadopian,Chris Rosser and River Guerguerian of Free Planet Radio, to Jacob Rodriguez, who plays sax with Grammy-winning singer Michael Buble.

The title cut of the CD 'The Only Voice', encourages that we make our life-decisions based on our own gut-feelings, defying authority and the often misguided voices of our parents and religion. 'It's such a difficult thing to do when you have very strong moral consequences conflicting with what feels 'right'.  An example is from the lyrics from the title song ‘The Only Voice’ - 'And it's telling me to fly. It's sayin' - Be bold, be brave, be wise. Cause it's safe, to listen to my own voice. It's the only choice; the only voice.'

'Columbus Street' was written after being contacted on Facebook by an old friend, after 15 years. 'This hadn't been a romantic connection, but I spiced it up and turned it into one. In the song, the lovers meet unexpectedly on the street, barely recognizing each other after 20 years.'

‘The Only Voice’ was produced by Robert George & Paula Hanke  and was recorded, engineered and mixed at the Sound Temple Studios in Asheville. www.soundtemplestudios.com

Performers:

Free Planet Radio

Free Planet Radio, based in Asheville, NC is becoming one of the most exciting partnerships in world music today. Their world-jazz-classical fusion is a trans-cultural canvas that is at times deeply reflective and at other times rhythmically mind-bending.

This ensemble is composed of River Guerguerian, Armenian-Egyptian born in Canada, an awardwinning multi-percussionist / composer whose lyrical percussion style earned him a long-standing tenure with Turkish flutist virtuoso Omar Faruk Tekbilek; Eliot Wadopian, a two-time Grammy-award winner, proficient on string and electric basses, a 17 year member of the Paul Winter Consort. He’s also worked with Hal Galper, Glen Velez, and Eugene Friesen; Chris Rosser, an accomplished pianist,composer / producer, renown for his outstanding performances on a variety of indigenous stringed

instruments. He studied under the master Ali Akbar Khan. These artists emerged from three of the country's finest conservatories, and have established themselves in concert halls and studios, appearing on over 250 recordings and in 30 countries. Their individual talents have garnered worldwide recognition in Carnegie Hall, the Hong Kong World Music Festival, the Sydney Opera House, and the Madrid International Jazz Festival.

 Special Guest: Tony Godwin

Tony Godwin and Paula Hanke also perform as a duo for house concerts and local venues. Godwin has a refreshingly unique approach and technique for jazz improv that is skillfully woven with his other musical influences such as Bobby McFerrin, Cassandra Wilson, Keith Jarrett, Bill Frisell and anyone else who takes musical risks.