Former Boston area native and recent Florida transplant, Valerie Sneade has been flying below the radar for some time, but comes square into view with the release of her debut recording, Let Me Be Strong. Clocking in under 45 minutes, Sneade delivers a succinct dozen numbers that cover more emotional and musical terrain than other singers do in twice the time. Thanks to her preternaturally talented musical director, JimRice, Sneade’s alto, as sweet and warm as Gran Marnier, floats on a series of sophisticated and richly-crafted arrangements that bring both cohesion and distinction to a fairly varied collection of songs, in such styles as pop, country, R&B and standards. Sneade sets fire to Ernie Lijoi’s witty wordplay in Dance with the Devil, abetted by Rice’s cool jazz backup. She rocks the rafters in such R&B numbers as I Can See Clearly Now and Carole King’s Beautiful, but waxes winsome on such tender numbers as Julie Gold’s wistful Heaven, and Hoagy Carmichael’s The Nearness of You. Her Shiver Me Timbers is so delicate, you won’t want to move while she is singing it for fear of breaking the spell. Then witness the remarkable expressiveness she brings to Sondheim’s I Remember, and finally understand a song that is otherwise mystifying outside it’s original context. Rice adds violin, cello, and guitar to You Can’t Go Home Again and provides a light Burt Bacharach feel to When You Say Nothing At All, enhancing Sneade’s fine vocals with additional depth and feeling. Sneade’s infectious laughter at the end of a celebratory version of Let’s Go Fly A Kite demonstrates that she has been having as good a time as we have enjoying this recording. (John Amodeo, Cabaret Scenes, NYC)

"Let Me Be Strong" might well be worth the price just to hear Sneade's interpretation of Stephen Sondheim's hauntingly wistful "I Remember," with a marvelous arrangement by accompanist Jim Rice." ( Mark Chapman, The Boston Herald)

Listen to samples from Valerie's debut album Let Me Be Strong. "Let Me Be Strong" was officially released on Tuesday, September 21st to rave reviews. You can order your very own copy of "Let Me Be Strong" by gong to www.cdbaby.com or by emailing us at turningleaf@daystar.net or calling us at 941-380-2507.

Let Me Be Strong CD $14.99 out of stock 1 Let Me Be Strong 2 Dance With The Devil 3 Shiver Me Timbers 4 Heaven 5 A House Is Not A Home 6 You Can't Go Home Again 7 I Remember 8 I Can See Clearly 9 When You Say Nothing At All 10 Beautiful 11 Nearness Of You 12 Let's Go Fly A Kite Pre-release ordering of "Let Me Be Strong", debut CD from award winning/national recording artist Valerie Sneade. Order your CD between September 7th and October 2nd and $5 of this CD will be donated to The United Way of Charlotte County for distribution to Hurricane Charley victims. To read more about Valerie's upcoming Hurricane Charley benefit, please go to www.valeriesneade.com and click on press release. Thanks for stopping by!

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