S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T ::: 3 Songs with N'Dea Davenport

Season 3 of Blue-in-Green:RADIO's S-P-(((o)))-T-L-I-G-H-T series continues with the celebration of some of our favourite vocalists.  In support of our selections, we've plucked a snazzy 3-song round-up featuring a mish-mash of under-appreciated collaborations and under-the-radar remixes that may have passed listeners by.

Tonight focuses on the American acid jazz icon that is N'Dea Davenport.  Perhaps best known for her incredible catalogue alongside The Brand New Heavies in the 90s which spawned the hits 'Dream on Dreamer' and 'Midnight at the Oasis', N'dea's solo career flourished in that time further culminating with the release of her self-titled debut album in 1998.  From there, N'dea would continue collaborations with the Brand New Heavies as well as solidifying herself as an incredibly versatile and prolific artist and collaborator.

With a multitude of collaborations with some incredible names, N'Dea's captivating vocal has graced projects alongside DJ Spinna, Sly & Robbie, DJ Deckstream, Wax Poetics, Fred Everything, Everlast amongst many more.

Here are three N'dea Davenport tracks that no N'Dea Davenport collection should be without...

1. 'Deep into Sunshine' by Shuya Okino featuring N'Dea Davenport (2011)

Shuya Okino's 'Destiny' album came amidst a whirlwind of excitement upon its release.  Superseded by the disco-esque 'Still in Love' - an excellent production that boasts a delicious jazz break near the song's climax - the eleven track album proved a triumph for one-half of the revered Kyoto Jazz Massive duo.  Featuring some excellent vocalists across the project including Divinti, Pete Simpson and Clara Hill, N'Dea's three track appearances prove a dream match helping to make the album a defining project for Shuya Okino.  Fans of the CD version of the album further delighted in the elegant matt laminate version of the casing giving another reason to cherish this record.

2. 'Don't Push Your Luck' by [re:jazz] featuring N'Dea Davenport (2012)

Nu-jazz heroes, [re:jazz], delivered something of a reinvention of their sound with the release of 2012's 'Kaleidoscope'.  Featuring acclaimed Jazzanova producer, Axel Reinemer, the band executed a subtle shift towards honing their own compositions while still suavely occupying that tantalising no-man's land between electronic and acoustic jazz.  A fantastic album boasting some of the best music bearing the [re:jazz] brand, the album kicks off in vibrant fashion with N'Dea Davenport guesting on the up-tempo, acid jazz-like 'Don't Push Your Luck'.

3. 'Trust Me' by Guru featuring N'Dea Davenport (1993)

Amongst the litany of 1990s gems that help define N'Dea Davenport's esteemed catalogue, is the wonderful collaboration with Gang Starr rapper Guru.  For his first foray into a solo endeavour, Guru sought to rewrite the 90s jazz-rap blueprint and in a bid to evolve the script, instead of sampling classics by jazz greats like Horace Silver and Bobby Hutcherson (a technique that made icons of Gang Starr and A Tribe Called Quest), the rapper opted to collaborate with them for a project instead.  Thus the Jazzmatazz series was born.  Enlisting luminaries like Donald Byrd, Roy Ayers and Lonnie Liston Smith, Guru crafted a 90s masterpiece with this treasure.  Appearing on two tracks for the album, the great N'Dea Davenport guests on 'Trust Me' and delivers a real standout for the album.