Vann Johnson Messages CD

VANN (Johnson) is a singer/actress/songwriter who can mix it up with a jazz trio, sparkle on the big screen, light up a rock concert venue, or reach into the sublime space of a symphonic orchestra. Yet look beneath her talent and virtuosity and you will find an artist committed to stretching and breaking musical genres. Like many of today's leading singers VANN began singing gospel music at a young age, exploring her creativity through performing, writing, and recording. Her unique range of vocal skills derives from touring internationally and performing with symphony orchestras.VANN divides her time between Los Angeles and Europe; she recently returned from recording and performing in Paris, France. Currently performing and recording material for her next solo projects, VANN also continues to write songs. She recently sang at B.B. King's Blues Club with Jerry Peterson and Kirk Whalum. "I love the creativity involved in exploring different genres," says VANN.VANN garners rave reviews from critics and audiences alike when she performs. Whether singing in front of our nation's Capitol for an audience of 15,000, or dazzling a symphony pops concert audience as the soprano soloist, Vann is an astonishing live performer. Audiences are engulfed by the power of this singer's celestial voice as she plumbs the depths of her soul to bring that little extra to a song. When VANN begins to sing, her audiences are enthralled ... even the angels stop to listen.Messages a CD co-written and co-produced by VANN, was released to critical acclaim. VANN's vocals are certifiably smooth as she introduces her lower vocal range. Messages chronicle life's incredible journey with ethereal arrangements flowing gracefully atop warm honey vocals, it's music that uplifts the spirit and reminds us to remember the beauty of hope and love. When Messages was released VANN was pleased to discover that the critics differed in their descriptions of her vocal interpretations. She believes that being placed in a specific category tends to place limits on her versatility. "I'd rather allow my listeners to have their own perspectives of each song," says VANN. "It's about Choice" (one of the songs from the album co-written with Pamela Phillips Oland and Sam Vamplew)... it's a freedom thing." Because VANN values her communication with her listeners, she is especially fond of another song on the CD, "Some Rules Were Made To Be Broken," co-written with Lou Pardini. It's an anthem that encourages her listeners to keep hope alive and always follow their dreams.As her career progressed, VANN's animation on stage resulted in her being tapped for roles on screen. VANN's acting credits include NBC-TV's "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" and the feature film, "A Gun, A Car, A Blond," starring Billy Bob Thornton and the late John Ritter. VANN is the feature vocalist on the titled track for the film. She was chosen to sing "Home" for the television mini-series An American Dream, where she immediately fell in love with performing with a symphony orchestra. VANN's love for performing with a symphony intensified when, as the soprano soloist with the San Diego Symphony, she brought to life the songs from Gershwin's renowned musical Porgy and Bess. Early in her career, when R&B balladeer Michael Bolton caught the end of VANN's set at the Universal Hilton, he invited her to join him on national and international tours, performing with Bolton the feature duet, written by Bolton and originally recorded by Barbra Streisand, "We're Not Making Love Any More." This duet was tapped for a memorable performance of an Oprah Special - with Oprah singing backup and the video "This is Michael Bolton." When international keyboard artist Yanni heard VANN sing, he asked her to introduce and record his first song with lyrics, "Love Is All." During the international tour she sang "Love Is All" with Yanni and his orchestra, and became one of the few performers ever to sing at the Taj Mahal