Heather Headley This Is Who I Am CD

Personnel includes: Heather Headley (vocals); Chukki Starr (rap vocals); Joshua Nile, V. Jeffrey Smith (various instruments, programming); Gary Haase, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis (various instruments); Ed Baden-Powell (guitar, keyboards, bass, programming); Jeff Mironov, Frankie Romano, Professa Funk, Dallas Austin, Tomi Martin, Mike Scott, Terence Elliot, Tim Stewart (guitar); Richard Locker (cello); Shelley Woodworth (oboe); Rob Mounsey (piano); Jeremy Ruzumna (Hammond B-3 organ); James "Big Jim" Wright, Michael Norfleet, Slyvia Bennett Smith, Reed Vertelney, Kwame Kwaten (keyboards); Steve Mostyn (bass); Steve Marston (percussion); Deborah Cox, Sara Devine, Renee Neufville, Shanice, Vanessa A. Jones, Audrey Martells, Gabrielle Lauder (background vocals).
Producers include: D-Influence, Joshua Nile, The Phantom, Reed Vertelney, Sylvia Bennett.
Heather Headley was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best New Artist. "I Wish I Wasn't" was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
Personnel: Heather Headley (background vocals); Chukki Star (rap vocals); Dallas Austin, Terrence Elliot, Jeff Mironov, Tomi Martin (guitar); Richard Locker (cello); Shelley Woodworth (oboe); Rob Mounsey (piano); Michael Norfleet, Kwame Kwaten, James "Big Jim" Wright (keyboards); Rick Sheppard (midi); Steve Marston (percussion); V. Jeffrey Smith (programming); Reed Vertelney (drum programming); Deborah Cox, Vanessa A. Jones, Renee Neufville, Audrey Martells (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Dave Way; Andy Zulla; Peter Mokran; Steve Hodge.
Recording information: Avatar Studios, Studio C, New York, NY; Backwoods Studios, Brandywine, MD; Chung King Studios, NY; Darp Studios, Atlanta, GA; D-Lab Studios, London, England; Flyte Tyme Studios, Hollywood, CA; Headman Sound; Neptune Factor Studios, Brooklyn, NY; O'Henry Studios, Burbank, CA; Pacifique, North Hollywood, CA; Paramount Studios, Hollywood, CA; Record Plant Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Sound Decision; The Secret Studio, New York, NY; Unique Recordings, New York, NY.
Photographer: Tony Duran.
Arrangers: Jimmy Jam; Reed Vertelney; Rob Mounsey; Terry Lewis.
Though she didn't come out of the R&B tradition, Heather Headley has plenty of soul on her debut, This Is Who I Am. Headley, a singer whose vocal strength isn't mere compensation for a lack of interpretive skills or lame songwriting, possesses a range that's surprising and welcome; she slips on dramatic personas continually here, quite ironic considering the title. The arrangements aren't exactly hooky, but the cast of producers -- including Dallas Austin, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and D'Influence, use everything in their power -- from a Hammond B-3 to synthesizers -- to flesh out these songs. Occasionally, the songs don't reflect their age very well, as on the regrets of a stay-at-home girlfriend ("I Wish I Wasn't") or an increasingly angry housewife who's been neglected ("Like Ya Used To"). The opener, "He Is" (by songwriter/producer Joshua Nile), is very good though -- an intriguing angle on female thoughts about the male side of love (or, just possibly, a look at the aspects of God). Headley sounds excellent throughout, her voice pure as crystal on the ballads, occasionally outré in similar fashion to Mariah Carey, but gritty and soulful when she's sorting out the responsibilities of a relationship in "Fulltime." ~ John Bush
The first solo album from Heather Headley, who won a 1998 Tony for her performance in Tim Rice and Elton John's AIDA, is slick, contemporary urban R&B with just a hint of her native Trinidadian background. Songs such as the sizzling album-opener "He Is" and the sultry "Always Been Your Girl" demonstrate her range, while the after-hours appeal of "Nature of a Man" is undeniable.
There's little trace of Headley's theatrical roots save in the variety of moods she's able to conjure, and she makes the crossover from stage to recording studio seem almost effortless. While she's obviouslyRolling Stone (11/28/02, p.86) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...[A] smooth debut....She's just herself, and that's more than enough..."