ABYSS JAZZ MAGAZINE, Rachelle Bivins “With a seductive romantic and velvety voice that is absolutely irresistable..”

Another Unsung Heroine With a seductive romantic and velvety voice that is absolutely irresistable, Carol Duboc has blossomed into one jazz’s top shelf contemporary vocalist. After attending a live recording session for Al Jarreau’s 1994 hit, Tenderness, the experience was the beginning of a new kind of tomorrow; the kind of tomorrow that lives forever the world of jazz.

“When Al started singing, I thought, that’s what I want to do as a singer. I loved the idea of using my voice as an instrument; since my favorite thing to do is write for instruments. I love improvisations, at times, singing notes without words. I then focused my passion and followed my philosophy of never simply duplicating a song, but finding something authentic about myself within it. I’m always happiest when I have music going and [I] believe that is what I’m made to do.”

Looking through the rearview mirror, the Kansas City native was moved by Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross and Earth, Wind & Fire’s heartfelt vocals and burning R&B chord changes. Teddy Riley noticed Duboc when she was a student at USC’s School of Music working with hip hop acts before emerging professionally as a popular songwriter and arranger for R&B divas like Patty LaBelle, The Word is All from the gold selling Gems CD, Chante Moore, The title cut from her CD, Precious, and Stephanie Mills’, Never Do You Wrong. Duboc’s critically acclaimed first two independent releases on Gold Note Music With All That I Am (2001) and Duboc (2003), charted high on smoothjazz.com charts, while receiving constant airplay on Satellite Radio XM and many commercial stations throughout the country. L.A. Times hails her sultry voice as having ‘the strength and originality to quickly move her into the top level of jazz vocalists.”

Just a few months back, Duboc released All of You. This album coincided with her film debut in the MGM/Sony movie, starring John Travolta-Uma Thurman, Be Cool, the long-awaited sequel to the classic Get Shorty. Duboc played “Pumpkin” one of the singer/dancers in a three-girl group. All of You featured a few familiar favorites, unlike her previous albums of mostly original material. “I enjoyed the challenge this time of mixing new songs I’d written with guitar based arrangements of different covers. I love Bill Withers, I love the Police and Sting’s style has been an influence. All of the originals were personal, either written when I was madly in love or hurting over someone.” (It’s amazing how some of our best work comes out of extreme emotions like love, pain and disappointment, Ouch!)

We sometimes think that success happens overnight, but really, that would be the exception rather than the rule. Duboc has been practicing her craft and honing her skills for more than a decade. However, judging by the reception of her latest album and a motion picture debut, good things do come to those who wait.

With her jazzy approach to All of You and considering jazz is like a house with many rooms, let’s just stay tuned to see what room she will visit next.

AOL HOMETOWN, Irene Wadkins “…Carol delivers all of what true jazz lovers want to hear.”