KANDACE SPRINGS

RUN YOUR RACE

SPR Records

Kandice Springs, piano/Fender Rhodes/vocals; Caylen Bryant, bass/cello; Camille Garner, drums; Carl Sturken & Bob Palmeiri, guitar; Theo Griffin, cello; Elena Pinderhughes, flute; Jeanette Williams, Cajon; David Mann, string arrangements. BACKGROUND VOICES: Cindy Mizelle, Theo Griffin, Caylen Bryant, & Christie Moran.

The title tune opens this album of mostly original compositions by Kandace Springs.  “Run Your Race” is a tribute to her father, Kenneth “Scat” Springs, who recently passed away.  Sometimes a personal tragedy can become a creative triumph.  She tells us in her press package, that her father was a track star in college. He too was a musician. Sadly, his illness confined him to a wheelchair towards the end of his life for two years.

“I was inspired to write “Run Your Race” to tell him that I know he is free now, to run like he used to,” she says.

Kandace started playing piano as a grade school student.  She could play by ear just about anything she heard on the radio or on popular records. The first thing she taught herself to play was the “Soul Train” television show theme song. Vocalists who have inspired her are Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and later, the more modern youthful pianist and singer, Norah Jones. Before she knew it, Kandace was working at clubs singing and playing piano.  Blue Note Records came calling and she was signed by Chairman, Don Was to that historic label.

On this latest release, she does a good job of covering the Billie Eilish tune “What Was I Made For?”  It’s the popular theme song from the Barbie movie.  This is followed by one of my favorites on this record called “Broken Keys.”  It was inspired by a used piano that her father brought home one day for the eight-year-old to play.  She learned to play it despite the broken keys.

Back in the day, Prince saw a video of Kandace covering Sam Smith’s song “Stay With Me” and a week later he contacted her. She was invited to join him at Paisley Park for their 30^th Anniversary of the album “Purple Rain.”  That began a close mentorship and friendship.

Kandace Springs has a warm, emotional, comforting voice. Another song that I really love is “Closer To Me.”  I think this song is a hit record.

There were several favorite songs from her new album that captivated me.  One was “Pulse” that has a slightly funk arrangement.  Her performance of “Wild is the Wind” brings back memories of watching Nina Simone sing and play that song.  I can tell that Kandace admires and was influenced by Nina, although she makes the song her own. She also reminds me of a young Roberta Flack.

I appreciate and respect this young talented woman who is an amazing composer and a brilliant vocalist. Most of her music is ‘easy listening.’  She sings with great purpose and passion, carrying on the tradition of female singers, pianists and composers.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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