Linda Boston and PERMISSION

Allow Linda Boston to be profound.
For years, her name has been a staple on Detroit's theater scene. She's starred or co-starred in some of the best reviewed shows in the city and now, she's nurturing another long-time love: singing. Boston recent released her debut CD "The Power Of Being" and it's a reflection of her spiritual walk, her love of sound and the life lessons she's learned along the way.
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FOR FULL ARTICLE AND INTERVIEW:
B.L.A.C. Black Life, Arts & Culture Detroit, December 2012 issue, Kelly Carter, author - B.L.A.C. Black Life, Arts & Culture Detroit - December 2012 (Written by Emmy Award Winning Entertain

Allow Linda Boston to be profound.
For years, her name has been a staple on Detroit's theater scene. She's starred or co-starred in some of the best reviewed shows in the city and now, she's nurturing another long-time love: singing. Boston recent released her debut CD "The Power Of Being" and it's a reflection of her spiritual walk, her love of sound and the life lessons she's learned along the way.
-----
FOR FULL ARTICLE AND INTERVIEW:
B.L.A.C. Black Life, Arts & Culture Detroit, December 2012 issue, Kelly Carter, author - B.L.A.C. Black Life, Arts & Culture Detroit - December 2012 (Written by Emmy Award Winning Entertain

Inspirational jazz vocalist’s album is a conduit for peace

By Raina L. Baker
Special to the Michigan Citizen

You may know her as a stage and film actress. You may know her from voiceovers. You may know her as a vocalist, service producer, performer, educator or teacher of the arts. But do you know Linda Boston as a musical peacemaker? If not, you soon will with her newly released CD, “Permission: The Power of Being.”

Boston says she remembers singing as a young child in the choir at her Lutheran church near her home in Chicago. She comes from a family of singers and performers and as the youngest, it wasn’t until high school in Covert, Mich. that her siblings recognized she was more than an after-dinner family performer.

Boston earned a degree in broadcasting from Eastern Michigan University and has since worked in radio, film, stage and advertising and continues to work in performing and fine arts as a voice to be reckoned with. But it is her latest project that truly represents her creativity and spiritual connection to art. “Permission” features 11 songs and a bonus of peace and power.

“Passion is the terrestrial part of the brain, something that has to be balanced with something else,” she told the Michigan Citizen. “It’s necessary and a part of reality in a world full of illusions. If we get lost in passion without balance, we lose our ability.”

The evolution of her music mirrors the evolution of her life. Embracing the idea that nothing is constant but change, the album opens with Boston’s rendition of Sam Cooke’s “A change is gonna come.”

“People had been asking me to do a CD for over 10 years but I knew that if I was going to do this, I was going to need to ask for permission. With that came more and more holistic and musical creativity and it’s still flowing. I’m asking permission from God, from the ancestors and from myself.”

The alto singer who can creep into soprano and even dance with tenor says she already has half of her second album done and bits of the third but “Permission” is her creative resurrection, rebirth, revelation. She says it took 10 years to get the album together. Ten, according to Boston, in supreme numerology represents harmony, divine order, unity in multiplicity and total peace.

“I see this being an international and world information to people to find peace, to know and discover themselves,” says Boston, who has already made sales in Puerto Rico and Japan. She says she wants her listeners to embrace the things needed for a balanced survival.

Boston says she studies the holistic components of life, which requires her to look at the pineal soul, celestial consciousness and terrestrial unconsciousness and that she embraces the Kemetic Tree of Life. Having dealt with physical calamity, familial unrest and having people love her despite misunderstanding her has helped her to find balance in a world full of chaos. Boston says she wants her album to help people overcome the five evil giants: fear, doubt, resentment, pride and ignorance. “Counter the evil and seek peace,” she says.

The industry of music, arts and entertainment can draw things that can be really distracting, which is why balance is so necessary, she told the Citizen. As an evolving artist, she says “it’s a growing process and the pain makes you stronger. Pull in and soak in that wisdom.”

Having been away from Corporate America since 1998, Boston believes a person’s gifts will make a way for them. “Go on and accept the emotion and the passion. Accept it as a part of life that makes things happen,” she says.

With a voice that could make angels fall from heaven and seraphim join her team of musical experts, Boston says she had a wonderful team of mostly local artists who helped her to develop the writing, the ideas and formula of the album.

“The music industry makes you pick a category that represents who you are as an artist. I registered the album as Gospel because it brings good news but if I had to I’d call it inspirational jazz. Some might even say spoken word,” she says.

The close of the album features a voice narrative that provides continuity to what the listener has heard and hopefully received.

“Randy Scott told me that at some point it has to be done and this is how I can include people and share my gift,” Boston said. She added that she’s glad she did things with a great team rather than going to a record label. “I appreciate it so much more.” Boston worked with award-winning jazz saxophonist and producer Randy Scott on the production of the album. He told the Michigan Citizen that “it was a pleasure working with Boston,” who has “amazing energy” and “knows what to do with her voice.”

If you’re looking for an album with range, heavy harmony, brilliant vocals and immaculate jazz instrumentals that all come together to create a blueprint for peace, harmony, balance, understanding, meditation and love, “Permission” is that album.

Boston encourages people - Michigan Citizen Newspaper - August 12, 2012

Inspirational jazz vocalist’s album is a conduit for peace

By Raina L. Baker
Special to the Michigan Citizen

You may know her as a stage and film actress. You may know her from voiceovers. You may know her as a vocalist, service producer, performer, educator or teacher of the arts. But do you know Linda Boston as a musical peacemaker? If not, you soon will with her newly released CD, “Permission: The Power of Being.”

Boston says she remembers singing as a young child in the choir at her Lutheran church near her home in Chicago. She comes from a family of singers and performers and as the youngest, it wasn’t until high school in Covert, Mich. that her siblings recognized she was more than an after-dinner family performer.

Boston earned a degree in broadcasting from Eastern Michigan University and has since worked in radio, film, stage and advertising and continues to work in performing and fine arts as a voice to be reckoned with. But it is her latest project that truly represents her creativity and spiritual connection to art. “Permission” features 11 songs and a bonus of peace and power.

“Passion is the terrestrial part of the brain, something that has to be balanced with something else,” she told the Michigan Citizen. “It’s necessary and a part of reality in a world full of illusions. If we get lost in passion without balance, we lose our ability.”

The evolution of her music mirrors the evolution of her life. Embracing the idea that nothing is constant but change, the album opens with Boston’s rendition of Sam Cooke’s “A change is gonna come.”

“People had been asking me to do a CD for over 10 years but I knew that if I was going to do this, I was going to need to ask for permission. With that came more and more holistic and musical creativity and it’s still flowing. I’m asking permission from God, from the ancestors and from myself.”

The alto singer who can creep into soprano and even dance with tenor says she already has half of her second album done and bits of the third but “Permission” is her creative resurrection, rebirth, revelation. She says it took 10 years to get the album together. Ten, according to Boston, in supreme numerology represents harmony, divine order, unity in multiplicity and total peace.

“I see this being an international and world information to people to find peace, to know and discover themselves,” says Boston, who has already made sales in Puerto Rico and Japan. She says she wants her listeners to embrace the things needed for a balanced survival.

Boston says she studies the holistic components of life, which requires her to look at the pineal soul, celestial consciousness and terrestrial unconsciousness and that she embraces the Kemetic Tree of Life. Having dealt with physical calamity, familial unrest and having people love her despite misunderstanding her has helped her to find balance in a world full of chaos. Boston says she wants her album to help people overcome the five evil giants: fear, doubt, resentment, pride and ignorance. “Counter the evil and seek peace,” she says.

The industry of music, arts and entertainment can draw things that can be really distracting, which is why balance is so necessary, she told the Citizen. As an evolving artist, she says “it’s a growing process and the pain makes you stronger. Pull in and soak in that wisdom.”

Having been away from Corporate America since 1998, Boston believes a person’s gifts will make a way for them. “Go on and accept the emotion and the passion. Accept it as a part of life that makes things happen,” she says.

With a voice that could make angels fall from heaven and seraphim join her team of musical experts, Boston says she had a wonderful team of mostly local artists who helped her to develop the writing, the ideas and formula of the album.

“The music industry makes you pick a category that represents who you are as an artist. I registered the album as Gospel because it brings good news but if I had to I’d call it inspirational jazz. Some might even say spoken word,” she says.

The close of the album features a voice narrative that provides continuity to what the listener has heard and hopefully received.

“Randy Scott told me that at some point it has to be done and this is how I can include people and share my gift,” Boston said. She added that she’s glad she did things with a great team rather than going to a record label. “I appreciate it so much more.” Boston worked with award-winning jazz saxophonist and producer Randy Scott on the production of the album. He told the Michigan Citizen that “it was a pleasure working with Boston,” who has “amazing energy” and “knows what to do with her voice.”

If you’re looking for an album with range, heavy harmony, brilliant vocals and immaculate jazz instrumentals that all come together to create a blueprint for peace, harmony, balance, understanding, meditation and love, “Permission” is that album.

Boston encourages people - Michigan Citizen Newspaper - August 12, 2012

Linda Boston, a pillar of Detroit's creative community, is homegrown, but not local. Her solo debut is the victory lap to a banner year for the actress/vocalist. Along with its release, she's also got a support role in the movie Sparkle. Boston's wide-ranged alto voice is similar to Dianne Reeves, another Detroit legend. Her smooth and jazzy sound, with a spiritual current, results from years of collaboration with jazzman Randy Scott. 1st Corinthians 13:13 uses the Biblical refrain of 'faith, hope and love' as its chorus. Meanwhile Change Is Gonna Come is one of the more creative takes on the Sam Cooke classic. Boston's chops, though, carry the set. Serve this one with moonlight and good conversation and you can't go wrong. --Ambassador Magazine, Birmingham, MI, September/October 2012; "dluxe sounds Play List".
- Ambassador Magazine, Birmingham, MI, September/October 2012

Linda Boston, a pillar of Detroit's creative community, is homegrown, but not local. Her solo debut is the victory lap to a banner year for the actress/vocalist. Along with its release, she's also got a support role in the movie Sparkle. Boston's wide-ranged alto voice is similar to Dianne Reeves, another Detroit legend. Her smooth and jazzy sound, with a spiritual current, results from years of collaboration with jazzman Randy Scott. 1st Corinthians 13:13 uses the Biblical refrain of 'faith, hope and love' as its chorus. Meanwhile Change Is Gonna Come is one of the more creative takes on the Sam Cooke classic. Boston's chops, though, carry the set. Serve this one with moonlight and good conversation and you can't go wrong. --Ambassador Magazine, Birmingham, MI, September/October 2012; "dluxe sounds Play List".
- Ambassador Magazine, Birmingham, MI, September/October 2012