Naima Shamborguer - A Blossom Sings (2002)

From her early days of musical training, Naima Shamborguer has developed highly artistic and finely polished vocal abilities through extensive training in calssical and Jazz Music. This unique combination provides the listener with the pleasurer of an extensive musical repertoire of Jazz and Jazz Interpretations of popular standards and show tunes provided by a true professional-her vocal performances are of highest quality.

"One of the women rated best in the hierarchy of jazz..."
Dayton Daily News, The Journal Herald.

Her musical arrangements are unparalleled. The essence
of her music style is eclectic, yet audiences identify
with her expressive renditions and deeply profound slections which are all 'her own'. Her clear diction
and artful presentation of lyrics allow audiences to understand as well as enjoy her songs. She has an
uncanny knack for selecting beautiful ballads, which move an audience and capture the heart and soul of their emotions and feelings. The discriminating listener is always left fulfilled by her music.

"She may be decked out in black satin with the smile
of an angel and a voice of a goddess"-Ann Arbor News

Naima has received rave reviews from jazz critics who consistently appraise her musical talents and skills
as one of the finest jazz songstylist. Her music has
been praised for its fresh,innovative and improvisational style. A jazz virtuoso, she has conducted vocal
workshops in "Technique and Song" for other aspiring musicians or music aficionados.

A "Motown" treasure, Ms. Shamborguer has performed with some of the finest musicians from Metropolitan Detroit, including musicians recognized in the industry as award winning Michigan Jazz Masters: Marcus Belgrave, Donald Walden, Harold McKinney, Wendell Harrison, and
Teddy Harris Jr. Other Detroit greats she has worked
with include: Geri Allen,Marion Hayden, James Carter, Rodney Whittaker, Barry Harris and Donald Byrd Della Reese. Other noteworthy performances have been with Dizzy Gillespie,Kenny Burrell,Ramsey Lewis,and Nancy Wilson.

A CD REVIEW

For those of you who are already aware of the instrument of Naima Shamborguer, allow me to present Naima to you again. Naima was born and raised in a musical family in Detroit. At a very young age she was introduced to the music of John Coltrane, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Max Roach and Miles Davis. When she was old enough to become aware of the the young jazz masters in Detroit, Naima began to work with them at the ripe old age of 15. That was the beginning of Naima Naima Shamborguer as a jazz artist.

On this CD "A Blossom Sings" her second and best, in my opinion Naima gives us tunes that are really downright swinging. Before you know it, she has us listening, liking, and wanting to hear the ballads because she sings the ballads so well. The up tempo tune "Jeannine" composed by the late Duke Pearson has brand new amusing lyrics by Ms. Shamborguer with classics by the "two M's" Miles and Monk. Medium tempos and ballads by Duke Ellington, Antonio Carlos Jobim, plus Ms. Shamborguer includes the title tune "A Blossom Sings", a tribute to Sarah Vaughan, one of Naima's main influences.

Naima used twenty-three world class musicians from Detroit and New York on this work of love. I must point out four musicians for special recongnition: Pianist, Buddy Budson-arrangements, Bassist, Marion Hayden-arrangements, Saxophonist, Charlie Gabriel-arrangements and drummer,Bert Myrick. As for the capital musician in focus, Naima Shamborguer is a linkage to Sarah Vaughan, Carmon McRae, and hopefully a continum.

I personally attest to the fact that several of us in the Detroit jazz scene desire for her to appear more on the nightclub scene, because I get many request on my radio program about where is Naima Shamborguer appearing. My personal hope is that this CD will be the second of many more.

Ed Love-WDET-FM Detroit

"Just because we Detroiters in the know are proud of our own
is no reason to keep a talent like Naima Shamborguer to ourselves. Naima is constantly reaching for something new when she sings. She deserves to reach listeners far and wide. those listeners deserve her too."