FLUTIST RAGAN WHITESIDE

Talking Smooth Jazz

Ragan Whiteside, the flautist-singer who catches the ear like few in the world of contemporary jazz can, is getting ready to make waves this May 12th with her fourth studio album, Treblemaker. A favorite of well-known stages such as Capital Jazz, Whiteside’s sound brings to mind the stylings of Najee and Dave Valentin. The preceding album, Quantum Drive, has received major airplay and acclaim by such publications as Jazz In M.E.E., and was described as “an enchanting and vibrant album” by Hans-Bernd Hülsmann of smooth-jazz.de. As its successor, Treblemaker promises a further expanse of Whiteside’s variety and style. Frank McComb, Kim Waters, Marion Meadows, and Tom Browne make their appearances on the album to lend their touch to a well-seasoned musical mix. Whiteside is not one to shy away from shaking up expectations. In contemporary jazz, where there is always a thirst for fresh material, she steps up and delivers, both in studio recording and on live stage. “Her tenacity makes her a force to be reckoned with. Mark my words!” said Bob Baldwin of her once, and this tenacity is obvious at every show and in every track. “We need new music!” the fans say, and Ragan Whiteside is always up to deliver exactly what they ask for. Still a New Yorker at her core and in her every note, Ragan Whiteside brings no shortage of sound to shake up some perceptions of what a flute – and a jazz artist – can do. (Souce: www.raganwhiteside.com) Follow Ragan on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.