musician Abiah

Abiah spent his childhood with his single mother, an accomplished musician who accompanied the late operatic Baritone William Warfield in earlier years.  She introduced him to the singers who would become Abiah’s influences: Sarah Vaughn, Anita Baker and later Nina Simone.  “They were great singers and song interpreters,” he says. “They  were text painters and I believe that’s a lost art.” Abiah honed his  skills through the years as a background singer for artists George  Michael, Chuck Mangione, Amel Larrieux and Yolanda Adams while cutting  his chops in opera as a voice major in college.  By the time his debut  album was released in 2006, Abiah already knew exactly what he brought  to the table — a warm, engaging voice and unassailable taste in music.  His debut album was an underground smash. His video Love For a While, a duet with Shanice Wilson became a hit on VH1 Soul and BET J. Not completely vacant from the music since his debut album, Abiah got practically handed an unexpected cottage industry, when he became an in-demand vocal coach. Initial inquiries from singer-friends impressed by his sound and range has blossomed into a side-business that finds him coaching major label artists, up-and-comers, solid pros hankering to rise up to that proverbial next level, and musical game show contestants hoping to impress celebrity judges with noticeably increased prowess.  He also made an appearance on an Emmy nominated episode  of MTV's MADE. But along with his passion for coaching artists and  creating great music in the studio, performing is what Abiah loves  most. “There is nothing like feeling and seeing the atmosphere change in a room,” he says. “It’s so important to be in touch with your audience. They come to hear music but leave with their lives changed because of the music. That  is my job and calling." The new album, Life As A Ballad, boasts of gems  like the gorgeous opener,"September", a well orchestrated melange of  achingly mature lyric writing full throated, flowing and tautly controlled vocal drama, lush Beatles-esque harmonies and transcendent, transporting melodicism. There is also the poignant "Doves", a modern interpretation of a Prince classic, as well as seven other self-penned originals. But it’s hardly business as usual for this Rochester, NY native. It never is for Abiah, whose irrepressible spirit, engaging humor, and confident charisma once led Billboard magazine to call him “a singer with an innate ability for passionate songwriting that one cannot learn.” To help him capture the songs’ intimacy, Abiah turned to Blue Note recording artist Robert Glasper, who happens to be his cousin, guitarist/arranger Marvin Sewell, his long time collaborator, and co-producers Keith Witty and Ulysses Owens, Jr. “We definitely have a great chemistry in the studio which is why we were able to record the entire album in one day. Talk about a quick turn around," Abiah says with a laugh. “Robert added such beautiful fabric to the music. Marvin was overflowing with genius and Keith helped me to find all the "right" things like a mad scientist.” For more info: http://www.indiereviewcd.com https://twitter.com/IndieRevue https://www.instagram.com/indie.review https://www.facebook.com/indie.review