by 6 people |
A fierce and uncompromising singer, Toshi Reagon takes the traditional sounds of southwest Georgia congregational singing, migration blues, and other traditional African American styles and blends them with the rhythm & blues and rock 'n roll of the 60's and 70's.
On her latest CD, Have You Heard (Righteous Babe Records), Reagon shifts from impassioned conversations with a lover ("Didn't I Tell You," "Ooh Wee") to equally heartfelt commentaries that temper political discontent with spiritual optimism ("Have You Heard," "Down to the Water," "Dream"). Musically, abetted by producer Craid Street (known for his work with Cassandra Wilson, Chris Whitley, and k.d. lang), Reagon seamlessly stitches together fold instrumentation, rock and funk rhythms, and rousing gospel harmonies, driving most of the songs with her forceful strumming and blues-based picking on the Alvarez Yairi given to her be Righteous Babe founder Ani DiFranco.
Whether playing solo or with her band, Toshi's fusion of styles and forms draws listeners in, embraces them and sets them off in rapturous, hand-raising, foot stomping delight.
New Release!
Have You Heard
Toshi Reagon Rocks on Her Righteous Babe Records Debut, "Have You Heard"On Have You Heard, Toshi Reagon calls the listener back to the heart of rock and roll with a voice overflowing with raw emotion. Reagon's Righteous Babe Records debut is her sixth full length album.
The infectious energy of her live shows is captured on this studio album. "This record gathered a lot of my musical family together these folks are amazing and have their own careers so we had to work hard and fast," Toshi says. "It sounds like a bunch of musicians playing and singing together and that is what it is."
Supporting her earthy tenor and amazing ability to bend the guitar strings are a few members of her live band BigLovely; Fred Cash on bass, Robert "Chicken" Burke on drums, Adam Widoff on guitar, and Catherine Russell on mandolin and vocals. Among the list of guest artists you'll find Marc Anthony Thompson of Chocolate Genius who adds harmonica and vocals to the sultry, groove-driven "22 Hours". "I'm a huge groupie-when I heard one of his CD's I tracked him down just to tell him I love him; he will be on every record I make for the rest of my life," Toshi explains. With her allstar players behind her and producer Craig Street (Me'Shell NdegeOcello, kd lang, Joe Henry, Cassandra Wilson) and mixer Elliot Mazer (Santana, Neil Young) at the helm, Have You Heard drives deep into your soul.
Says Street, "She is one of the most talented singer/guitarist/drummer/songwriters that I've ever had the pleasure of collaborating with, and for me falls into that category of anytime, anyplace. When Toshi calls, I am available."
From her rock platform Toshi easily jumps from funk to country, spirituals to folk, taking any style, updating it and making it her own with ease. Genre bending is her specialty-take the gospeltinged fingerpicking melody "Have You Heard" or the soft balladry of "You," the funky "OOH WEE" or the original interpretation of Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel". As the New York Times raves, "Ms. Reagon's music originates in her love of mixing things up...[her] vocal style ranges from a dirty blues moan to a gospel shout to an ethereal croon."
An uncompromising brew of artistic exuberance and exceptional musical talent, Have You Heard can work as the soundtrack to a house party or an introspective walk in the park. It's been 15 years since Toshi Reagon broke on the NYC music scene with her debut album and her latest is proof that her star is still rising.
Free Music Download
- "22 Hours"
- Download "22 Hours" from the Righteous Babe release "Have You Heard" for free.
Toshi Reagon Links
- Toshi on MySpace
- Listen to some of Toshi's music on her MySpace page.
- Tour Schedule
- Find out when and where Toshi is playing near you. Link to purchase tickets to the shows.
- Toshi Reagon Bulletin Board
- Toshi Reagon wants to hear from you. Check out her bulletin board and see what others have to say.
- Contact Info
- Email Toshi. Also has contact information for Toshi's publicist, booking agent, artist rep, and record labels.
- Newsletter
- Follow this link to receive Toshi Reagon's Newsletter by joining her list.
- Reviews from Toshi's Website
- Read several Toshi Reagon reviews here.
- Submit a Review
- Have you been to one of Toshi's shows recently?
Send me a review and you may see it posted on this lens. Be sure to include the show date and location.
Want to share your thoughts on a Toshi CD?
Send 'em on... just click on Submit a Review above to send in your review. - Toshi Reagon Radio Station
- Make your own radio station featuring Toshi Reagon and artists with musical styles that are similar to hers - based on Toshi's unique digital blueprint. This is a way cool site!
- Music Related Merchandise
- Over 50,900 designs about "music" on 452,000 products. Find your next favorite band. Whatever genre you're into - rock, alternative, hip-hop, metal, pop, jazz, blues, classical, country, and more. Discover funk legend, George Clinton, organ virtuoso, Virgil Fox to a slew of exciting indy up 'n comers. Get some fresh ear candy and predict who will make the bigtime.
- Toshi at MichFest
- Toshi performed at the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival in August 2006. Check out the MichFest lens for more information on this great festival!
More About Toshi
In some ways, singer Toshi Reagon is a throwback to classic R & B artists, like Stevie Wonder or Prince, or old school rock group like Led Zeppelin; she can take any style, update it, and make it her own with incredible ease. Despite (or because of) her genre-bending, Toshi fits comfortably on a stage at Carnegie Hall, or in a dirty rock club. Toshi is an artist who's known for energetic performances and a exemplary gift for writing engaging songs that provoke listeners to think and have fun at the same time.A seasoned live performer, Toshi jumped into the spotlight when she dropped out of college after Lenny Kravitz tapped her to open for him on his first world tour. And Toshi hasn't stopped earning the respect of musicians, the praise of critics and the love of fans since then. Just ask Elvis Costello, who was hooked after one high-energy evening in NYC-he even invited Toshi and her band, BIGLovely, to back him up on a "Late Show with David Letterman" appearance.
Most people would just tell you that to truly understand how Toshi can seamlessly transcend all of these genres, you have to check her out live. She has earned countless rave reviews in the years that she has been performing. The New Yorker said "...her live shows shower retro funk, urban blues, and folk on the audience with evangelical fervor. To hear her is to believe."
Toshi can (and will) show up anywhere with anyone, whether a Central Park Summerstage benefit/Joni Mitchell tribute with artists like Vernon Reid and Chaka Kahn, a tribute to Prince (in which she tore up the stage with her smokin' verison of the classic 1999), the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the Blood On The Tracks Concert in NYC celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Bob Dylan album "Blood On The Tracks". She has also shared the stage with numerous musicians including Nona Hendryx, Pete Seeger, Chocolate Genius, Dar Williams and Ani Difranco. Whether playing solo or with her band, her fusion of styles and forms draws listeners in, embraces them and sets them off in a rapturous, hand-raising, foot-stomping delight. Toshi often leaves the stage with the audience clapping and screaming for more.
Read more here... toshireagon.com
Music from Toshi Reagon
Have You Heard
On "Have You Heard," Toshi Reagon calls the listener back to the heart of rock and roll with a voice overflowing with raw emotion. The infectious energy of her live shows is captured on this studio album, her first on Righteous Babe Records. An uncompromising brew of artistic exuberance and exceptional musical talent, "Have You Heard" can work as the soundtrack to a house party or an introspective walk in the park.
Amazon Price: $16.98 (as of 12/26/2009) 
Used Price: $2.47
Toshi
Working for the first time with esteemed producer Craig Street, Toshi Reagon delivers her most dynamic, intense, and cohesive collection of songs to date. Performed with a fervor and intelligence that captures Toshi's talent both in the studio and onstage, Toshi provides listeners with a musical feast that is both gutsy and provocative.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009)
Used Price: $3.47
The Righteous Ones
This CD embodies a lot of the energy Toshi has developed in her live shows while letting her experiment a little bit. Her favorites are "Real Love," featuring Sweet Honey in the Rock, and "This Moment," featuring Helga Davis. She also loves "Livin After All" and "Yes It Was."
Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009)
Used Price: $0.74
Justice
Toshi's first record. This record was on the cool folk label, Flying Fish, now Rounder Records. It has her recorded version of the Sting song "Walking in Your Footsteps" and her mom's song "How Long."
Amazon Price: $16.98 (as of 12/26/2009)
Used Price: $4.29
Kindness
She made this in one day for friends. It's her and her guitar, nice and simple, on the famous Folkways label. Check out the CD booklet and the piece written by poet Nikkey Finney.
Amazon Price: $16.98 (as of 12/26/2009)
Used Price: $3.56
Putumayo Presents Women's Work
Toshi is featuresd on track 5 on this compilation CD.
Putumayo Presents Women's Work // 1. Cradle And All - Ani Difranco 2. The Wolf - Catie Curtis 3. When The Silence Falls - Janis Ian 4. Maryland - Vonda Shepard 5. Just Enough - Toshi Reagon 6. Notion - Barbara Kessler 7. Letting Go - Fiona Joyce 8. Wild Horse - Eliza Gilkyson 9. Thru Cryin' - Kristen Hall 10. If You Leave Me - Laura Love 11. Testimony - Ferron 12. Off The Ground - Christine Kane 13. I Met A Man (Live) - Toni Childs
Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009)
Used Price: $27.98
Rejected Stone
This is Toshi's baby: the first record after being dumped by a major label. She did this record at the now closed Waterfront Studio. It is very influenced by Waterfront's vintage equipment. She recorded most of it on 2-inch 16-track and ran vocals through some board the Beatles used. It is the first record Adam and she really collaborated on. Toshi released it on her own label, Pro-Momma.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009)
Used Price: $9.99
The Underground Love Train
by Hanifah Walidah
The Underground Love Train
Life much like god...much like love has a away of moving through the day. Reminding you that it is here for you to love and to live. One morning I asked a friend to email a quote I saw written on her window. A quote by poet/songwriter of Sweet Honey and the Rock, Bernice Reagon. That night I was invited to see her daughter Toshi Reagon perform at Joe's pub. In the middle of a song about love and life she stopped the band to echo her mother's words with her own. Somehow Harriet Tubman took the mic.
curated content from YouTube
Pix of Toshi
View All Toshi Pix on Flickr
Want to see your photos here? Post them on Flickr... then just click on Contact the Lensmaster in the sidebar on the right side of this page to send me a link.
Bernice & Toshi...
Toshi Reagon
Toshi Reagon on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
More to Come!
Backstage Area
by cjwebb
I'm a fan of good alternative and women's music. Squidoo helps me pass the word about some fabulous artists!
(more)Explore related pages
Music News & Album Release Dates- For music news junkies. Links to album release dates, music news, album reviews...
I'll Stick Around by Foo Fighters - Lyrics, Videos, MP3s
- I'll Stick Around was the second single released off of Foo Fighters self-titled...
Bruce Cockburn- I was a huge fan of Bruce Cockburn in the 80's, and lost track of him. I'm...
Buckcherry - Crazy Bitch lyrics, videos, MP3s
- Crazy Bitch was a Major hit for Buckcherry off of their album 15. Crazy Bitch re...
Vinyl Records and Music Memorabilia- Molten Core (moltencore) is an online music store specializing in vinyl records...
For all the Cows by Foo Fighters - Lyrics, Videos, MP3s
- For All The Cows was the second single released off of Foo Fighters First Album...
