Have You Heard

Toshi Reagon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 4, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Righteous Babe
• ASIN: B000B5XSVC
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #184,571 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Born in Atlanta and raised in Washington DC, Reagon cites her musical abilities from her family. Both parents belonged to SNCC’s (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee) The Freedom Singers, a folk group that sprung from the Civil Rights movement and toured the country to teach people about civil rights through song. Bernice Johnson Reagon is not only Toshi’s mom but also the founder of the a capella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock. Toshi’s rich musical heritage led her to become saturated in many traditional styles of music, feeding her desire to explore a range of music from blues to Kiss. Admittedly, Toshi says that she attempts to "take whatever I’m really into and try to learn it and put it into music." This trait results in a musical style that not only transcends classification, but also expresses a political consciousness that is as ingrained in her music as the multiple genres she embraces.

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.

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. 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.

Product Description

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 overall.

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. With her all-star 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.

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 gospel-tinged 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".

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the album we've been waiting for., November 7, 2005

By 

music freak "shawna" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Have You Heard (Audio CD)

"have you heard" comes closest to sounding like a LIVE TOSHI show of any of her albums to date. (if you haven't seen her live, you have no idea. there is NOTHING like it in the world. her albums haven't ever come close.) 22 hours and buidling blues are haunting, electrifying and the most soulful rock tracks... ever. its crazy how the whole album feels both vintage and like some prophetic musical offering from the future. (fyi there aren't any hip-hop sounding tracks on the cd, so i don't know what that other review is talking about) i can't play anything else on my playlist these days. gorgeous.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I have heard and I am impressed, January 14, 2006

By 

Gaylen Halbert (Weimar, California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Have You Heard (Audio CD)

This CD was released late in 2005 and it seems to have been overlooked by critics and fans. I can imagine what a tour de force Toshi must be live. On this album Toshi is out in front with clarity and power that puts her in a league all by herself. Every track on this CD is good. And wow what a take on Heartbeak Hotel!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Blues music., May 20, 2007

By 

Wendy Dethloff "online shopping addict" (Belton, MO) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Have You Heard (Audio CD)

This was recommended to me because I love Blues music and couls listen to it all day/night long. I am from kansas City and often visit Blues / Jazz clubs and festivals. This is defintely Blues all the way through.