Joss Stone | Introducing Joss Stone

Joss Stone | Introducing Joss Stone
By Marvin Dickey

All the way from Dover Kent, England comes another soul singer with a rich tradition of stirring up great music. Her 1st two cd’s were under the direction of singing siren Betty Wright. At the age of 14, Jocelyn Eve Stoker appeared on the BBC Show ‘Star for a Night.’ At 15, she flew from London to New York to audition for S-Curve CEO Steve Greenberg and the rest is her-story.

Jocelyn Eve Stoker “aka Joss Stone” started working on her 3rd album titled “Introducing Joss Stone,” produced by Vintage Soul master himself, Raphael Saadiq. This album blazes all the way through, with the similarities to another singer – Amy Winehouse. Ms. Stone’s CD is along the same vibe and it should fit nicely into your music collection.

Joss co-wrote twelve of the fourteen songs on the cd & one song by Dianne Warren. The first single off the new disc is called “Tell Me Bout It.” It’s a hot funky tune with Raphael on bass and guitar with a line like “Let’s Have a Show of Hands.” “Who’s Addicted to The Man” has Joss telling the women that love is addictive, addictive it may be – just before the start of the recording she broke up with Beau Dozier, the 26 year old son of legendary producer Lamont Dozier.

Some of the songs have a 60’s feel to it, but more of an updated vibe. Chicago rapper Common makes an appearance on “Tell Me What We’re Gonna Do Now.” Also, vocal stylist Lauren Hill laces a track called “Music.” My favorite song is “Bruised But Not Broken,” which was written by Diane Warren, who has also wrote love songs for everyone from Natalie Cole to En Vogue and Patti LaBelle.

This is Joss’s 3rd project with a new producer and a sound that will surely keep her in the forefront of today’s R&B.

Marvin Dickey
The Urban Music Scene