Soulception

Monday Michiru needs no introduction in Japan where she debuted starring in the film Hikaru Onna which garnered her three Best Actress awards. The Tokyo born American raised artist has been a leading force in underground dance music worldwide helping to pioneer the acid jazz movement in Japan. As a solo artist, she has released over twelve albums, several compilations, remix projects, numerous singles and countless collaborations. In the first of two projects for Adventure Music in 2012, Monday blends her talents in an acoustic setting with jazz and Brazilian overtones. Looking deeply into their catalogue, Monday chose to cover Hamilton de Holanda's 'Brasilianos.' So moved by his composition, she wrote the lyrics for this soulful rendition and flexed her vocal wings and spirit. In borrowing 'Bridges' from the great Milton Nascimento and sharing the vocals with the equally brilliant Ed Motta, Monday finds that these lyrics speak directly to her. Ed Motta, native to Rio de Janeiro and well versed in both traditional and modern Brazilian music, is able to add his own voice to 'Bridges' and bring it to new heights. This debut on Adventure Music allowed Monday to focus on pure composition. Recorded and mixed on six winter days in New York City, Monday takes us on a brilliant journey across her personal musical spectrum. Born to parents of musical pedigree, she naturally gravitated towards music, training classically on flute and eventually discovering her own vocal aptitude. Monday tells us that Soulception (a neologism for what she defines as the 6th sense) came from the simplicity of the production married with lyrical explorations of the soul. Soulception features Monday working with the cream of New York-based jazz musicians: Adam Rogers, guitar; Boris Kozlov, upright bass; Nate Smith, drums; Alex Sipiagin, trumpet, flugelhorn and bass trumpet; Gil Goldstein, accordion; and Ed Motta, guest vocals. From these musicians, Monday's 'soul' creation is born. In addition to Soulception, Monday will have her hand in Adventure Music's tenth anniversary retrospective 3-CD set, '10,' which she compiled in 2011 after creatively and enthusiastically pouring through the catalogue of artists offered by the label.