Leela James

Ebony, May, 2005 by Lynn Norment

Leela James makes an audacious debut with A Change is Gonna Come (Warner Brothers), and she offers a fresh new voice to the music scene. The California native who now lives in Harlem brings back authentic funk and soul with reverberating cuts such as the thumping "Music" and the deeply-feeling and painful "My Joy." She takes the recording's title from the Sam Cooke classic, and her cover of "A Change is Gonna Come" is equally enthralling.

Among the more swinging cuts is "Rain," produced by Raphael Saadiq, on which James asks "Why you bringing me rain when I bring you joy?" Her "When You Love Somebody," produced by Commissioner Gordon (also the CD's executive producer), is a gritty, passionate ode to uncontrollable love. On other songs she is assertive and self-affirming, warning that you are not going to keep "Mistreating Me" and advises "you better love yourself." Though only in her 20s, James infuses an old soul's passion, depth and funk in her lyrics and performances. But, as she proclaims, "I've never allowed anyone to steal my joy."