“I was shocked,” says vocalist Kim Prevost, describing her reaction when her and her duo partner, guitarist Bill Solley, were recently told that, out of hundreds of top emerging talents from around the globe, they had been judged the winner of the 1999 B.E.T. “Jazz Discovery Competition.” Now, as they prepare this month to celebrate the release of their debut CD, I Would Give All My Love, on STR Digital Records, the shock is turning into excitement. Their phone has started ringing with calls from major label executives.

“What [the Jazz Discovery judges said] they really liked was our chemistry, and they liked our groove. Our sound really meshes,” says Prevost. That chemistry has been almost automatic since the duo met two and a half years ago through percussionist Bill Summers, who hired them to join an updated version of Summers Heat. “We started hanging out at Bill’s house late at night,” says Solley. “I’d start playing and Kim would just start singing, and we got this great idea, when Bill was there, ‘Hey why don’t you do a duo thing in between sets?'”

From that point, the duo developed a seductive and original sound, forging a seemingly effortless fusion of jazz, Brazilian, R&B, gospel and pop influences, the happy marriage of their remarkably divergent backgrounds.

The thirty-year-old Prevost, for example, grew up New Orleans, and began singing very young in her father’s church. “Yeah, my Dad’s a minister, and I always sang in the choir since I was four years old,” she says. “That’s where my roots are, because my Mother sang as well as my father. My mother loves Gladys Knight and the Pips, so I heard all that R&B too. I listened to R&B after I prayed.”

As a jazz vocalist, she describes her primary influences as coming from the “old school.” “I’ll always listen to Ella Fitzgerald, and I’m a big Billie Holiday fan. I like Abbey Lincoln, Sarah Vaughan, the old school ladies.” Comparisons to contemporary diva Cassandra Wilson are inevitable, however, as Solley recognizes. “I think Cassandra’s a little deeper, but they both have this kind of sultry, breathy thing going on,” he says.

Solley was also raised in New Orleans, but his teenage inspiration was rock ‘n roll circa Led Zeppelin and Grand Funk Railroad. From there the guitarist went through an intensive classical period, and, during a stint in the New York City area from ’86 to ’93, he performed with some top jazz and Brazilian players. Since his return to New Orleans, he has been in demand to accompany many of the finest singers in town, such as Leah Chase, the late Johnny Adams, Philip Manuel and Betty Shirley. But it’s with Prevost that Solley is able to take full advantage of his many influences while comfortably venturing into new territory.

With only occasional accompaniment from percussionist Kenyatta Simon, the duo creates a remarkably rich, creamy sound on I Would Give All My Love, evoking a romantic Brazilian mood, with a funky edge, and a few pop-inspired surprises. On “Summertime,” for example, the guitar rhythm is based on an old Police tune, and on “Fever,” the groove is derived from Prince’s “Sexy Mother Fucker.”

Says Solley, “I’m trying hard not to sound like anybody else, and I think we have accomplished that on this record. We’re able to cover a lot of different territory here. We do a Stevie Wonder tune (“Don’t You Worry About A Thing”), then we turn around and do a Duke Ellington thing (“I’m Beginning To See The Light”).” The highlight of the record, however, is the original title track, an elegant ballad, which slowly builds to a gospel tinged finale. The record release show is April 20th at Storyville; the duo also plays the Funky Butt on April 29th, Jazz Fest on May 2nd, and The Chateau Sonesta Hotel every Friday and Saturday starting at 8pm.

Astral Project, the most long-standing, groundbreaking modern jazz unit in New Orleans since 1978, will release VooDooBop in April on Compass Records. This will be only the third record in the group’s twenty year history. Astral Project players Tony Dagradi, Steve Masakowski, James Singleton, David Torkanowsky and Johnny Vidacovich, each a mainstay of the New Orleans scene in their own right, convened at Kingsway Studios to wax the record, which was mixed and mastered by John Fischbach, Stevie Wonder’s engineer during his great 70’s period. The record release show is April 18th at Snug Harbor; Astral Project also plays Snug Harbor on May 2nd.

The much anticipated Kermit Ruffins record, Swing This, is due out on Basin Street Records, with a record release show at Tipitina’s Uptown on April 16. The tight studio album was produced by Tracey Freeman, who has produced great albums for Harry Connick, Jr. and Leroy Jones, among others.

Just a few days later, on April 20th at House of Blues, Basin Street celebrates the release of trumpeter Irvin Mayfield’s eponymous debut, which features performances by Ellis Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Donald Harrison, Jr., and Adonis Rose. Mayfield’s April schedule also includes Funky Butt dates on the 2nd and 3rd with Bill Summers and Henry Butler, and his group will trade sets with the Jason Marsalis Group at the Funky Butt on the 21st and Snug Harbor on the 22nd.

Not only do Kermit and Irvin have dueling records coming out at the same time on the same label, but they will also conduct a rematch of their infamous “Battle of The Bands” at Margaritaville on April 26th. An event not to be missed!

Ah, Jazz Fest, can’t you almost taste, smell and hear it? The sound of Cassandra Wilson’s voice, the rich chords from Dave Brubeck’s piano, Poncho Sanchez’ spicy Latin Jazz… and there are exciting names being added to night shows as well, such as Pharoah Sanders with Medeski, Martin & Wood on April 30th at State Palace, and Hugh Masekela with String Cheese Incident at Tipitina’s Ruins on April 29th. Stay tuned by checking OffBeat’s web site regularly (www.offbeat.com).

But don’t forget about the French Quarter Festival from April 8th through 10th, which features such mainstays as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Lionel Ferbos & The Palm Court Jazz Band (see the complete talent schedule in this issue). This year’s New Orleans International Music Colloquium will also be held during the Festival, with seminars and workshops at the Old Mint. The awards luncheon is a “Tribute to Clyde Kerr, Sr., Legendary Teacher and Big Band Leader.” Call 504-280-6611 for information.

After a brief hiatus from the local music scene to have her first child, singer/saxophonist Grace Darling is being “seen” again around town. Still basking in the glow from last year’s Allen Toussaint produced debut CD, Imaginary Lover (NYNO), she performs at the French Quarter Festival on April 10th at 11:15am, as well as Winston’s Pub on April 3rd and Tyler’s Beer Garden on the 24th and May 1st.