Nashville, TN (Top40 Charts/
Music World Entertainment) - Countrypolitan Duets is the brainchild of Nashville based jazz singer Anna Wilson. This revolutionary new album, which is scheduled for release February 1, 2011, also marks the premier album to be released under an exciting new joint venture between
Music World
Music and
Transfer Records.
Countrypolitan Duets creates a magical union of country, jazz and pop by effortlessly blending the genres to form a fresh but timeless new sound that pays homage to Nashville's musical roots. To quote noted music historian Robert Oermann: "Top vocalist Anna Wilson has made the first album that fully marries jazz to country music. She is not just shaking hands with two Nashville traditions. She is embracing them both. Brilliantly."
On Tuesday, November 16th, Anna will make her Grand Ole Opry debut at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, with several of the special guests featured on Countrypolitan Duets - Opry member Connie Smith, country singer Billy Dean, jazz icon Larry Carlton and American Idol finalist Matt Giraud. Wilson's duet with Giraud on the track, "You Don't Know Me," in a special limited preview, reached No 1 on the iTunes Jazz Charts shortly after release. On Countrypolitan Duets Anna is joined by numerous GRAMMY winning artists, current chart-toppers like Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum and Rascal Flatts to legends such as Kenny Rogers, Ray Price, Connie Smith and steel guitar great Lloyd Green. In addition, famed jazz musicians Rick Braun and Larry Carlton add their unique musical interpretations to create a sound that is appealing to jazz and country fans alike. The songs chosen for the recording are some of the most loved singles including Patsy Cline's "Walking After Midnight" and Ray Price's "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me." Anna Wilson, in partnership with her husband/producer Monty Powell, created and recorded Countrypolitan Duets, with Powell as producer.
Wilson is a critically acclaimed jazz artist and songwriter whose most recent album, Yule Swing! reached No 12 on the Billboard jazz chart. Her rich and powerful voice, has earned much critical acclaim and she has shared billings with Josh Groban, Al Jarreau and countless others. In addition to Anna's jazz career, she is also an award winning ASCAP songwriter for co-writing one of the most performed country songs of 2009, "All I Ever Wanted", (Chuck Wicks -RCA). She has penned songs for other top country artists like Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Ann Womack, and Chris Cagle. Most recently, Anna was awarded an RIAA Triple Platinum certification award for her Lady Antebellum cut, "If I Knew Then," that appears on the band's 2010 mega-hit release, Need You Now. Powell is SESAC's current Songwriter of the Year, and his Keith Urban No 1 hit, "Sweet Thing" received the organization's prestigious Song of the Year honor. In addition to numerous chart-topping collaborations with Urban, Powell has written songs appearing on over 60 million records and has penned No 1 hits for Tim McGraw, Billy Ray Cyrus, Diamond Rio, Colin Raye, and Brooks and Dunn. He has also been the recipient of the County Music Association's Producer of the Year Award and most recently received the CMA's prestigious "Triple Play Award" for co-writing three number one songs in a calendar year.
For more information, including music, video and additional background information go to www.musicworldent.com and www.annawilson.com.
The Tuesday, November 16th performance of Anna Wilson and Friends can be heard live on WSM (650-AM) and www.wsmonline.com from 7:00 - 9:15 PM Central Time. Anna will appear in the second half of the broadcast beginning at 8:15 PM.
