News

Press Release: June 2006

Lisa Christian, popular local singer/songwriter on the music scene in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, is set to record her first solo album this June with renowned Los Angeles-based jazz musician Skip Heller. The project is actually a reunion for Christian and Heller, who both hail from the Philadelphia area where they played together in the eighties before their careers took them in different directions both geographically and musically.

A recent Heller gig in Mobile caught Christian’s attention and she surprised him when she showed up for a listen. Their renewed acquaintance resulted in plans for this collaboration – to be recorded in Magnolia Springs – with Heller serving as producer , arranger, and back-up guitarist for the album. Heller has been featured in the prestigious jazz publications Downbeat and Jazz Weekly.

Says Christian: “The selections for this CD are mostly under-appreciated musical gems by American artists, which Skip and I will give a new twist, more of a Rhythm and Blues feel. Our Philadelphia experience was heavily oriented toward R&B – you know, the mellow Philly sounds like Teddy Pendergrass, Lou Rawls, Hall and Oates, etc. This project will take us back to our roots and at the same time we’ll break new ground by giving a fresh take to numbers by John Hartford, Elvis Presley, and Charlie Rich, among others. There’ll be a few surprises. It’s exciting to work with Skip again – he is an amazing musician. And although I’ve been making and recording music all my life, this is my first solo record – my others were as a part of a group or a duo – so I can’t wait to get started! Release date is probably in the September timeframe.”

Lisa Christian can be seen live at various clubs in the region, including ones in Pensacola, Mobile, and Selma. Lisa also accepts bookings for private parties and weddings.