Talented pianist/singer/songwriter, Tracey Campbell recently launched her new album, 'Sunshine Embrace' at one of Sydney premier entertainment venues, The Vanguard in Newtown. The show was a sellout and Tracey and the band?s high energy performance had the audience on their feet calling for encore after encore. ?Trying to label the style of the album has been interesting and after playing around with Latin, jazz, pop, we have come up with a new terminology to sum up the whole lot, Al Fresco music. Music to take outside into the open air on a summer's evening for outdoor dining, parties and dancing. Well that's how we feel about it, but ultimately the decision is yours,? says Tracey whose pure, yet sometimes ?smoky? vocals weave effortlessly with the music. The music is basically written for a trio format; piano/voice, bass and drums, however Tracey and producer, husband Phillip Campbell, couldn't resist adding the flavorsome sounds of Simon Ferenci on trumpet and flugel horn and the richness of some of Sydney's finest singers on back up vocals; Toni Allayialis, Toni Mott, Mark Williams and Dennis Mason. The result is a feel good record with tones of well... Latin, jazz and pop...also joining Tracey on the recording are respected musicians, Phillip Campbell on drums and percussion (Electric Pandas, 1927); Jackie Orszaczky, electric bass and picolo bass; and Jonathon Brown, acoustic bass. In a long and eclectic career (Say Yes), Tracey has garnered many accolades. As the featured piano player in the Billy Field video for his hit ?Bad Habits?, Field said of her, ?Tracey Campbell on the keyboards was magnificent. Classically trained, she has a natural sense of rhythm and blues. She would have to be classed along with Aretha Franklin for her innate sense of timing.? Michael Smith of The Drum Media reviewed the album saying ?Certainly plenty of open air and sunshine in the grooves, so Al Fresco it is with plenty of Latin, Funk and Slow grooves to keep things sizzling?Tracey certainly knows how to bend a melody out of the sweetest chord progression.? Tracey recently won a top 10 place (2nd) in the Australian Song Writers Association Competition in 2006 with a track from the album 'Sienna'. www.traceycampbell.com
