In the first episode of AfterEllen.com's new bi-weekly video blog All Access Pass, host Andrea Meyerson (Women on a Roll, All Out Films) visits with jazz singer, songwriter and actress, Sweet Baby J'ai at her home.

Sweet Baby J'ai shares stories about being an out lesbian on the jazz circuit, starring in the stage production of "Prove It On Me" and also talks about the influence and importance of queer women in jazz in the '20s, like Ma Rainey, Gladys Bentley, and Bessie Smith.

She also gives us a sneak preview of her one of the tracks on her soon-to-be released CD, Introducing J'ai Michel.

Want to see her perform live? Catch Sweet Baby J'ai at the upcoming Cambria Women's Weekend.

The young Soviet-born, British jazz and blues singer Katie Melua is an interesting anomaly in the modern music industry. Few of her singles have even grazed the Top 10 in the U.K. singles charts (though she did achieve a number 1 in 2007 with a charity recording of "What a Wonderful World"), and her public profile is nothing like as high as that of, say, Amy Winehouse.

Yet her three album releases so far have reached No. 1, No. 1, and No. 2 respectively; in 2006, she was the U.K.’s biggest-selling female artist, and Europe’s highest-selling European female artist. She seems to be an example of a generational split in the music-buying public, whereby singles are mostly bought by teens and twentysomethings, while albums are mostly bought by an older audience who put a premium on pleasant tunefulness rather than tabloid exposure and sex appeal.

Though for those who prefer exquisite natural beauty to panty-flashing antics, Melua probably has sex appeal to spare:

In terms of personality, as well, the quiet Melua seems like an intriguing paradox. The majority of her songs are so gentle and inoffensive that some critics see her as unbearably safe and bland. Yet she’s been quite frank about her past use of cannabis, has a taste for hang-gliding and bungee-jumping, appeared in a horror segment of the 2007 film Grindhouse, and mentioned the Babyshambles song “F--- Forever” as one of her 14 favorite pieces of music in a 2006 article.

In interviews, although she’s polite and articulate, there’s something inescapably enigmatic about her. Her long-time musical collaborator, Mike Batt, has been reported as saying in reference to her taste for high-adrenaline activities that “she enjoys extremes, but in life her emotions are always in check.” … continue reading

Look out, Fergie! Ella's coming! OK, so that's a stretch, but Love Letters From Ella debuted at No. 97 on the pop Billboard 200 chart. The thought of Ella on the pop chart immediately made me wander over to my favorite online music store to see if the first track of the album was called "Ellalicious" or something similar. It's not. I then looked for a rendition of "Glamorous," but it's not on there either and not only is there not a cover of "Big Girls Don’t Cry," but Ella has the classic and opposite sentiment, "Cry Me A River," as the second track. (No! Not Justin Timberlake's version. Now you're just getting plain silly.)

So how can Ella Fitzgerald make a comeback to the pop charts after a 38-year absence, not to mention 12 years after her death? Can it simply be that you can’t keep a good voice in a vault? Or maybe the better explanation is that when you keep a good voice in a vault, you're not making any money off it.

The endearing answer put forth by the record label as to why the album of never-been-released vocal recordings was made, is to celebrate "The First Lady of Song's" 90th birthday. That sounds cool, except she was born in 1918, not 1917 and it's 2007 not 2008. (I don't get the math on that birthday explanation, but then again I haven’t read Danica McKellar's math book yet.) Oh, wait. OK, I get it. I get it. After her birthday in 2007 begins her 90th year. Whew, I feel better about the birthday explanation now. Hey, maybe the real birthday gift will be a Grammy Award for best Pop Album in 2008! I can see it now. Scantily clad female dancers crunking all over that stage as Ella busts out her most wicked Aunt Jackie move! … continue reading