Quincy Coleman is a singer/songwriter with a sound that evokes New Orleans bordellos, country roadhouses, Parisian jazz bistros and even vintage cartoons. Despite historic points of reference, however, there is nothing old-fashioned about Coleman, and herein lies her across-the-board appeal. With a second independent release, Come Closer, plus songs in films, placements on network television and regional tours, Quincy Coleman is poised for the proverbial big leap. She now has two committed managers meeting with major labels, and a publicist helping strategize her moves. But up until now  like many up-and-comers  this performer has done everything entirely on her own: booking, placements, assembling a band, recording two CDs, and generating a buzz. In this exclusive interview, the artist explains to MC how an unwavering work ethic has made her aspirations a reality. If you constantly put it out there, theres no way its not going to happen, she says. Its like rolling the dice at a casino. If you stay there and roll them long enough, youre going to win. But a lot of people give up because its exhausting.

One distinct difference between the new Come Closer and Colemans debut, Also Known As Mary, is festivity. My first record was analytical, peeling the layers of the onion and really looking at myself in the mirror with my dark side and realizing I had to understand and get comfortable with the darkness in order to celebrate the light, she explains. It was heavy, therapeutic. I was introducing myself to myself and whoever was going to listen. With the new record I wanted to have fun and not talk about myself so much.
Coleman notes that the musics eclecticism mirrors her own tastes. Most of my CD collection is represented on my second record. Jazz, swing, bop, gypsy, Italian, Brazilian, New Orleans, dixieland big band, classical. And five percent of my music is a small section of pop music, such as Peter Gabriel, Radiohead and U2.
On record and in performance, Quincy Coleman, who plays acoustic guitar, is supported by the jaw-dropping dynamics of a masterful band who mix and match a storehouse of instruments encompassing lap steel, upright bass, clarinet, accordion, trumpet, banjo and percussion. They should all be paid much more, Coleman laments. Again, theyre doing it because they love it. Theyve expressed their support and have been awesome, loyal and generous with their gifts.
The new CD was co-produced by Brad Gordon (who also performs with Coleman) and Jim Bianco, an artist/songwriter who Coleman first met at an open mic at ...

The complete Feature Story can be found in the current issue of Music Connection magazine.