Member Since: 4/26/2006
Band Website: thebeautyroom.mu
Band Members: Jinadu - Lead & Backing Vocals.
Kirk Degiorgio - Lead & Backing Vocals.
Guest Musicians:
Tom O'Grady - Keyboards.
Ian O'Brien - Guitars.
Chris Whitten - Drums.
The Heritage Orchestra/Jules Buckley.
Guest Arrangers:
Eumir Deodato.
Merlyn Sturt & Wulfnote.
Guest Engineer:
Peter Henderson.
Produced by Kirk Degiorgio
Management:
Consigliari
Influences: America, Beach Boys, Brian Eno, Buffalo Springfield, Carole King, Crosby Stills & Nash, David Bowie, Fairport Convention/Sandy Denny, Goldfrapp, James Taylor, Jeff Buckley, Jimi Hendrix, John Martyn, Joni Mitchell, Linda Perhacs, Love, Marc Bolan, Matthew Ward, Neil Young, Nick Drake, Nino Rota, Peter Gabriel, The Polyphonic Spree, Purcell, Radiohead, Scott Walker, Seals & Crofts, Seal, Sting, Supertramp, The Beatles, The Byrds, The Doors, Todd Rundgren, The 2nd Chapter of Acts, Richie Havens, Pure Prairie League, Paul Buckmaster, Allegri, Alice Coltrane, Boards of Canada, Bobby Hutcherson, Rufus & Chaka Khan, D'Angelo, David Axelrod, Claude Debussy, Donny Hathaway, Doobie Brothers, Eberhard Weber, Herbie Hancock, Isley Brothers, Jaco Pastorius, Jan Hammer Group, Joe Zawinul, Lamont Dozier, Marvin Gaye, McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Minnie Riperton, Pat Metheny, Prince, Maurice Ravel, Charles Stepney, Rotary Connection, Erik Satie, Shuggie Otis, Sly & Family Stone, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Sun Ra, Terry Callier, Tonto's Expanding Head Band.
Sounds Like: "sensitively played and immaculately produced... with a deep knowledge of the past that is evident, yet never used as a crutch."
(Andy Kellman, Allmusic.com)
"The Beauty Room is one of the most musical records I've heard this year. Beautiful!"
(Rob Da Bank, BBC Radio 1)
"Something different, something fresh. Its looking strong for The Beauty Room's stunning debut album."
(Gilles Peterson, BBC Radio 1)
"I'm absolutely blown away by them. If ever a bands name summed up its music, this is it"
(Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2)
"Without doubt, one of the most beautiful albums you'll hear this year"
(Ben Mynott, Fire FM, Blues & Soul Magazine)
"Nothing less than magisterial"
(Piccadilly Records, Manchester)
"Listening to The Beauty Room is like being gently caressed by the sun's warm rays"
(Pete Lawrence, The Big Chill)
REVIEWS:
PICCADILLY RECORDS, Manchester, UK.
Album of the week.
Ostensibly a long-standing project baby of esteemed techno producer Kirk Degiorgio and singer Jinadu, The Beauty Room is such a radical diversion from their usual output that it was kept under wraps until an entire album was written and recorded.
Their cover of Jan Hammer's "Don't You Know" snuck out on New Religion last year and garnered a band of followers, leading to a live session for Gilles Peterson.
Opening and closing with soaring acoustic soul ballads, "The Beauty Room" is an unashamedly rich listening experience, where lavish strings slide beneath enchanting harmonies in a warm analogue soup.
"Burn My Bridges" is effortlessly sunny and the central "The Weight Of The World" is nothing less than magisterial, with the accidental epic pop of "Fortress" and lavish a cappella performance on "Shades Of Yesterday" providing more than enough moments to cherish.
Inspired by late 70s and 80s AOR rock, their one-off brand of blue-eyed soul recalls CSN, John Martyn, 10CC, Steely Dan and other Balearic rock beards. The album also features the talents of Ian O'Brien on guitar, Chris Whitten's drums, the Brazilian arranger extraordinaire Deodato and London's Heritage Orchestra.
Piccadilly says: Essential!!!
DJ Magazine, UK
"Kirk Degiorgio and Jinadu make a gorgeous downtempo project."
Whether creating jazz-funk fusion grooves, deep house or visceral techno, Kirk Degiorgio has always remained in thrall to his soulboy muse. Here he gets the chance to really work the angle, teaming up with vocalist Jinadu to create a document full of defiantly downtempo and largely langourous soul tracks.
From the blissful opener 'Soul Horizon' the album meanders through a landscape of warm basslines and phusion-istic grooves, embellished by Jinadu's clean, radio-friendly pop voice.
Mint track: Soul Horizon
4/5
The Big Chill Review by Mixmaster Morris
The Beauty Room first grabbed my attention in 2005 with their single 'Don't You Know' on New Religion, a cover of an obscure Jan Hammer song, but one that has that rare combination of pop accessibility and jazz sophistication, (as well as pioneering use of the moog synthesizer).
It turned out to be the new project of the much mispelt Kirk Degiorgio, Essex soul boy turned electronica pioneer, who is probably best known for his As One album on Mowax and his short-lived A.R.T. label (neatly compiled on the Objets D'Art collection).
He was also one third of the legendary R-Solution show on Kiss FM in the '90s that introduced the further reaches of soul and jazz to a new generation. And after two decades of immersion in quality music he has finally made an album which is going to make history.
Instrumental music is fine, but the way to people's hearts is through a truly great vocal performance. In Jinadu, Kirk has discovered a truly great singer, and the four-part vocal harmonies are absolutely outstanding as well. The prominent Fender Rhodes and soulful vocals do bring Zero 7 to mind, but The Beauty Room have the potential to be even better.
Other tracks bring to mind Brian Wilson, Steely Dan or CSN&Y and other once-unfashionable influences from the '70s. You can easily imagine it on mainstream radio, in fact I think radio will go insane for this band.
I like music that's got some substance, and the word commercial doesn't usually signify quality to me. But once in a blue moon comes a record that has the potential to become a classic and touch the hearts of millions, and this is one of them.
Record Label: Peacefrog
Type of Label: Indie