Fully embodying the title of her 15th and latest #1 track on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs chart, Kristine W— an international dance music icon since the late 90s--is finding exciting new ways to share “The Power of Music” with the release of "Straight Up with a Twist," an extraordinarily ambitious, four years in the making project (2-CDs, 30 tracks) that marks her highly anticipated contemporary jazz debut.
Kristine’s venture into a new genre expands upon the incredible success she has enjoyed for many years in the dance world and beyond:
• She currently holds the world’s record for Most Consecutive #1 Billboard Club Hits with nine; Madonna and Janet Jackson each had seven in a row.
• She recently tied Mariah Carey for third-most chart toppers on the Dance/Club Play Songs chart; only Madonna (with 40) and Janet (19) have scored more at the pole position.
• In December, 2009, Billboard published both their Year End and Decade End charts announcing Kristine in the third place position on the Decade’s Best of 2000s Dance Club Play Artists list, trailing only Madonna and Beyonce.
• As a former Miss Washington Kristine won the talent and swimsuit competitions in the Miss America Pageant, and
• performed more shows at the Las Vegas Hilton than any other performer in its history—including Elvis!
"Straight Up with a Twist" may be Kristine W’s first official jazz recording, but jazz has been one of the singer’s greatest passions since early childhood. Growing up in Tri-Cities, Washington, her grandmother—a pianist, classical violinist and guitarist—exposed her to singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Carmen McRae. Kristine’s mother raised a family of five on her own by singing jazz and standards in local juke joints. At age nine, Kristine was singing with her mother. Soon, she was competing in local beauty pageants and some years later, it was her rendition of “Summertime” that won her the talent competition at the Miss America Pageant.
One of her reasons for recording "Straight Up with a Twist" was the constant requests of her dance fans who enjoyed the way she incorporated scat into that genre. While keeping them satisfied with her latest single “Fade,” the multi-talented singer, songwriter and performer is also released “Feel What You Want” as the debut single from Straight Up With A Twist; a hypnotic, bossa nova flavored take on her first #1 Dance hit in the mid-90s.
In addition to sensual and stylish interpretations of her most popular dance floor smashes (including “Feel What You Want,” “Wonder of It All,” “Save My Soul” and “Stronger”), Disc One (Live Sessions) includes several previously unrecorded songs and Kristine’s “twists” on a variety of pop and rock classics (including “Stairway To Heaven,” “On The Radio,” “That’s What I Like About You”) recorded in a live studio setting. Disc Two (Chilled Remixes) features remixes of these tracks and several others by Buddha Bar-influenced international chilled lounge greats Emoticon and Von Shock. This second set concludes with an easy grooving, hip-hop infused version of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” featuring keyboardist David Paich of the band Toto. Kristine also worked on the album with Myron Dove, Ricky Z, Eric Tewalt, Jason Hahn, Dave Hart and Lance Lee. She created the album’s unique and diverse jazzy arrangements with her longtime keyboardist Ed Roth.
“One of the reasons "Straight Up with a Twist " took four years to complete was because I insisted on bringing the best musicians to the project and scheduling time with these busy artists was complicated,” says Kristine. “This was my first foray into recording a jazz album. I figured if I was going to do it, I was going to do it right.” The end result is proof positive the wait was well worth it. The musicians on the album have toured with Carlos Santana, Marc Anthony, Paulinho Rubio, Diana Ross, Jeffrey Osborne and Paul McCartney. It was an honor to work with such a high caliber of music professionals.
My new jazz projects are exciting because this style of music allows me to be heard during the chilled moments in life,” says Kristine. “Music is supposed to take people on a journey, and that’s exactly what I’m creating on "Straight Up with a Twist." This was a fun project to work on, and my favorite moments were when I was with my collaborators, throwing everything on the table, working on new arrangements and figuring out how to make that journey amazing for my fans. My audience has been so supportive of my music. I want to be in the mix for them anyway I can. I am blessed to be living my dream.”
