The provided source material focuses primarily on the career of jazz and soul vocalist Maysa Leak, specifically the release of her holiday album, "A Very Maysa Christmas." While the user query requested information on freebies related to Maysa and her album "Feel the Fire," the documentation does not contain specific details regarding free samples, promotional offers, or no-cost product trials directly associated with these items. Instead, the sources provide a comprehensive overview of the artist's background, album release details, and tour information. Additionally, the material includes unrelated content regarding fragrance reviews and beverage suggestions, which are summarized where relevant.
Maysa Leak: Background and Career Highlights
Maysa Leak, known professionally as Maysa, is a vocalist with a distinct background in jazz, soul, and R&B. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, she decided at the age of six to pursue a career in music after witnessing a performance by Melba Moore. She attended Morgan State University, where she studied classical performance. During her time as a student, she met Stevie Wonder. Upon graduation, she moved to North Hollywood to join Stevie Wonder’s "Wonderlove" ensemble, performing for a year on the Jungle Fever soundtrack and appearing on television shows such as Oprah and The Tonight Show.
In the early 1990s, Maysa auditioned by phone to become the lead singer of the British jazz/funk/R&B band Incognito. She relocated to London and remained with the group for four and a half years, appearing on over eleven Incognito recordings. She continues to collaborate with them as a featured vocalist. Her solo career began with a self-titled debut album for GRP in 1995, followed by All My Life (1999), Out of the Blue (2002), and Smooth Sailing (2004).
Album Discography and "Feel the Fire"
The source material references several albums in Maysa’s discography. Metamorphosis (2008) highlighted her skills as a composer, while A Woman in Love (2010) marked a return to her jazz roots. Motions of Love (2011) featured the ballad "Have Sweet Dreams," co-written by Stevie Wonder and inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama. It also included the duet "Flower Girl" featuring Dwele.
The user query specifically mentioned the album Feel the Fire. The documentation confirms that this album was released in 2007 under the Shanachie label. It was one of two albums where Maysa focused on interpreting classic soul music from the 1970s era. Along with Sweet Classic Soul (2005), Feel the Fire showcased her ability to put a unique stamp on familiar songs. However, the sources do not mention any freebies, samples, or promotional offers associated with this specific album.
"A Very Maysa Christmas": Release and Content
The central focus of the provided documentation is the release of Maysa’s first holiday album, A Very Maysa Christmas, which was scheduled for release on October 28, 2014. The album was produced as a follow-up to her Grammy-nominated album Blue Velvet Soul (2013).
Track List and Collaborations The album features innovative arrangements of traditional holiday favorites, including: * "Joy To The World" * "Jingle Bells" * "The First Noel" * "Christmas Time Is Here" * "The Little Drummer Boy" * "Silver Bells" (featuring Gerald Albright) * "This Christmas" (Donny Hathaway cover, featuring Will Downing)
The project was produced by Chris "Big" Dog Davis. Maysa described the collaboration with Albright and Downing as working with "brothers" and "mentors." The album also includes an original song titled "It’s The Holidays" and a rendition of Edwin Hawkins’ "Pray For Peace," intended to spread healing and peace.
Artist Statement and Themes Maysa expressed hope that listeners would enjoy her interpretation of these well-known songs. She emphasized a broader wish for mankind: that people learn to love themselves and develop healthy self-esteem, which she views as the basis for true happiness. The documentation highlights her "honey-toned mezzo-soprano" and magnetic stage presence, noting her collaborations with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, and Angela Bofill.
Tour Information
To support the release of A Very Maysa Christmas, Maysa toured as part of the "Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour," which kicked off in November 2014. The sources encourage fans to look for her in cities across the United States during this period.
Unrelated Promotional and Lifestyle Content
The provided documentation includes additional content that does not directly relate to Maysa but appears in the context of the user's request for "freebies" and "promotional offers." This content is summarized below for completeness, though it falls outside the scope of the artist's specific releases.
Fragrance Reviews Source [2] discusses specific fragrances, potentially as part of a holiday review or draw. It mentions: * SL Fragrance: Described as having notes of Earl Grey tea, molasses, spice, ginger, cinnamon, soft woods, honey, cocoa, amber, pepper, and patchouli. It is characterized as a clear, crisp gourmand scent. * Comme des Garcons Series 3: Incense Avignon: Described as capturing the scent of midnight mass and incense, featuring notes of labdanum, elemi, patchouli, cedar, rosewood, chamomile, vanilla, ambrette seed, and musk.
Beverage and Cocktail Suggestions Source [3] offers suggestions for winter beverages and home bar stocking, specifically mentioning: * Black Walnut Bitters: Recommended in a glass of whiskey with a scant amount of sugar for "cozy liquid warmth." * Exploring New Spirits: Encourages consumers to purchase quality spirits they have not tried, specifically mentioning a burgeoning market of small, independent distilleries. It suggests looking for brands that buy local grains. * The Boulevardier Cocktail: A specific recipe is provided: 1 oz. Willett Rye Whiskey, 0.75 oz. Campari, and 0.75 oz. Dolin Rouge sweet vermouth, stirred with ice and served over a large cube with an orange peel twist.
Music and Lifestyle Playlists Source [4] discusses a "feel good" playlist curated for "Sisters From AARP." While the specific songs are not fully listed in the provided text, it mentions the inclusion of "I Feel Good" by Mary J. Blige. The text encourages listeners to use music to combat negative news and boost spirits, alongside other activities like movie dates or nature walks.
Absence of Freebies and Samples
Based strictly on the provided source material, there is no information regarding free samples, promotional offers, no-cost trials, or mail-in programs related to Maysa, her album Feel the Fire, or A Very Maysa Christmas. The documentation is promotional in nature, focusing on album sales and tour attendance, but does not detail consumer access to free products. Similarly, while the fragrance and beverage sections discuss specific products, they do not mention free sample availability or trial programs.
Conclusion
The provided documentation offers a detailed profile of the artist Maysa, specifically highlighting her 2014 holiday release A Very Maysa Christmas. It outlines her musical history, from her early influences in Baltimore to her work with Stevie Wonder and Incognito, and details the collaborations and tracks featured on the holiday album. The sources also contain unrelated lifestyle content regarding fragrances and cocktails, but they do not contain any factual data regarding free samples or promotional offers for Maysa's music or related products. Consumers interested in Maysa's work during that period would have needed to purchase the album or attend the "Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour" to experience the music, as no free distribution methods are documented in these sources.