Melanie Charles Y'all Don't (Really) Care About Black Women LP

There are very few artists whose sound can capture the sentiments of a generation. The Brooklyn born and raised Melanie Charles is one of these artists. Over the past few decades, she has made a name for herself through dynamic engagements with jazz, soul and R&B. Her bold genre-bending style has been embraced by a range of artists including Wynton Marsalis, SZA, Mach-Hommy, Gorillaz and The Roots. In 2021, she appeared on NPR's Tiny Desk and stunned with her eclectic style. Through it all, she has remained committed to making music that pushes listeners to consider new possibilities - both sonically and politically.

As a Verve Remixed project, with Y'all Don't (Really) Care About Black Women, Melanie Charles set out to take this group of songs and breathe new energy into them. Melanie was immediately drawn to the rapturous voices of Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughn who inspired her to record arrangements of "God Bless The Child" and "Detour Ahead". Y'all Don't (Really) Care About Black Women is a love letter to the unheralded labor of black women. Melanie asks listeners to be accountable to and black women as much as they care for their works.

"I'm honored to join the illustrious roster of jazz greats at Verve!" says Charles. "I fell in love with jazz at home in Brooklyn. And ever since my mom introduced me to this wonderful world of sound, I've aspired to be a part of the community of artists who continue to push this culture forward. That's why I was humbled by the opportunity to dig through the historic vaults of Verve to reimagine a collection of classics by the legendary vocalists who continue to inspire me for my first project. If you're anything like me, you'll find the message of this vital music remains relevant to this day."

Melanie reflects on the effects of police brutality with a reimagined version of Marlena Shaw's "Woman Of The Ghetto". Impulse Records artist Brandee Younger features in the track, adding a melodic texture on harp to illustrate resilience in the midst of the struggle.

Melanie Charles takes us on a journey that embodies the soul of jazz: exploration.