From the opening notes of Shea Breaux Wells’ album, “Piece of the Light� you know you are listening to a special artist. As the songs unfold, you are beckoned into a world of evocative imagery and diverse emotion. Shea’s voice is at once clear and textured, carving out a sound in space unlike any other singer. With comparisons to Joni Mitchell, k.d. lang, Patricia Barber and Fiona Apple, Shea’s vocals and songs both create a distinct sound that defies categorization and yet is expressly her own. Her background includes jazz (it has been her primary musical focus for the past dozen years), rock (she used to sing alternative rock in her L.A. band, Forrest Lawn), and musical theater (with starring roles in Guys and Dolls, Babes in Arms, Godspell and more...). Such diverse musical leanings have coalesced into a signature presentation in Shea’s performance and songwriting. Her songs are complex, moody and masterful.

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Well, we did it! In two days, I recorded a jazz album with George Cables, Billy Hart, Cecil McBee, Craig Handy and David Weiss!
We recorded at In the Pocket Studios - way out in the woods of Forestvile, California. It promises to be an exciting, live, energetic album - filled with standards and a couple of not-so-standards!
Should be ready in about a month. I swear.
Stay Tuned!
Peace,
Shea

Jazz Vocalist - Singer/Songwrite

There is a noticeable shift in the room when Shea begins to sing. Whether it is her rich voice, her compelling presence or her obvious devotion to the music, it is clear that you are in for something special.
Shea honed her chops singing solo jazz gigs in nightclubs around Los Angeles. She later joined the ten-piece Little Big Band, singing swing and jazz hits with two other singers. Shea then relocated to the Bay Area to record an EP of original songs with Grammy Award winning producer, Michael Rosen, which was featured on MTV's Road Rules.
After a move up to Sonoma County, Shea appeared in the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, and came to know its Artistic Director, Jessica Felix, whose deep reach into the jazz community, both locally and nationally, has led Shea into some wonderful musical relationships. Piece of the Light, her 2006 full-length release was the result of meeting some of these amazing musicians. Comprised of mostly original pieces, with a few covers thrown in, this album features the legendary Robben Ford on guitar, as well as Noam Lemish, David Ewell, Bill Ortiz and Alex Aspinall, and received positive reviews.
Shea's latest project, A Blind Date, features the mighty work of George Cables on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, Billy Hart on drums, Craig Handy on sax and flute, and David Weiss on trumpet. This is a raw, diverse romp through standards and then some. Shea contributed an original piece called, "Dark Matters" which lends a haunting, middle-eastern feel to the album. Produced by David Weiss and engineered by Oz Fritz, "A Blind Date" is packed to the gills with electrifying performances from all the musicians. A true jazz lover's gem, this work goes beyond that of the typical jazz singer.