Johanna Beekman
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Mainstream pop
Status:
Most recent release, Mantra Soul (2020)
See also:
Johanna Beekman's site
Comparisons:
She tries out every pop style all the way from Sarah McLachlan to Sheryl Crow to R&B and reggae
Covers/own material:
Own, occasional covers
General comments:
Johanna Beekman uses her rich voice to sing the full range of pop flavours. Her first two recordings were under her first name; she now sings under her full name. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)
Recommended first album:
if i could fly is the only one we've heard
Recordings:
- Stolen Grace (as Johanna, 2002)
- if i could fly (as Johanna, 2007)
- The Edge of Divine (2013)
- Heart Beats One (as Johanna, 2015)
- Beyond Love (2017)
- Mantra Soul (2020)
if i could fly
Release info:
2007—Iconfluence—701
Availability:
See Johanna's site
Ecto priority:
Recommended for pop fans
Group members:
Johanna Beekman—vocals, guitar, claps
Guest artists:
Brendan DeCoster—lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass (1, 10)
Dave Trenkel—electric piano (1); bass (2, 7); synthesizer (2); clavinet (6, 7), piano, organ, bass (6); Minimoog, loops (7)
J.D. Monroe—drums (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11)
Halie Loren—piano (2, 4); vocals (4 14)
Luke Thomas—guitar (2, 7. 11)
Audrey Perkins—vocals (3, 14); claps (3)
Barbara Gladstone—vocals, claps (3)
Neal Gladstone—piano (3)
Peter Argyres—baritone, tenor, and alto saxophone (4)
George Beekman—claps (3, 7)
Ann Grabe—cello (4, 8, 9)
Absolute (Micki Reaman, Julie Williams, Shelley Willis, Elizabeth Wyatt—vocals (5, 14)
Betty Busch—body percussion (5) John Shipe—guitar (6); vocals (14)
Laura Brophy—violin (8, 9)
Audrey Perkins—vocals (9)
Suzanna Dole—piano (9)
Paul Regan—bass (11)
DJ Beeker—electronics (12)
Alan Studley—vocals (14)
Produced by:
George Beekman
Comments:
This album has a range of familiar styles, from ballads to lively pop to gospel-based, and reggae-based songs, and Johanna does a good job of bringing them all to life. She has a lovely, rich voice which she knows how to use effectively throughout. My only criticism is that every song was a little too familiar, from the musical variations to the lyrics, starting from the first lines rhyming "kiss" with "abyss". That said, musically this will be just the thing for many Ectophiles—Johanna's many styles may all be familiar but she works these veins well, especially with her evocative, emotional vocals. Recommended for any pop fan. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)
Thanks to Sophia Gurley for work on this entry.
