Freedom's Soul......the Revolution is an album inspired by the coded field songs of enslaved Afrikans, the protest songs of the Civil rights movement and, the Soul and Funk grooves of the 60's & 70's. It is in fact, a fusion of Soul, Funk, Spirituals, Jazz, field songs, Gospel and Hip Hop. This project has brought together some of the best musician from Memphis, TN to Atlanta, GA, to produce a sound with the raw, heavy, pulsating groove of Stax Record's Isaac Hayes, the harmonic treatment of Marvin Gaye, and the social awareness of EWF. "Free" is the first sing to be release off this album. It is by nature a protest song from the thought provoking lyrics to the ripping electric guitar, and heavy bass line. "Loose Beast" is the socio-political anthem of the album. With lyrics the weigh heavy on the mind, .....with a "stone groove" saturated with injections of vintage funk. This track is in your face, taking no prisoners "Let's Break Bread" brings a certain gentle new approach to an old standard. The contrasting background vocals are smooth and rich, reminiscent of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going One". Biography: Memphis, the undisputed home of Blues, Rock & Roll, and Gospel, has long helped the world move to different grooves. It is also the history of the city that kenneled the creative fire in the soul of classically trained Bass Vocalist, Jonathan Blanchard. Born in November of 1976, Blanchard’s talent came to maturity while immersed in Memphis’s often raucous, inspirational, yet always divergent style of music and art. HIS VOICE: Possessing a voice comparable in depth and richness to the great Paul Robeson, Blanchard—in the spiritual tradition of an ancient Afrikan Griot—creates music that allows his deep, soulfully rich voice to blend naturally with his compelling dramatic instinct. He movingly conveys the poignant words and melodies of the Negro Spiritual, and his unique style—“reminiscent of Al Jarreau, Bobby McFerrin, and Paul Robeson simultaneously”—offers great variety at any musical venue. No one should miss him deftly rifting through Jazz licks, while he masterfully imitates the sounds emanating from a Jazz Band’s instrumental section. His modernized and approachable style of singing creates such an uplifting song that it holds the enthusiasts of Popular, Classical, and Religious Song in sway. Blanchard’s artistic tastes were first forged in grade school. However, by the time he entered high school his artistic curiosity had led him to sing in various choruses, and to act in a number of community theatre productions. While achieving the Bachelors of Science in Commercial Music and the Master of Science in Music Education Degrees from Tennessee State University, he learned to weave the various elements of his artistic nature into his magnetic style of delivery. His artistry transcends Jazz Bistro & Concert Hall venues, and his stage credits include roles as diverse as The Priest in “Your Arms Too Short to Box with God”, Bernardo in “A Westside Story”, Simeon and Potifer in “Joseph’s Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, Caesar in “Scipio”, the Ex-Slave in “Do Lord Remember Me”, The Lion in “The Wiz”. He has appeared on Memphis WREG – Live At 9 program. He has been the featured singing artist on the PBS film “Underground Railroad – Quilt Code”; for Georgia Public Broadcast. Blanchard has also presented concerts, master classes, and demonstrations where his musical insights have captivated the imaginations of grade school, high school, and college students alike. In conjunction with Opera Memphis’s Educational Outreach Program—Black Roots in Opera, Blanchard toured throughout Tennessee’s major metropolitan areas to help celebrate the Life & Artistry of Paul Robeson. Blanchard's operatic credits include affiliations with Opera Memphis and AmeriColor Opera Alliance Guild of Atlanta. He was presented with the title role of “Solomon” in the production The Seduction of King Solomon; a work written especially for him by critically acclaimed composer Sharon Willis. Other performances with Americolor Opera Alliance Guild include Madame C.J. Walker, Three Kings and a Prince, The Herndons, The Great Divide and The Candlers of Callan. Blanchard toured North Dakota as York in Corp of Discovery, an Opera about the Lewis and Clark expedition written by Michael Ching, Artistic Director at Opera Memphis. Blanchard performed a concert at the 2010 National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta and sang musical selections from the Paul Robeson Song Book. With Wycliffe Gordon, Jazz Trombonist, Blanchard was the featured vocalist in a performance of Gordon's musical score for Oscar Micheaux’s 1925 silent film, “Body and Soul” presented by NBAF Education and Public Programs. Rencently Blanchard performed for the Great Mr. Harry Belefonte as he was honored by the SCLF in Birmingham, AL 2013.