CLUB NOUVEAU’S
VAL WATSON
OFFERS AN URBAL TREAT ON
THUMP CLASSIC R&B

Val Watson is best recognized as the songbird of Club Nouveau, the 80’s super group that made musical history with hits like “Jealousy,” “Situation #9” and the Grammy Award winning cover of “Lean On Me.” As the signature female voice of the trio, for many fans, Club Nouveau is Val Watson.

With the release of her debut solo effort, Urbal on June 8 from Thump Classic R&B, however; Watson sets out to prove her fans delightfully wrong. Club Nouveau may be Val Watson, but Val Watson is certainly not Club Nouveau. With Urbal, the vocalist breaks out her Club Nouveau shell and introduces us to a new vocal persona. Urbal is a free flowing musical ride that reveals her funk face, her jazz side and her just plain ol’ groovin’ back base.

And speaking of fans, the Nouveau-lite has plenty of them, including George Clinton, George Duke, Bootsy Collins, Gerald Albright, Patrice Rushen and Michael Cooper. And to prove it, they all join her on the project!

“This solo effort has been budding inside of me for a long time. I love Club Nouveau. The group and I are family, but sometimes a sister just has to bust out with it! Urbal allowed me the opportunity to show a different side of me. I’m excited about the project because Club Nouveau members Jay & Mario are excited and it feels good when the members of the group you’re in not only genuinely support you, but openly push for you to have the solo success they feel you deserve, “ explains Watson.

Urbal is an eclectic blending of funk, R&B and jazz. Its flow is earthy, like the title suggest, while at the same time organically rhythmic. On “The Real (Do-Do)” Bootsy and Michael Cooper join Watson for some up tempo house party fun. The vibe is more relaxed and vintage Watson on the dreamy ballad, “Whether You Know It” where she is joined by Jane Eugene of Loose Ends.

While “Soul Shack” takes us all the way back to our ‘70’s groove roots, “Do What Come Funky” is a trip to the mothership, with George Clinton navigating the way. “High (It’s My State of Mind)” is a breezy feel good jam that proves the spirit can be elevated with just song and a beautiful voice.

With Patrice Rushen lending her signature keyboard stylings on the CD’s finale, “Alright,” it’s a perfect conclusion for a project that provides an Urbal remedy to the classic ailments hankering today’s overburdened music generation. Val Watson’s Urbal, like a strong cup of hot herbal tea, will stir you from the inside out…and you’ll find yourself the better for it.

Note to Media: Request your copy of Urbal with name, media outlet and mailing address, and I’ll forward it to Thump Classic R&B. Val Watson is also available for interview at makeda@jazzmynepr.com.