Raul Midon

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Genre: Miscellaneous

It's rare that an artist arrives onto the pop music scene so fully loaded with the kind of hit-making potential that singer-composer-guitarist Raul Midón possesses. The New Mexico-born, New York-based Midón makes his recording debut with State of Mind, produced by Arif Mardin and Joe Mardin for Manhattan Records. The 13-track collection of Midón originals is a remarkable mélange of soul, R&B, pop, folk, jazz and Latin. The CD places on display his earnest, lyrical songwriting; full-bodied vocals steeped in soul; a singular syncopated, flamenco- and jazz-infused acoustic guitar style; a unique vocal trumpet improvisation; and hopeful disposition.

While you can hear traces of Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Jose Feliciano and, Richie Havens in his music, Midón is an extraordinary original whose passion is expressed in his indelible songs. "I like to celebrate the possible, the highest, the best of possibilities for human beings," says Midón, who has been blind since birth and is the son of an African American mother and an Argentinean father. "It's easy to be pessimistic given the state of the world. But I'm inspired by people like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi who had the ability to transform. Collectively we create an enormously powerful force that can change the world and overcome any obstacle."

As for working with the Mardins, Midón says, "We're coming from the same place. Arif is really into melody and comes from a jazz background, but with a firm foot in pop. I love good melodies and lyrical hooks, but I'm also musically trying to play something interesting. Joe is versed in all aspects of the recording process, from the notes to the sounds. That is to say he knows what mic to use to get a particular kind of guitar sound. He has the vision, discipline and training to bring out the best in the studio and you know that when you are done you will have something that sounds superb."

State of Mind is a revelation. The CD not only trains the spotlight on Midón's buoyant delivery, but also boasts a guest roster featuring Stevie Wonder (a guest harmonica performance on "Expressions of Love") and Jason Mraz (a vocal duet on their collaborative song, the reggae-inflected "Keep on Hoping"). In addition there are contributions from Latin jazz flutist Dave Valentin and percussionist Sammy Figueroa (on the Afro-Cuban sizzling "I Would Do Anything."), harmonica ace Gregoire Maret and percussionist Cyro Baptista (on the exuberant "Sunshine") and jazz vibraphonist Stefon Harris, who performs on the sublime "All in Your Mind." This last song is Midón's way of opening a window on what it's like to be blind. "I wrote `All in Your Mind' to talk about how, when you're blind, you perceive everything through your imagination."

Even before he entered the studio with the Mardins, Midón was accumulating the kind of accolades reserved for seasoned pros. The New York Times called him a "virtuoso," while Newsday heralded him as a showstopper. The Washington Post commented that Midón's "style is a febrile amalgam of Stevie Wonder vocals, feel-good pop songwriting, sophisticated jazz harmonies and a ferociously aggressive way of playing acoustic guitar."

Midón followed college in Miami with a career there as a solo artist and studio background vocalist in the Latin music arena. Midón moved to New York in 2002, where he began performing in clubs. Work with DJ/producer Little Louie Vega resulted in international gigs and the album Elements of Life. After performing Stevie Wonder's "Make Sure You're Sure" at Carnegie Hall for the concert "The Movie Music of Spike Lee and Terence Blanchard," he contributed one of his own songs to the score of Lee's film She Hate Me.

However, Midón hastens to note that his move from Miami to New York was fraught with risks. "I gave up the Miami studio and club gigs, some of which were glamorous. I wanted to make it on my own in New York, which is such