NY TIMES, May 14, 2008, by Stephen Holden "The songs are sly, playful observations that take an off-center, positive view of life and love….Mr. Rosen’s music is notable…a continually shifting musical patchwork of blues, folk, jazz and pop as earthy, tuneful art song…. As Ms. Jenkins sang in a sweet, sunny voice with an undertone of resolve, a poet in touch with her life force smiled through the music." BLOOMBERG NEWS, May 16, 2008, by Jeremy Gerard: "The blissful collaboration of composer Louis Rosen and singer Capathia Jenkins is so intimate it would hardly seem capable of accommodating a third voice. But in the poet Nikki Giovanni, they have found a kindred spirit, and the combination has charm and beauty to spare.…Rosen [as] songwriter and musician, charts an irresistible landscape between pop music and art song….Jenkins, a Broadway veteran, is his perfect muse and foil, bringing her exuberance and voluptuous mezzo to even Rosen's most melancholy ruminations….The songs have a musicality that Rosen effortlessly draws out. The music is accessible; it wraps the words in an evanescent skin allowing cadence as well as meaning to come through…. The performers are as good company as you could wish for." ONE OUNCE OF TRUTH combines the sultry and soaring voice of Capathia Jenkins with the inspired melodies and arrangements of songwriter/guitarist Louis Rosen into a fresh and enthralling thirteen-song mix of jazz, blues, soul, classic pop, and American roots music. Jenkins’ powerful and sensitive performances blend with Rosen’s music – alternately delicate and exultant, and always highly melodic – in exploring those most universal of human experiences: friendship, lust, love and loss. It’s a lush and memorable collection based on the vivid words of Nikki Giovanni, the Grammy-nominated writer and poet recently chosen as one of Oprah Winfrey’s “Living Legends.” "One Ounce of Truth: The Nikki Giovanni Songs" is Part Three of Louis’ "The Black Loom Trilogy", three song cycles on poems by three African-American poets, which also includes “Dream Suite: Songs in Jazz and Blues,” on poems by Langston Hughes (also available from Di-Tone Records, featuring Capathia Jenkins and Alton Fitzgerald White); and "Twelve Songs on Poems by Maya Angelou" (not yet available in commercial release) Additional press quotes for "One Ounce of Truth: The Nikki Giovanni Songs": CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER CD Review by Donald Rosenberg, June 26, 2008: "Louis Rosen brings jazzy and funky appeal to poems by Nikki Giovanni in his newest collection of songs. The verses sound completely natural in these settings, and especially as sung by Capathia Jenkins and composer-guitarist Rosen. Jenkins, who makes her Cleveland Orchestra debut Sunday, July 13, at Blossom Music Center, wields a clear, vibrant voice that wraps itself around words with sinuous and whimsical charm. Grade: A" EDGE, NEW YORK, CD Review by Frank Paiva, May 22, 2008 "One Ounce of Truth is the latest collection of songs from musician/arranger Louis Rosen and actress/singer Capathia Jenkins…. The CD is sophisticated and thrilling, a true treat for adults looking for meaningful pop music….The first time through it’s actually difficult to grasp the full weight of the songs. The music is so enjoyable. It’s only a few cycles later that I realized just how meaningful the words are and how much wisdom and clarity they have. Of course the emotional impact of the material would be nothing without Ms. Jenkins…." CABARET SCENES, CD Review by Jena Tesse Fox, July/August 2008: "For a textbook example of a near-perfect marriage of poetry and music, try Capathia Jenkins and Louis Rosen’s latest CD, One Ounce of Truth.…The words and music fit together beautifully, and as sung by Capathia Jenkins, the songs become a celebration of every facet of life. Rosen uses a wide range of musical styles to emphasize the many emotions in Giovanni’s words. Bassa nova, folk, jazz and a dash of soul all fit well with the sharply intelligent lyrics….As powerful a dramatist as she is a singer, Jenkins conveys each number’s emotion with great care, giving equal attention to the lyrics and the music. Her voice flows easily from gentle to fierce as needed for each song, once again proving her status as a composer’s best friend." ALL MUSIC GUIDE CD Review by Scott Yanow: "Usually when poems are set to music, the results are somewhat pompous art songs…. On "One Ounce Of Truth," Louis Rosen defies expectations and writes catchy melodies that fit the poems, even turning one poem ("I Want To Sing") into a twelve-bar blues…."Capathia Jenkins has a beautiful, angelic voice with a wide range and could probably sing anything she desired. The music on One Ounce Of Truth, which is difficult to classify, is well worth exploring...." TALKIN’ BROADWAY/SOUND ADVICE, CD Review by Rob Lester, May 22, 2008: "In their second album, singer Capathia Jenkins and songwriter Louis Rosen shine again, this time with poet Nikki Giovanni's works set to his music. Mostly warm, open-hearted and life-affirming, the quite varied musical settings set moods and illuminate the emotions, memories and bits of practical life philosophy in the poems. This set is a showcase for Capathia's vocal dexterity, demonstrating more colors in her voice….She subtly shapes the tales and confessions in the material with attractively modulated vocals that personalize the emotions and serve the material. If the idea of poetry set to music makes you hesitate…forget it. These feel like songs…accessible, relaxed and cozy…effervescently giddy… dark and haunting…with the music coming on as a full partner to the words…" THE REPORTER, Vacaville, CA, CD Review by Richard Bammer (6/6/2008): "After listening to the CD, I could only think that there is hope for new additions to the Great American Songbook. For the overall impression was that the 13 tunes, sung by Broadway actress Capathia Jenkins against the melodies and arrangements of composer and guitarist Louis Rosen, were not only a refreshing insight into Giovanni's word artistry but they were also reminders of why certain songs last over time and others fade away. The reason is that Giovanni explores universal human experiences: love, friendship, lust, loss and mortality, tempered with irony and a sense of play. "But I was especially surprised how Rosen set Giovanni's words to a mix of modern and more traditional jazz, blues, soul and pop that puts the words in a bracingly new light. Sweetening the deal is Jenkins' voice, by turns sultry, sweet and soaring, adding emotional nuances that enhance the intelligence of the poetry and never intrude on its conversational tone.... "One Ounce of Truth" is a lush and sensitive musical reading of Giovanni's enduring art. It lingers in the mind and soul long after the CD ends. " NEW YORK SUN Review by Will Friedlander (July 28, 2008) : "The Iridium Jazz Club hosts jazz singer Capathia Jenkins and songwriter, guitarist, Louis Rosen in a performance from the duos newly released album, One Ounce of Truth: The Nikki Giovanni Songs. Their latest sounds are fused from blues, folk and jazz, all the while retaining gentle elements of nostalgia." AMAZON.COM GERMANY, Review by By Von Ingbert Edenhofer (September 6, 2009): "...I had only come across Capathia Jenkins before as a cast member on the recording of Martin Short's show "Fame Becomes me". She was good there but nothing prepared me for her much more nuanced work here. Louis Rosen set several works by poet Nikki Giovanni, and the three of them are a wonderful fit. Rosen and Giovanni seem to share an overall optimistic worldview, resulting in uplifiting songs, and Jenkins, who can belt up a storm if she needs to, goes for very relaxed song interpretations. This could easily tip over into the realm of easy listening but each contributor is talented enough to give this recording more depth." New York City's "OUR TOWN" (July 25 - 31, 2008) by Christopher Moore: "Rosen's creations are moving and melodic. Putting Giovanni to music works. Especially with the fine musicians accompanying Jenkins and Rosen".... [Jenkins has great range, both in terms of music and expression. She's proving herself a fine jazz interpreter." Producers — Scott Lehrer, Louis Rosen & Capathia Jenkins Engineer — Scott Lehrer. Recorded, Mixed and Mastered, July 2007 to January 2008 at Second Story Sound, NYC CD Design — Derek Bishop Photography — Dave Cross MUSICIANS: Capathia Jenkins – Vocals Louis Rosen – Acoustic Steel and Nylon String Guitars; Vocals; Additional Percussion Kimberly Grigsby – Piano Rob Moose – Violin Andrew Sterman – Flute; Alto Flute; Alto and Tenor Saxophones Glenn Drewes – Trumpet Dave Philips – Acoustic & Electric Bass Erik Charlston – Drums; Vibraphone; Marimba; Percussion Kevin Kuhn – Electric Guitar (Tracks 6, 7 & 10) Gary Seligson – Drums (Tracks 1 & 10) Bruce Eidem – Trombone (Track 12) Musical Arrangements and Instrumentation —Louis Rosen All songs by Louis Rosen & Nikki Giovanni, © 2008, Lullwater Music, ASCAP, All Rights Reserved. Poetry Copyright 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 by Nikki Giovanni. Recording © & P 2008, Louis Rosen and Capathia Jenkins. Distributed by PS Classics, LLC (from May 2008 to July 2016), and Di-tone Records (from August 2016 onward.). All rights reserved. for more information about Louis and Capathia visit: www.louisrosen.com or www.capathiajenkins.com.