Maysa Leak (born August 16, 1966) is an American jazz singer better known by her mononym Maysa. She is well known by fans of smooth jazz both for her solo work and for her work with the British band Incognito.

Biographical sketch [link]

Maysa continues to live in Baltimore, Maryland. She has a son named Jazz.

Education [link]

She attended Milford Mill High School in western Baltimore County.^[1] After high school she studied music at Morgan State University in Baltimore City and graduated with a degree in classical performance. There she performed as a member of the world famous Morgan State University Choir under the direction of the late Nathan Carter, Maysa met performer Stevie Wonder during a college performance.

Career [link]

After receiving her degree from Morgan State University, Maysa headed to Southern California to perform with Stevie Wonder’s female backup group Wonderlove, While with Wonder, Maysa was a vocalist on the Jungle Fever soundtrack and performed on numerous television shows including The Arsenio Hall Show, Oprah and The Tonight Show.

It was during an over-the-telephone audition in the early 90s, that Maysa become a member of the acclaimed British jazz/funk/R&B band Incognito and in 1992 she relocated to London and recorded Tribes, Vibes & Scribes, featuring the hit single "Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing." Since then, Maysa has appeared on over seven Incognito recordings.

Maysa recorded her self-titled debut in 1995, followed by her second album All My Life in 2000, Out of The Blue in 2002, Smooth Sailing in 2004, Sweet Classic Soul in 2006, and now Feel The Fire, 2007. In 2008, Metamorphosis peaked at No.1 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz top 100 chart and no.13 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. In 2010, "A Woman in Love", Maysa 7th Solo cd Debut at No.1 on the Contemporary Jazz Charts.

Maysa has also collaborated with well-known jazz performers like Gerald Veasley, Rick Braun, Will Downing, Jason Miles' Soul Summit, Rhythm Logic, Jonathan Butler and Pieces of a Dream.

Maysa Leak is a spokesperson for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a disease that can be fatal to premature babies. She appears in RSV PSA commercials, with her son Jazz, sponsored for the March of Dimes.

Discography [link]

Maysa (1995) [link]

1. Prelude
2. What About Our Love?
3. Black Heaven
4. Sexy
5. More Than You Know
6. Can We Change the World?
7. Goodbye Manhattan
8. J.F.S.
9. Let It Go
10. Alone at Last
11. Rain Drops
12. Peace of Mind
13. Goodbye
14. Shelley Estt Bellee

All My Life (2000) [link]

1. Got to Be Strong
2. Mirrors
3. The Bottle
4. Aria de la Mia Vita
5. All My Life
6. Pressure
7. Sunshine
8. Blue Light
9. Shadows and the Light
10. Hooked on Your Love
11. Earth Child
12. Compliments
13. Closure
14. Untitled

Out of the Blue (2002) [link]

1. Friendly Pressure
2. Out of the Blue
3. Spirit (Interlude)
4. Head to the Sky
5. Simple Life
6. Right Here Right Now
7. MSDF (Interlude)
8. Mr. So Damn Fine (written by Maysa Leak and Kimberly Brewer)
9. I Want You (Interlude)
10. Blue Horizon
11. Osaka
12. Everything
13. Tailor Made Love (written by Robbie Nevil and Kimberly Brewer)
14. If It's Love
15. Thank You (Interlude)
16. Family Affair

Smooth Sailing (2004) [link]

1. Hypnotic Love
2. Smooth Sailing
3. Soul Child
4. Scat World
5. Where Do You Go?
6. So Very Hot
7. All Day Long
8. Time for Love
9. Where Have You Been?
10. One More Chance
11. Unexpectedly

Sweet Classic Soul (2006) [link]

1. Wishing on a Star
2. Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love)
3. All I Do
4. Love Won't Let Me Wait
5. Come Go With Me
6. Betcha by Golly, Wow
7. Playing Your Game, Baby
8. Love Comes Easy
9. Any Love
10. The First Time (Ever I Saw Your Face)

Feel the Fire (2007) [link]

1. I Can't Help It
2. You Are My Starship
3. Happy Feeling
4. I Don't Want To Lose Your Love
5. Feel The Fire
6. Zoom
7. Send For Me
8. I'm In Love
9. This Time I'll Be Sweeter
10. Ain't No Sunshine

Metamorphosis (2008) [link]

1. Simpatico
2. My Destiny
3. Never Really Ever
4. Let's Figure It Out (A Song for Bluey)
5. I Need a Man
6. Higher Love
7. Take Me Away
8. Happy Feelings
9. Love So True
10. Walk Away
11. Grateful
12. A Conversation with the Universe

A Woman in Love (2010) [link]

1. Am I Wrong (For Lovin You)
2. Love Theory (ft Will Downing)
3. Round Midnight
4. Spend Some Time
5. What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?
6. Woman in Love
7. The Lady in My Life
8. Willow Weep for Me
9. Honey Bee
10. I Put a Spell on You
11. When I Fall in Love

Motions of Love (2011) [link]

1. Get Wit Me
2. Come Dance With Me
3. Day N Night
4. Flower Girl (feat. Dwele)
5. Have Sweet Dreams (written by Stevie Wonder and Kimberly Brewer)
6. Motions Of Love
7. You Won't Find Your Way
8. When It's Over
9. Love Sweet Love (LSL)
10. Hold On
11. I Try
12. When It's Over (Reprise)
13. Your Name's Not On The List
14. Special Place

Live at the Birchmere (2011) [link]

1. Maysa Live 2010 Opening
2. A Woman In Love
3. Let's Figure It Out / The Bottle
4. Hooked On Your Love
5. Sexy
6. Hypnotic Love
7. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
8. Round Midnight
9. I Put A Spell On You
10. Honeybee
11. Never Really Ever
12. Grateful
13. Out Of The Blue
14. Don't Wanna Lose Your Love
15. What About Your Love
16. Soul Child
17. Can We Change The World
18. You Are My Starship
19. Mr. So Damn Fine

References and notes [link]

External links [link]

• maysa.com—official website
• Official MySpace
• Official Twitter