In 2004, Olstead released an eponymous album of
jazz songs and
pop standards for
Warner Bros. Records to good reviews; since her previous releases had limited distribution, this album was considered her true debut. She subsequently performed in
Berlin during the
Live 8 concert on
July 2, 2005. Additionally, she recorded with trumpeter
Chris Botti on his 2005 album
To Love Again: The Duets and appears on the 2006 DVD
Chris Botti Live with Orchestra and Special Guests. Her singing style and talent has already been compared with such great jazz vocalists as
Ella Fitzgerald and
Sarah Vaughan. Reportedly her musical talent was discovered by composer
David Foster, who produced her 2004 album. She later also performed with Foster on the
Oprah Winfrey Show. she has also released a Christmas song called "Christmas In Love".
A followup album entitled
Skylark, also produced by Foster, was originally announced for release in 2005, but it has subsequently been pushed back several times, with release dates in the summer of 2006 and early 2007 being mentioned on online retailers such as Amazon.com. As of May 2007 the album has yet to be released, with Olstead's official website offering no information as to when or if the album will be released.
http://www.reneeolstead.com
