JARVIS CHURCH

Jarvis Church has a beautiful musical resume, although you might be scratching your head at first to figure it out.

It was he who thrust stardom on a young Nelly Furtado, discovering the Victoria singer at Ebonnie Rowe's Honey Jam showcase in 1998. That fateful evening, he and production partner Brian West, a.k.a. (Track and Field Productions), offered their services, which Furtado, after persistent follow-up by Jarvis, eventually accepted. A demo was produced, shopped, and picked up by DreamWorks Records, which released the internationally acclaimed 'Whoa, Nelly!' in September 2000. Furtado went on to win a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and well as international awards in England and South Africa.

Jarvis and West got a Grammy nomination for their work on Furtado's album, too. Before that, when he was known as Gerald Eaton, he fronted the Philosopher Kings, that groundbreaking acid jazz band from Toronto.

Eager to start fresh with his own sound and image, Eaton changed his performance name to Jarvis Church.

He chose his new alias in homage to that pair of historic Toronto roads that cut through the city - two downtown streets that run past swank lakeside condos, inner city housing projects, Boystown and trendy Bloor St. Good thing Eaton wasn't raised in the northern or eastern 'burbs, or the music world today might be greeting Mr. Bathurst Steeles or Mr. Midland Markham.

"I lived near Church and Dundas and always thought Jarvis was a damn cool name," he explains. "I remember one time I was driving with a friend on Jarvis Street and we turned the corner and came to Church Street and I said 'that's it, Jarvis Church! That's what I'll call myself."

Most of Jarvis' previous success has come in collaboration with others, as a producer, songwriter or performer, but now he steps out to give fans the straight goods on his first solo album, Shake It Off (RCA/Sony).

"Most of the songs on this album deal with relationships," says Jarvis, on a phoner from Burbank, near Hollywood, California. "When I write, I definitely imagine performing the songs. I'm a soul singer at heart and just love to explore."

Jarvis was born in Jamaica and the country's reggae influence on him was enormous. The dance hall rhythms and heavy bass sound appealed to him but when he moved to Toronto in 1980 he cherished the city's multicultural aesthetic, which encouraged him to embrace his Jamaican heritage. He says Toronto "allowed me the musical freedom to try anything."

"I take whatever I like from whatever genre I love and incorporate it into my music. I'm not anything specific. I'm this Jamaican guy who grew up in Toronto - a soul singer who likes really trippy production.

"Part of my legacy, I think, is I'm never, ever coming from somewhere pre existing. I want to create a new sound, a new vibe, a new approach using existing technologies..."

Most people know his story already but as lead singer for the internationally renowned Philosopher Kings, Jarvis received acclaim for his vocal stylings and riveting stage performances. The band released three well-received albums between 1994 and 1999, achieving platinum success with Famous, Rich and Beautiful. They also won a Juno in 1996 as Best New Group.

Shake It Off took Jarvis almost two years to complete. The disc is a tip of the hat to his soul, reggae and hip hop influences.

Gathering inspiration from Otis Redding, Bob Marley and Marvin Gaye, but especially Prince, the disc is a soulful, pop journey with Jarvis as the lead scout, sage and storyteller. His falsetto vocals both soothe and enlighten.

Jarvis describes the title track as optimistic and in the moment, "about being in a good mood. Think about a sunny day and how walking into that sunshine lifts your mood. It's about rolling with the punches, not letting things bring you down and taking care of yourself."

That Old Love Song might be the most romantic track on the disc, and the samba-tinged So Amazing is also winner, however, it's the guest appearances from Furtado, Esthero and Jelleestone that gives the disc a harder, hip hop edge on those featured tracks.

"I love role playing in songs and both Nelly and Esthero were right down with it," Jarvis says. "They both gave Oscar-worthy performances - Nelly as a psychotic stripper and Esthero as an obsessive fan."

Jarvis believes the experience with the Philosopher Kings and working with Furtado (four Juno Awards, five Grammy nominations), made it easier for him to push himself to be fresh and interesting on Shake It Off.

"Our success gave me the confidence to explore further and to dig even deeper into myself for my own album...my whole approach is to convey emotions. I just love to explore."

"Music is best meant to inspire...The music has to get through to you and have some sort of real connection."

Even though Jarvis and Church, the streets, never connect in Toronto, Jarvis Church, the singer, makes sure his style, sound and message are wonderfully intertwined throughout his debut set.

Shake It Off hits the streets in Canada in July. Jarvis will showcase material from the album this month at a club in Toronto.

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