On YOU HIT THE SPOT, Chicago singer TRACYE EILEEN returns to her straight-ahead jazz roots on an album of standards performed with a contemporary edge. This is Eileen’s fourth release and third full-length album. Always exploring new ways to express herself, each of her previous recordings covered different genres and stylistic approaches.

 Eileen launched her professional career with the release of her first straight-ahead recording, Love’s Journey (2012). She recorded the album while studying at the Bloom School of Jazz in Chicago, where she honed her straight-ahead sound for her debut album. On her next album, Why Did I Say Yes?  (2018), she veered away from straight-ahead jazz into soul and R&B. Then, in 2020, she released It’s Time, a contemporary jazz album featuring originals co-written by Eileen on which she reflected on her journey of love as she moves through life. The album charted on several major music charts in the U.S. and abroad and was played in 67 countries on over 220 radio stations. Smooth Jazz Daily said, “The special feature of Tracye's performance is not only her voice but also the ingenious use of her vocals in the arrangement, for which she constantly finds new approaches.”

Eileen has also enjoyed a 8-year residency at Buddy Guy’s Legends, the famous Chicago blues and jazz club. The club’s talent manager found Eileen on LinkedIn and offered her and her band a monthly residency. She still performs regularly at the club, and over the years she has opened for many of the biggest names in the music business, such as Babyface, The Stylistics, Mary Wilson, Chante Moore, After 7, and Buddy Guy himself.

For Eileen, YOU HIT THE SPOT is a homecoming to straight-ahead jazz, which has been part of her life for as long as she can remember. 

Eileen has always been attracted to the great vocalists from an earlier era, like Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone because of their extraordinary ability to tell stories through music.  And so the journey continues…..