Katrina Parker

You might think that popular Season Two "The Voice" contestant Katrina Parker was a newbie to the scene when the show aired last spring. Her rich and bluesy vocals and throwback style garnered her comparisons to Adele, while her sassy personality made her stand out as one-of-a-kind.

What you may not know is that she has been wowing audiences in Los Angeles for years before an unfortunate illness halted her burgeoning career causing her to disappear from the scene. After her recovery, "The Voice" brought Katrina back into the spotlight, and a well-deserved place in it.

While she didn't win the NBC reality show's coveted highest honor (shockingly so), Parker has proven herself to be an artist to watch -- if not THE artist to watch. While comparisons to Adele might be inevitable, I would argue that Parker's voice is actually better than the British chanteuse.

Don't get me wrong, Adele is an amazing vocalist and songwriter. I just think Katrina Parker is better. And if there is any faith to be had in the universe, she will soon find her place in musical history.

Playing a packed house on Saturday night at Hollywood's Hotel Caf�, Parker walked onstage to immediate applause. A huge smile spread across Parker's grateful face before launching into a stripped down and moody rendition of Dolly Parton's "Jolene." It was the perfect way to begin the evening because for those who might have been unfamiliar with Parker, it was the best way to be introduced to that remarkable voice.

I'm no vocal expert, but I have a good ear, and when performers sing live, my entire body will clench and contort if a singer is even slightly "pitchy." It's a problem as my body can be so stressed out, I've had to stop watching singing competition shows because I'm exhausted by the end of an episode. With Katrina Parker, however, there is no grimacing to be had. Her voice is velvety smooth and can slide through vocal tricks with ease, or play it straight and powerful with an almost legendary ferocity.

Playing a handful of original songs that will appear on the album that she fan-funded through Kickstarter, it is clearly evident that Parker is not only an incredible singer, but also an exceptional songwriter. Many times when you go to local shows for up and coming musicians, there are a bunch of songs that drift away after they've been performed, sometimes even while being performed. Not Parker's.

Every song that she gifted the audience with was a potential hit. There honestly wasn't a clunker in the bunch. She began with the funky and bluesy "Oh, Yes" that had the crowd moving and grooving. She followed it with the mid-tempo ballad "No Downside" which was a lovely expression of gratitude. Later on she sat down at the piano to play the heartfelt "Hand Me Downs," which was a moving tribute to the love her aunt and uncle had for each other.

The best song of the night was the first single from the new album "In and Out of the Dark" which was a gutsy rocker that harkened Adele's "Rolling in the Deep." But my personal favorite was her emotional "Glass Heart."

"I have a glass heart. Hid behind an iron wall. That I built up. Every single time I fall. Promise if I let you in. You swear to be delicate. Cuz' a glass heart stays broken."

It's a tearjerker for sure -- at least for this reviewer -- and a sure-fire Number One hit when it gets released. At a relatively short 50 minutes, Parker's set was a calling card for the next superstar.

Yes, she's that good.

I need to also mention her amazing band which gave the music the richness and sass it deserved.

It would behoove you to stay linked in to Parker's web site (katrinaparker.com) as performances pop up from time to time, and seeing her live will make you a firm believer. That happened to me in 2008 and I've been a true-blue fan ever since. I promise you will be too.