"It's been a long time," she said shortly after taking the stage.

Almost ten years to be exact. It was in 1994 that a petite ball of New Jersey fire burst onto the music scene in a way that few had done before. As the neo-soul movement grooved into full swing, Dionne Farris offered an acoustic blend that was R&B, rock-n-roll, and a whole lotta soul. With a critically acclaimed debut album, Wild Seed - Wild Flower, and a Grammy nomination under her belt, Farris quietly and rather mysteriously disappeared from the music scene.

With rumors swirling about her tussling with her former label, Columbia Records, for creative control, Farris would ultimately leave the label without releasing her sophomore album, never to be heard from again. Until now.

"Come on up to the front and give me some love," Farris beckoned to the throng of people sitting in tables in the rear of the club. They severely outnumbered the handful who had gathered in the standing room area near the stage for the not-so-well attended show. But those die-hard fans who did show up were treated to an unforgettable evening.

Farris, now sporting a full head of wavy hair, debuted several new songs under consideration for her soon-to-be-released album Signs of Life. A limited edition EP of some of these songs was available for purchase after the show.

"I'm-a take my shoes off," the Atlanta-based vocalist said, stepping down from her plexiglass, platform heels. She paused for bass player Khari Simmons to address a broken string, and then the lights dimmed to a soft red.

The rock anthem "Passion" (from Wild Seed - Wild Flower) continued the set with a barefoot Farris dancing periodically and harmonizing melodiously with background singer Trina. Farrris engaged the crowd in a hand-clapping, bluesy-rock rendition of The Beatles' classic "Blackbird" (from Wild Seed - Wild Flower) before pausing the show to take some questions from the audience.

"New record? This summer. Where have I been? I've been raising my daughter," she responded. Apparently having nothing further to add on those subjects, she moved on. But the next song would prove that she has been, and arguably still is, working through serious, personal and musical struggles.

The chorus of the soft, jazzy-soul new song, "Hidden Charm" (from Dionne Farris EP) says: "Discover your hidden charm/And a world of fascination/Discover just who you are/Your audience is waiting/For the star to make a debut." Farris repeated the last line several times in piercing, high-noted ad-libs. It was as if the song were a personal anthem. When she was done, she raised her arms high in the air and took a step back. The crowd showered her in applause as she had her own quiet moment.

"Y'all give it up for Dionne Farris," background singer Trina said. Farris replied with a simple "Thank you" as she tried to pull herself together. "You're welcome, girl," a woman shouted back from the audience. Later in the show, Farris would comment on how she wasn't sure what she wanted to do with herself after she left the music industry. But she said it was about her, not the music.

Two more new songs followed: "For You" and "So Blind." Farris said the former song possibly would be the first single from her upcoming Signs of Life. The latter song is a 3-4 timed, horn-heavy song that was received favorably.

"We ain't got no set list in front of us," Farris revealed of her 14-song set. The bass, horns and percussion came together remarkably in the jazzy "Need Me," which sounded like soundtrack music for a 70s blaxploitation film. The song segued seamlessly into a lengthy, jazzy rendition of Nina Simone's "Sea Lion Woman." "That will be on the new record without a doubt," Farris said.

The energized crowd got a chance to sing along with Farris again on another horn-driven performance, this time with a Mo' Betta Blues flavor. The popular soundtrack hit, "Hopeless" (from Love Jones: The Music), had people dancing and singing "baah pah baah, pah baah, pa baah, pa baah." People who may have been seated a few songs prior were now dancing in front of the stage with everyone else. "Let's hit that chorus again," Farris commanded after the song had ended.

The reggae-flavored "Gravity" was next with its empowering lyrics: "Gravity is pulling me down, down, down, down/But I can fly 'cause I'm a heavenly body." Toward the end of the song, Farris announced that her new album would be out later this summer. Then, she said her goodbyes, picked up her shoes and clapped them together in honor of the band, and left the stage. The crowd cheered and applauded as the band played "Gravity" out.

"If you have enjoyed Dionne Farris, let me hear you say 'yeah'!" Trina yelled to the crowd before leading them in a "Dionne! Dionne!" chant.

Farris reemerged, this time with shoes on. "We gon' do an oldie for ya," she said. "11th Hour!" one fan yelled hoping to hear another song from her debut album. But instead, Farris delivered a soft "Food For Thought" (from Wild Seed - Wild Flower). Horns gave the song a charming, jazzy feel and a mid-song breakdown turned jazz to blues. She got choked up and turned her back to the audience as she sang the line "I want to lose the negative/But all I ever seem to lose is time." The crowd cheered in support as she wiped tears from her eyes. "Please don't let me be the only one using food for thought," she pleaded.

Farris thanked the crowd for their cheers and shared that it had taken her a while to get to the point of even wanting to sing again. Another possible single, the good-feeling, island tune "Where You Belong" (from Dionne Farris EP), cheered her up enough to wear out the mic once again, just as she did on Arrested Development's Grammy-winning smash "Tennessee." She introduced the band as well as her daughter Sequoia who was with her. "This is the reason for the season, y'all," she said.

Running out of time, Farris had the band play the show out with another new song, "Can You Feel," which she sang minimally. "I'll be back with a tour," she announced. "Peace and blessings."

Despite only a half-full venue, the cheers from Farris' fans indicated that they were moved by her performance and glad to see her performing again. Also received well was her new music, which is of the same lyrical depth and musical breadth of her debut album.

Call it a comeback, call it a second debut, but Farris is poised to make some serious waves in the same music industry that precipitated her departure 10 years ago.