Esperanza Spalding | Chamber Music Society
By Peggy Oliver
In just one decade, Esperanza Spalding has achieved so much in her musical quest and persevered even more along the way to find her own special star. Go figure that this singer/songwriter/musician who survived some challenging circumstances in her childhood would make teachers marvel, thrill audiences and teach elementary school students about the power of jazz.
Mike Phillips | M.P.3.
Hidden Beach Recordings | 2010
By George Strand
Consider the new album from soulful saxophonist Mike Phillips for just one second. Bridging worlds of R&B and contemporary jazz together isn’t a tall order from a gentleman who often engages himself into taking anything to the next level. Would he be considered special? Perhaps.
Various Artists – Playing for Change Live CD/DVD Grammy Award winning producer/engineer Mark Johnson had a dream; a dream that has emerged into a much-talked about series where people of all nations find common ground to make beautiful music. I have to thank public television for the opportunity to catch …
Lynne Fiddmont | Lady
By Jerry “The Mouse” Clark
I could start and end my review of Lynne Fiddmont’s Lady CD with one word – “angelic” – but that will not be the case. The inspiration from Billie Holiday, Lynne’s songbird persona and an accompanying cast of gifted musicians is the recipe for this outstanding album. You may be familiar with Lynne Fiddmont and not know it. The lady has recorded and/or performed as a singer with Stevie Wonder (as a member of his band Wonderlove), Bill Withers, Patti Austin, Whitney Houston, Babyface and countless more.
Brian Culbertson | XII
By Terrill Hanna
For many of you who are well aware of the various capabilities great keyboardist Brian Culbertson is able to conduct, whether it be on a jazz tip, on a smooth jazz tip, or on the trombone tip, Mr. Culbertson’s diverse reach for soul music isn’t much of a big surprise here. In fact, we shouldn’t be too startled to hear most of the R&B connections dished up for serving from the new project, “XII“.
Daniel | Life, Love and Liberation It was hot and humid in the streets of New Orleans when we saw him setting shop. He was tall, rocking a fro under his hat and with an unkempt beard. He set up a keyboard, a mic and to his left, a showcase …
Incognito | Transatlantic RPM
by Peggy Oliver
Happy 30th Anniversary Incognito! Yes; thirty years of old school soul, funk, disco, hip-hop and jazz produced by the U.K. sensation that still sounds as fresh today as when they were first introduced to the world in 1980 with an album appropriately named Jazz Funk. Despite a ten-year absence after their debut, they returned to the recording studio with Inside Life and have never looked back since.
Joonie | Acoustic Soul
By Terrill Hanna
There’s something smooth about the new offering from a kid from around the way – Mr. Calvin “Joonie” Gary Jr. The cat reveals a touching side of soul music for his debut release, “Acoustic Love” and by all means, has grabbed my ab-soul-ute attention.
George Duke | Deja Vu By Randy Mahon Keyboard master/songwriter/producer, jazz legend George Duke, returns with his latest project on his own BPM imprint, distributed through Heads Up International (A division of the Concord Music Group), “Deja Vu”. George takes his listeners back to his late ’70’s/’80’s era Funk/Soul sound. …
Dru Hill | InDRUpendence Day (Advance Review – Album to be Released July 27th, 2010) Ron Kenoly sang, ‘if you catch hell don’t hold it, if you are going through hell don’t stop’. Dru Hill may have gone through high peaks and low lows, an on air reunion and an …