Currently browsing author

JaSupreme, Page 26

Esperanza Spalding | Radio Music Society

Esperanza Spalding - Radio Music Society
 
Esperanza Spalding
Radio Music Society
(Heads Up International)
by Brent Faulkner
 
Esperanza Spalding, then relatively unknown to the masses, accomplished a feat previously unaccomplished by any jazz artist in 2011; she won the Grammy award for Best New Artist. Spalding’s victory could be viewed shocking considering she defeated more visible popular artists including Justin Bieber and Drake. While the Grammy could be considered Spalding’s ‘crowning’ achievement, it logically accompanies a rich, captivating biography, highlighted in its entirety on her website (http://www.esperanzaspalding.com).

Clarence Milton Bekker | Old Soul

Clarence Milton Bekker - Old Soul
 
Clarence Milton Bekker
Old Soul
(Playing for Change/Concord)
by Brent Faulkner
 
Clarence Milton Bekker (formerly known as CB Milton) is an R&B artist who has endured career highs and notable lows. A native of Suriname, CB grew up in Netherlands loving music from an early age. In the late 1980s, Milton became a member of The Swinging Soul Machine, a band that backed The Trammps. Milton left the band to focus on a solo career. The 1990s yielded three albums beginning with It’s My Loving Thing, with each successive effort proving less notable…even lesser so in the U.S.

Incognito | Surreal

IncognitoSurreal600Sq
 
Incognito | Surreal
(Shanachie)
By Peggy Oliver
 
How does one band with a revolving door of contributors for over three different decades manage to obtain incredible longevity without missing a beat? What has kept Incognito – the multi-cultural, multi-personnel phenomenon that was highly responsible for sparking the eighties’ acid jazz movement – sounding so fresh, remaining so relevant and making it look so effortless? It all lies in the architect of Incognito, Jean-Paul Maunick a.k.a. “Bluey” – the group’s main songwriter and arranger – who refuses to change his musical stripes and feeds off of an indescribable energetic kick from his extended musical family.

Lalah Hathaway’s Starry Starry Homecoming Night in L.A.

Lalah Hathaway/Eric Roberson
Club Nokia
April 6, 2012

Concert Review by A. Scott Galloway

On a Full Moon Friday in L.A., Lalah Hathaway adorned the night with stars…

Taking the stage in a lovely flowing wrap dress with a plunging neckline dripping in luscious aqua marine, Lalah opened her set with two recent mid-tempo groove tunes that set the mood as casual, comfy and feel-good with “If You Want To” and “Breathe.”  This was followed by the ceremonial removal of her “two song shoes” and giving herself over to the more sensual groove of “Small of My Back,” communicating more clearly with subtly bewitching undulations in front of her microphone (like a real singer should) than any fill-in-the-blank pop tart putting themselves through 100 rep calisthenics at 180 BPMs. To continue, please click “MORE”!

L.A.’s RnB Live Club; Serving up “A Night to Remember” Every Wednesday of the Week.”

Amerie Headlines Night of Amazing Amateur Talents at RnB Live”
An Event Evaluation by A. Scott Galloway

There is something to be said for doing something a long time and getting it right. That is the powerful sense I felt last Wednesday night at Greg & Felipe’s weekly “RnB Live Hollywood” residency in North Hollywood at the space known as Romanov Restaurant Lounge (12229 Ventura Blvd.).

To be perfectly honest, I came just to catch up with singing star Amerie. To continue, please click “MORE”!

J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise | After This

J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise - After This
 
J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise
After This
(Light/E-One)
By Peggy Oliver
 
When I first stepped foot in church during the early sixties, my attention focused on the precious, riveting harmonies of the choir. It did not matter if the choir embodied a hymn, spiritual or the Psalms, this part of the weekly church service was my absolute favorite moment. As I started taking my relationship with Christ more seriously, choir ministries took on a slightly different meaning, equivocating more than just some pretty voices that have sheer technical skill.

Carmen Lundy | Changes

?????
 
Carmen Lundy
Changes
(Afrasia)
 
A Record Reflection by A. Scott Galloway
 
Singer/Songwriter Carmen Lundy’s twelfth album, Changes, is the kind of jazz vocal album that does more than entertain. It enhances your very existence. This is music that soothes your being, uplifts your spirit and quiets your mind – music you can use. It has a very strong Afrocentric foundation and an overflowing of warm musical sunshine to light your way. Ms. Lundy composed 8 of the 9 numbers herself, making for an album truly classifiable as “one from the heart.”

Greg Adams | East Bay Soul 2.0

Greg Adams - East Bay Soul 2.0
 
Greg Adams | East Bay Soul 2.0
(Greg Adams Music)
By George Strand
 
While much of today’s contemporary/smooth jazz music is dominated by certain brass and wind instruments [sax, flute, trombone (Shorty), etc.], we as aficionados in appreciation of the art should never squeeze out the space still made available for the grace of the trumpet – a very powerful horn in the brass family. Perhaps a good dose of the sound of the trumpet and Flugelhorn from Greg Adams, founding/long-time member of hit R&B band Tower of Power might do the trick.

Andrea Helms | Moving Forward

Andrea Helms
Moving Forward (EP)
(Music World Music)

Review by Peggy Oliver

 
When it comes to all those TV talent competitions where the winner is judged by America, being a runner-up, third placed or even lower does not constitute a death sentence in one’s career future.  Most persons are aware by now that countless “American Idol” non-winners have carved prolific, if not at least steady, recording and concert platforms (i.e. Jennifer Hudson, Elliott Yamin).  Representing the show “Sunday Best” – the gospel alternative to “Idol” – praise and worship leader Andrea Helms (the runner-up for Season Four to jazz/gospel stylist Amber Bullock) recently signed with Music World Music. To continue, please click “MORE”!

Ruben Studdard | Letters from Birmingham

ruben-studdard-letters-from-birmingham
 
Ruben Studdard
Letters from Birmingham
(Shanachie)
By Peggy Oliver
 
Who might have thought that Martin Luther King, Jr.’s passionate open “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” would have generated a title for an R&B-fueled concept album? While Ruben Studdard was planning his next recording project, a thought dawned on him during a trip to Atlanta as he observed a display of King, Jr.

Hide