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R&B Music, Page 19

Les Nubians | Nu Revolution

Les Nubians - Nu Revolution
 
Les Nubians | Nu Revolution
By Peggy Oliver
 
Sometimes in the grand scheme of music, there are history lessons that are taught. Born of a French father and Cameroonian mother, the sisters spent time -between their birthplace of Paris, France, the war-torn Chad, Africa – where their father volunteered for the Red Cross – and Bordeaux, France. When Helene moved away at age nineteen, Celia was battling loneliness but remained passionate about music, especially when it came to jazz.

Mint Condition | 7…

Mint Condition - 7
 
Mint Condition | 7…
Shanachie Records
by Brent Faulkner
 
R&B group Mint Condition’s seventh studio LP, entitled 7… marks their first release since 2008’s E-Life. On their smartly conceived seventh full-length, Mint Condition sounds just as vocally capable as they did back in their heyday – the glory days of ‘new-jack swing’ and a time where adult contemporary-laden R&B thrived.

Boney James | Contact

Boney James - Contact
 
Boney James | Contact
By Brian Soergel
 
Saxophonist Boney James, one of the most consistently appealing players in contemporary jazz, returns with his first CD of all-new music since 2006’s Shine. That was his debut with Concord, and he also released a Christmas CD and covers project with four original songs. James is now with a new record label, Verve-Forecast.

Jennifer Hudson | I Remember Me

Jennifer Hudson - I Remember Me
 
Jennifer Hudson | I Remember Me
by Brent Faulkner
 
Jennifer Hudson was initially remembered for her premature departure from American Idol Season three. After her premature departure, her career only ‘looked up.’ Her first major role playing Effie White in the film adaptation of Dreamgirls won Hudson both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Marsha Ambrosius | Late Nights & Early Mornings

Marsha Ambrosius - Late Nights & Early Mornings
 
Marsha Ambrosius | Late Nights & Early Mornings
By Peggy Oliver
 
I can not exactly determine if coincidence played a role in The Floacist AKA Natalie Stewart and Marsha Ambrosius releasing their debut projects just a few months apart. But whatever the reason, the timing for these gifted ladies to make noise on the charts was a stroke of genius. Their fans that were familiar with these ladies when they teamed as Floetry were more than ready to experience their talent in a solo spotlight.

Sharon Musgrave | Outflow

Sharon Musgrave - Outflow
 
Sharon Musgrave | Outflow
By Peggy Oliver
 
“Fascinating Rhythm,” not to be mistaken with the George Gershwin jazz standard from the twenties, was a funky diet of soul, jazz and reggae flavors provided by dance producer extraordinaire William Orbit. The voice who graced the U.K. top ten dance hit from 1990 was Sharon Musgrave. After touring to support the Orbit’s Bass-O-Matic project, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Bass and the hit single “Fascinating Rhythm,” the England born, Canadian native found another outlet to demonstrate her earthy vocal tones to the jazz world with Julian Joseph.

Ginuwine | Elgin

Ginuwine - Elgin
 
Ginuwine | Elgin
By Susan Mutharia
 
In the music industry we have had timeless classics and one hit wonders, legendary artists and the unremarkable, trendsetters and followers. Every decade has ushered innovative fashion statements, challenging dance moves and even a new meaning to certain words. 1996 was no different. It was in that year that Ginuwine unleashed the track Pony.

Colie Williams | Light Up The Darkness

Collie Williams
 
Colie Williams – Light Up the Darkness
By Peggy Oliver
 
Neo-soul is one of those categories that sometimes is hard to figure out or dissect. But it is encouraging knowing there are many urban vocalists today who are embracing the past without sounding too outdated. From the veterans Jill Scott to the recent voices Colie Williams, old-fashioned smooth soul with a fierce attitude is more alive and well than ever.

Djib Stanford | Life And Music

DJIB Stanford - Life and Music
 
DJIB Stanford | Life and Music
By Susan Mutharia
 
If I could sum it up, Life and Music by Djib Stanford is about the roller coaster of life. There are several emotions when traveling through the tracks: ambition and determination while rising to the top, the struggle to forgive that’s a plunge to the spirit and sweet serenity while on treading on stable ground. The 14-track album is a fusion of hip-hop, soul, jazz and electronic music.

DW3 | On The Floor

DW3 - on the floor
 
DW3 | On The Floor
by Brent Faulkner
 
DW3’s On the Floor represents a ‘rarity’ in the R&B world – a ‘soulful’ album as opposed to an effort filled with electronic gimmicks and a lack of substance. On this effort, the clear goal of the group is to celebrate and keep alive a tradition of R&B that is respectable and noteworthy.

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