Maya Angelou | Caged Bird Songs
by Peggy Oliver
Unquestionably, Maya Angelou stands as one of the most influential poets for the human race. Graced with an extraordinary touch that could gently sway one minute and fiercely attack the next, Angelou (who passed in late May of 2014) championed for urban social injustices and other pressing issues with her mighty pen.
D’Angelo and The Vanguard | Black Messiah
By Peggy Oliver
It’s been awhile – maybe a little longer than awhile. Alright, how about summing up D’Angelo’s fifteen-year return to the recording fold by quoting from L.L. Cool J’s larger than life rap classic, “Don’t call it a comeback.” Yet, despite a fourteen years recording absence since D’Angelo waxed Voodoo in 2000, do not mistake the fact that his career path falls more into the sabbatical mode, as he took a break for five years between the aforementioned sessions of his major commercial successes, his 1995 introduction, Brown Sugar (including the smash title track and “Lady”) and Voodoo (“Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”).
Dionne Warwick | Feels So Good (Bright Music Records)
by Brent Faulkner
Once a musician has become a music icon and has veteran music status, that respective musician’s legacy has been cemented forever. For Dionne Warwick, her stature as a preeminent pop/soul icon has long been secured and her latest album Feels So Good does little to alter that.
Maysa | A Very Maysa Christmas
Shanachie
by Brent Faulkner
An adjective that best describes Baltimore singer/songwriter Maysa (Leak) is versatility. Incredibly gifted possessing nothing short of a beautiful, angelic-sounding instrument, Maysa is a magnificent musician. A mix of soul, jazz, and R&B, Maysa offers a “little bit of this and a little bit of that.” Classically trained sporting a classical performance degree from Morgan State University, Maysa is definitely the real-deal.
Kandace Springs | Kandace Springs EP
Blue Note Records
by Brent Faulkner
From the first time the listener hears the music of Kandace Springs, there’s something immediately special. The singer/songwriter has given us a glowing first impression upon a numerous people, including Prince. If that isn’t enough to awe itself, Spring’s EP Kandace Springs EP should definitely do the trick and provide the ear with something truly alluring.
Al Jarreau – My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke
(Concord Records)
Album reflection by A. Scott Galloway
Al Jarreau’s tribute to George Duke, his longtime friend and one-time partner on the jazz club stages of San Francisco, has been one of 2014’s most anticipated CDs. The eclectic project – with three sets of producers – works best when Cousin Al is pushing his creative envelope or indisputably touched with pure raw sentimentality.
Rajdulari | Journey of a Woman
By Peggy Oliver
Through the ever increasing social media tools, musicians are masterminding their Facebook page and hash tagging like crazy towards their fans and music industry insiders about their latest achievements in their career. When a relatively unknown artist is already tweeting about their road to the Grammy Awards, this could be someone with a justified confidence or they are stroking their ego a bit more then they should.
Tamar Braxton | Winter Loversland
Epic Records
by Darnell Meyers-Johnson
Is Tamar Braxton finally winning at this game of music? On the surface it would seem so. Nearly a year ago her single “Love And War” was released and by August 2013, it sold over one million copies. The September release of her album of the same name has already generated three official singles, as well as the recent release of the video for one of the project’s weaker tracks (but one of Tamar’s favorites) “Hot Sugar”.
Joe | DoubleBack: Evolution of R&B
Massenburg Media
By Brent Faulkner
Like many of his colleagues, Joe Thomas (simply known as Joe) moved from
a major to an independent label. Although Joe released four albums via
Kedar between 2008 and 2011, the musician’s best known work resides
during his Jive Records days, where hits like “Stutter” and “I Wanna
Know” took radio by storm and propelled the singer’s career.
Booker T & Friends L.A. Show is Like A “See Saw”
by A. Scott Galloway
Memphis-born Rhythm & Blues legend Booker T. Jones held court with a Tuesday June 25th album release concert/videotaping at the El Rey Theater in Mid-Wilshire Los Angeles to coincide with the in-store date of his new album, Sound The Alarm, which marks his return to the latest incarnation of Stax Records (via Concord). Co-produced by Jones with soul sons The Avila Brothers, the 12-song CD hiply bridges both retro and contemporary musical directions plus features guests on all but two selections. That treatment was also given to the concert – a show that much like the Don Covay/Steve Cropper song made famous by Aretha, was like a “See Saw” in terms of what worked and what did not work.
