Patti Austin | Sound Advice
By Peggy Oliver
Patti Austin’s extraordinary voice is a songwriter’s sweetest dream. Since she bowed on the stage at The Apollo Theater at age four with her godmother Dinah Washington, Austin was highly destined to be a songwriter’s best friend. Her maturity as a vocalist grew as a teenager touring with the legendary Harry Belafonte.
Album Review: Lillo Thomas | Come And Get It by Randy Mahon Brooklyn, NY native Lillo Thomas returns after a 23 year absence with a poignant and soulful project, “Come And Get It”. Released independently on the Fitingo Records imprint, this 13 track CD picks up where Lillo left off …
Wendy Moten | Tis The Season
By Peggy Oliver
Wendy Moten’s beautifully timed and gorgeously tuned voice has graced the music industry for almost two decades, even if her solo recording exposure was somewhat unappreciated. No matter what the genre, her instrument was well utilized with international superstars, both in the studio and in concert. From Michael Bolton, to Faith Hill & Tim McGraw and Julio Iglesias, Moten was a much in-demand backing and featured vocalist.
Avant | The Letter
By Brent Faulkner
Avant comes from an older school of R&B singers – much in the vein of R. Kelly – who are the ‘consummate lover men.’ Avant has never truly broken from the shadow of Kelly, probably not aided by the constant comparisons. The problem also stems from the fact that Avant bowed years after Kelly had already long been established, making the singer play a game of ‘catch up,’ which truly was not fair given his vocal abilities.
Charlie Wilson | Just Charlie
By Brent Faulkner
Charlie Wilson is one of few classic R&B stars who still has a sense of ‘relevance’ in an R&B market dominated by ‘trendiness’ and ‘gimmickry.’ Wilson is the consummate talent who could make even the weakest material sound nothing less than ‘magnificent.’
Chrisette Michele | Let Freedom Reign
By Brent Faulkner
On her third effort, Let Freedom Reign, R&B singer Chrisette Michele alters her formula slightly, but for the most part she simply makes another consistent R&B album that feels notches above the gimmickry that has come to dominate more ‘contemporary’ R&B.
Ronald Isley | Mr. I
by Peggy Oliver
When I was asked to review Mr. I from Ron Isley, how could I pass up an opportunity to spend a few minutes talking about an already soulful legend in many people’s minds. I also happened to witness Mr. Ronald Isley being serenaded at the 2010 Soul Train Music Awards for his contributions to the urban music community.
El DeBarge | Second Chance
By Brent Faulkner
Sixteen years away is like an ‘eternity’ in the music industry (maybe even two). With an industry even more cutthroat and conniving than before, the standard one or two year hiatus artists take in between LPs turns out sometimes to be too long as a ‘new trend’ in music develops extremely quickly. The main problem is the ‘staying power’ that newer artists have – it seems more limited than the veterans.
Freddie Jackson | For You
by Brent Faulkner
Freddie Jackson exemplifies the great, “old-school” R&B/soul singer. Jackson comes from a time (the 1980s) when the adult contemporary R&B style (“grown-folks R&B”) was dominant. The sound from that era could be characterized as ‘hushed’ and ‘sensual.’
Amber Ojeda | Here I Am
By Brent Faulkner
There is nothing like hearing a promising new singer who can be defined as ‘genre-bending’ by nature. Upstart Amber Ojeda exemplifies the title of ‘genre-bender’ with her strong first effort, Here I Am, a nine song set that is consistent from start to finish.