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Soul Music, Page 8

Kandace Springs Forward Like a Gazelle For The Long Run

Kandace Springs
Hotel Café’ (Hollywood)
Concert Reflections and Photographs by A. Scott Galloway
 
With no verbal introduction but instead a cool driving bass/drums groove that lures her to the stage like a lovely moth to a flame, singer/songwriter/keyboardist Kandace Springs stepped into the light a tall, confident and dazzling drink of something sparkling. Flashing a smile and striking a playful diva pose, she immediately sat down to her keyboard, politely introduces herself and where she’s from (Nashville, Tennessee), then commenced to getting’ busy, speaking of pending revolutions and the masses being far from ready.
 
“Why it gotta be like that, why it gotta be / Why it gotta be like that / Some dreams will live and some will die…”
 
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Bernie Worrell / Bill Laswell / Karsh Kale | Funkcronomic

Bernie Worrell Bill Laswell Karsh Kale - Funkcronomic - MODtechnologies - smaller
 
Bernie Worrell / Bill Laswell / Karsh Kale
Funkcronomic
Musical Reflection by A. Scott Galloway
 
Keyboard genius Bernie Worrell a.k.a. “Wizard of Woo,” drops us off at the launching pad of his next phase with a parting gift of groove that – in a just and funky world – will become the Ride On soundtrack of The Summer of 16. Hangin’ with old crony bassist/producer Bill Laswell and drummer Karsh Kale, Worrell came up with a 5-song EP of lean, mean Caddy cruisin’ joints guaranteed to relax your mind.

Near-Perfect Playboy Jazz Festival Sunday Covers The Full Spectrum

38th Playboy Jazz Festival
Hollywood Bowl
Sunday June 12, 2016
Festival Reflections by A. Scott Galloway
 
Day 2 of the 38th “Playboy Jazz Festival” at the Hollywood Bowl was by far the more star-studded and highly anticipated of the weekend. Not only that, the cross section of artists provided a near-perfect representation of all the music that appropriately falls under the cornucopia of the art form – from New Orleans roots, Blues and Big Band to Latin, Funk-Rock, Contemporary and Ancient-Future takes.
 
Photo 1 - George Lopez (1)
George Lopez (Photo: Matthew Imaging)

Oya Serves Up Sizzling Salute To Prince

Oya Thomas “Tribute to Prince”
Skyloft (Laguna Beach)
Saturday May 28, 2016
Concert reflections and photographs by A. Scott Galloway
 
Vocalist Oya Thomas caught my attention a couple of years back with the beautiful Sunday morning song “Peace in the Valley” from her CD The Spirit of Oya. So I was stunned to receive an email invitation to a Saturday night show she was fronting in memory of Prince on Memorial Day. I knew she could sing and that she was also very nice on the eyes so when a last minute cancellation made it possible for me to see this show, I made that move.
 
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English Singer Nao Unveils Mysterious Enigmatic Stage Presence In L.A.

Nao
The Roxy – West Hollywood, CA
Friday May 13, 2016
Concert Reflections by A. Scott Galloway
Photos by Michael K. Adams
 
Nao at The Roxy - May 13, 2016 - by Michael K Adams 2
 
Obscured in red light, Nao sings in a cockney neo soul alto over sinewy pulsing grooves and speaks with gracefully gesturing limbs as if languid and outstretched underwater. Though the music has a techno vibe, her backing is a power trio of guitar, bass (doubling on occasional synth) and way off in the corner stage left, drums – delivering Grand Funk bottom as she falls in with the guitarist parroting snaky unorthodox lines.

Gregory Porter | Take Me To The Alley

Gregory Porter - Smaller - Take Me To The Alley
 
Gregory Porter
Take Me To The Alley
(Blue Note)
Record Reflections by A. Scott Galloway
 
Singer-Songwriter Gregory Porter has settled into a cozy, pleasantly ambiguous style of musical storytelling that is as poetic, comforting and life affirming as it is spiritual and jazzily spirited. Supported by his outstanding band and special guests Lalah Hathaway and KEM, Porter’s fourth offering, Take Me To The Alley, brims with grown folks reflections and perspectives on life and love, delivered by a man who is unquestionably this eras answer to Bill Withers and Terry Callier.

Silk | Quiet Storm

Silk - Quiet Storm
 
Silk | Quiet Storm
Shanachie Records
by Peggy Oliver
 
The R&B male vocal bands such as Jodeci, Dru Hill, Mint Condition and many more were dominating the charts in the nineties, emphatically reminding the ladies that the infatuation, romance and relationships were in huge supply. One of R&B’s solo crooners in that decade, Keith Sweat, discovered a group who stood toe-to toe with the aforementioned, whose harmonies absolutely aligned with their namesake.

Jaheim | Struggle Love

Jaheim - Struggle Love
 
Jaheim | Struggle Love
by Peggy Oliver
 
In the quest for artistic integrity of the highest degree, the absolute hit makers and music shakers usually develop a trademark body of work that fans can easily identify with. Since the day he handed a demo tape to producer Kay Gee (Naughty by Nature) at age seventeen, Jaheim already was prepared to wear his raw feelings on both sleeves, whether it’s the grown and sexy jams to striving for maturity in a relationship.

Kenny Lattimore LIVE in Concert at Jazz Alley in Seattle, WA | March 2nd, 2016

Kenny Lattimore - 2016
 
Kenny Lattimore LIVE in Concert
Jazz Alley in Seattle, Washington, March 2, 2016
 
Jazz Alley is a long-time Seattle, WA establishment, who have prided themselves in welcoming a diversified and expanding family of vocalists and musicians from jazz, world music and the contemporary urban market. Many of those artists have made the rounds back to the Alley on several occasions include Kenny Lattimore, who burst onto the scene in the nineties with other smooth soul-sters…

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