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Soul Music, Page 9

Regina Belle | The Day Life Began

Regina Belle - The Day Life Began
 
Regina Belle | The Day Life Began
Shanachie Records
by Peggy Oliver
 
If there were an artist who is living out their life purpose on and off the stage, Regina Belle has experienced a great deal with style and grace. Though she has balanced her role as a wife, mother and grandmother, recently majored in Africana studies and survived brain surgery just a few years ago, she has managed an impressive recording career of several top 50 R&B albums and earning a Grammy for her stirring duet with Peabo Bryson, “A Whole New World” from Disney’s Aladdin.

Jill Scott’s Absence From “Back Together” Video Opens Portal For Inspiring Interpretive Dance

Jill Scott – Back Together
(Blues Babe/Atlantic)
 
Jill Scott - Back Together video 1
 
Director: Alan Ferguson
 
A Video Reflection by A. Scott Galloway
 
At the introduction of this video for “Back Together,” Jill Scott’s third single from her album Woman, lead dancer Donna Michelle Vaughn (“The Lion King”) does something many of us have either done or felt like doing: have a mini nervous breakdown right out in public due to overwhelming frustration and grief over everything from chasing goals, paying bills and finding love to social issues of racism, injustice and street violence.

Angie Stone | Dream

Angie Stone - Dream
 
Angie Stone | Dream
Shanachie Records
by Brent Faulkner
 
Several names come to mind when the word neo-soul is mentioned. The throwback soul movement was dominant in the late 90s and early 00s before fizzling. While it never died completely, after a while, it cooled off. Returning to the initial point, one of the names uttered when neo-soul is uttered is Angie Stone, a proponent of the movement.

Mint Condition | Healing Season

Mint_healingseason
 
Mint Condition | Healing Season
Mint Condition Music, LLC
by Peggy Oliver
 
At one time or another, those artists who have logged in many studio hours will eventually find their way to record their perspective on what Christmas hymns or popular tunes should sound and feel like. I thoroughly appreciate when an artist refuses in leaning too far to the left or right for the sake of holiday cheer,…

Tisha Campbell-Martin | “Steel Here”

TishaCampbellMartin-SteelHere
 
Tisha Campbell-Martin – “Steel Here”
song & video musings by A. Scott Galloway
 
Among the most powerful songs written are those that lay bare truths as learned from the artist and relayed so that they may be recognized and/or learned from by others. The ultimate purpose of a music video, beyond advertising and entertainment, is to further illuminate and/or artistically illustrate the meaning of a song. In the case of singer/actress/dancer Tisha Campbell-Martin’s “Steel Here,” the video colorfully peels back the layers of the lyrics to make the song more clearly understood.

Terri Lyne Carrington | The Mosaic Project: Love and Soul

Mosaic_Project_LOVE_And_SOUL
 
Terri Lyne Carrington | The Mosaic Project: Love and Soul
Concord Records
by Peggy Oliver
 
Music was at Terri Lyne Carrington’s beckoned call throughout her childhood. Her father was president of the Boston Jazz Society and her grandfather Matt Carrington presented a drum set to his grandchild at age seven. The private lessons that followed have taken her through many thrilling experiences since playing alongside trumpeter Clark Terry at eleven years old.

Kheyra | Take Flight

Kheyra - Take Flight
 
Kheyra | Take Flight
by Brent Faulkner
 
It was a sad day when the neo-soul movement died… hold up – did it ever really die? Nope! While neo-soul has faded from being a propelling force in contemporary R&B circles, those dedicated to style continue to feature it as part of their music. R&B newcomer Kheyra is one of those who’s music not only embraces contemporary R&B styles, but also keeps neo-soul alive and kicking!

Janet + Summer = Strawberry Smash (“No Sleeep” Single Review)

Janet-Jackson-2015 (1)
 
Janet Jackson – “No Sleeep”
Single Review
by A. Scott Galloway
 
Janet’s “No Sleeep,” the lead single from a forthcoming project potentially to be titled Conversations in a Café, is a sensual, laid back, easy-on-the-ears groove – something she does very well and that her writing/production partners Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis make to seem effortless. It’s a smooth summer song (think “…And On and On..,” “That’s The Way Love Goes”) and Jam & Lewis did an excellent job of creating an aural space for Janet’s singular sound.

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