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Chris Botti Live in Lowell Auditorium, MA | Concert Review by Susan Mutharia

Concert Review: Chris Botti in Lowell Auditorium, MA
By Susan Mutharia

It often surprises me that one can reside in a certain state yet be unaware of all the hidden gems it has to offer. The Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Massachusetts is one of those for me. It is in this historic monument that I was fortunate to see the very talented, very successful and very very handsome jazz artist Chris Botti (pronounced as boat-tee).The audience was a great mix – some were new to the multiple award winning artist and others like me, were repeat offenders who require his live rehabilitation at least once every year. All in all, when the host introduced the artist, we were all anxious to see him kiss the reed of his trumpet, and when he did, every breath was ‘hallelujah’. To continue, please click “MORE”!

Larry Carlton Plays The Sound of Philadelphia: A Tribute to Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff

Album Review: Larry Carlton
Plays the Sounds of Philadelphia: A Tribute to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff
By Brian Soergel

Legendary guitarist Larry Carlton can play whatever he wants now, and boy is he taking advantage of it. Since breaking free of record labels and creating his own, Carlton has released one CD that was a reworking of the best of his solo work. It was modern and fresh. He also offered a CD with Japanese guitarist Tak Matsumoto, which was good enough to win a Grammy recently. To continue, please click “MORE”!

Disney Jazz, Vol. 1 | Everybody Wants To Be A Cat

Disney Jazz, Vol. 1 | Everybody Wants To Be A Cat
by Brent Faulkner

Disney Jazz, Vol. 1-Everybody Wants To Be a Cat is exactly how the first
portion of the title reads – jazz interpretations of some timeless
Disney gems. Compilation efforts with various artists often suffer from
not being cohesively strong, however this exceptionally strong and
creative venture easily ‘bucks’ any low expectations for the compilation
album. With no outright misses to speak of, Disney Jazz, Vol. 1 proves
to be a star-studded and splendid listen. To continue, please click “MORE”!

Syreeta Thompson | In His Presence

Album Review: Syreeta Thompson | In His Presence
By Peggy Oliver

In
many gospel music circles, she is known as the Trumpet Lady. But there
is so much more to this gifted musician and teacher. Syreeta Thompson
has ministered alongside Pastor Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship
Choir and played with several jazz icons like Tito Puente and Wynton
Marsalis, one of her treasured mentors. And she has highly invested many
years since the age of twelve to perfect her musical discipline and
teach others along the way. After completing a Bachelor’s at Rutgers
University, Syreeta then furthered her talents with a Masters in jazz
and film scoring at New York University. Now an educator in her own
right, the Chicago native is presently the Department Chair at the
Cicely Tyson School for Fine Arts in East Orange, New Jersey, and has
served on the Gospel Music Workshop America Workshop (GMWA) faculty. She
is also on a growing list of highly respected and innovative female
jazz figures including Esperanza Spaulding and Regina Carter. While
growing up playing in church, Syreeta learned about how jazz and gospel
were fueled by musical passion, despite their structural differences.
But despite her consummate musicianship and her role as an educator,
Syreeta never has forsaken her faith in the process. Gabriel’s Praise
was a more than appropriate title for her 2004 debut release. This
praise and worship extravaganza from jazz to hip-hop showcased the
trumpeter/singer/songwriter’s extensive musicality and her pure joy in
honoring Jesus Christ with her voice. Several years have passed for this
current New York resident since Gabriel’s Praise but the Trumpet Lady returns back to her hometown for a live setting at Destiny Worship Center for In His Presence. To continue, please click “MORE”!

The 37th State Compilation | Various Artists

Album Review: The 37th State Compilation
by Brent Faulkner

Listen to “The 37th State” Compilation on our R&B/Soul Page by clicking here!

The 37th State Compilation is a contemporary Afrobeat album that
straddles elements of funk, hip-hop, and R&B. Incorporating a modern
bag of tricks production-wise alongside African percussion sounds and
superbly orchestrated horns, the music is the highlight of this effort.
While the grooves are always infectious and “in the pocket,” sometimes
overindulgence in length and ‘minimalist’ scope of The 37th State
Compilation takes away from it ever so slightly. Overall, the
compilation is one that is well produced and mixed, though not always
incredibly distinct in its material. It may be the fact that with two
separate discs (disc one is entitled ‘Departures’ while disc two, mostly
a remix disc, is entitled ‘Arrivals’), but it is a nice cultural
contribution with African heritage at its forefront if nothing more. To continue, please click “MORE”!

MichauX | What’s Going On…Still

MichauX – What’s Going On…Still
By Peggy Oliver

MichauX is
a thinking man’s musician; whether writing about his strong faith in
God or sharing his convictions about what is happening in the world
around us. And the singer/songwriter’s constant involvement in the
community, especially interacting with at risk youth and ex-offenders,
would justify those concerns in his lyrics. Just MichauX
was his introduction as a soul independent artist to be on the look out
for. The media raved about this 2004 project on his MX Music moniker, a
contemporary gospel tour-de-force drenched in old-fashioned soul funk,
jazz and hip-hop. The Austin, Texas resident’s sweet tenor draws
memories of The Isley Brothers and Marvin (Gaye) that has reeled in an
international listening audience from the Netherlands to the U.K. and
has been showcased on throughout his home state and on the Showtime at
the Apollo stage. To continue, Please click “MORE”!

Nigel Lewis & Sound Mind | Light Up The Darkness

Nigel Lewis & Sound Mind | Light Up the Darkness

By Peggy Oliver


When
Nigel Lewis first made major noise on the music scene, he was dubbed
the “party vocalist of the year” in his native Trinidad and Tobago for
his contributions to the southern Caribbean’s popular ragga soca genre –
where traditional soca beats clashes with DJ-flavored dancehall reggae.
Though Lewis always felt a deep joy witnessing his audiences fully
embracing the music, his lyrical skills were just as convicting. From
writing a song that influenced changes in his hometown of Togo’s poverty
issues to spreading the gospel of Christ, Lewis has always taken his
gift seriously. His skills and talent were inspired by his musically
inclined parents, and the power of music became his own solace dealing
with those political hardships growing up. Through his childhood years,
Lewis developed his craft without formal training.  For those who thrive
upon the Caribbean Carnival festive spirit, The Chronicles of Nigel Lewis captures his ‘Road March King’ days. To continue, Please click “MORE”!

Gabbie McGee | Mississippi’s Daughter

Album Review: Gabbie McGhee | Mississippi’s Daughter
By Susan Mutharia

I describe a gifted singer as an artist who could simply hum the alphabet and manage to get us enchanted. I describe a gifted singer as an artist whose sound radiates energy in a room without their physical presence. I describe a gifted singer as an artist whom, with much wisdom, tells stories in their song and leaves us begging for more just like a child. New to my list of gifted artist is Gabbie McGee.

Exactly who is Gabbie McGee? As she describes herself, she is Mississippi’s daughter, a flower that grew from the ashes of Mississippi. Labeling her music with one genre would be trying to contain her in a box which I imagine would be suffocating. Her music crosses every genre from jazz to soul, gospel to even a little bit edgy rock. That’s what makes her new album Mississippi’s Daughter brilliant! To continue, please click “MORE”!

Mini Concert Review of Ain’t Misbehavin’ at Dimitrious’ Jazz Alley, Seattle WA – January 11, 2011

Mini Concert Review of Ain’t Misbehavin’ at Dimitrious’ Jazz Alley, Seattle WA – January 11, 2011
By Peggy Oliver

 
When
it gets down to taking an authentic musical tour of Harlem,
composer/musician/entertainer Fats Waller would highly qualify as the
tour guide. His compositions highlighted the ragtime/stride piano era
during the twenties, and his popularity extended overseas to Europe.
Whenever he played the organ and piano, there was an undeniable pure joy
that resonated in his soul. Whether it was a comedic song, melancholy
blues or Broadway, Waller’s music touched many persons through his all
too brief lifetime (he died before age forty). But what a legacy that
the much-decorated New York native left with a testimonial revue
entitled Ain’t Misbehavin’ (named after one of Waller’s smash hits), that first graced the Broadway stage in 1978 and won several Tony Awards. To continue, Please click “MORE”!

The Rance Allen Group | The Live Experience II

The Rance Allen Group | The Live Experience II
By Peggy Oliver
(Coming Jan. 25th, 2011)

 
There
are only a few singers and vocal groups who have strongly impacted
gospel music for over four decades. Though raised by strict
grandparents, Rance and his brothers were encouraged to experiment with
different genres while playing gospel. After releasing an independent
single in 1969 entitled “Let’s Get Together & Love” and winning a
talent contest in Detroit, Michigan, Rance, Steve and Tom Allen began
their groundbreaking journey. The Rance Allen Group (RAG) started with a
bang on the legendary soul company Stax Records under the Gospel Truth custom label. Their appearance in the 1972 documentary film Wattstax was an opportunity for a gospel group to share the stage with artists on Stax
Records roster in a Woodstock-type format.   Though there have been
some bumpy roads along the way which is the norm for the music industry,
the Allen brothers have not looked back since. To continue, Please click “MORE”!

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