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Album Review: Marcus Johnson | Flo Chill – Volume 2: Juris

Listen to song samples from “Flo Chill, Vol. 2: Juris”, exclusively from Amazon, on our Jazz page by clicking here!!

Contemporary jazz Renaissance man Marcus Johnson is not content to merely own a record label. He’s speaks at music conferences, is an avid jazz and African-American historian, and supports his favorite political causes with musical benefits. He’s released straight-ahead jazz projects. Smooth-jazz CDs. Earlier this year, he stepped out of the box with a genre-defying album marrying jazz and a few of his rock favorites – including tunes from Nirvana and Steve Miller. To Continue, Please click “MORE”!

Kellylee Evans | Nina

Vocalist Kellylee Evans keeps the vocal jazz tradition alive on her
solid third effort, Nina. The album is entitled ‘Nina’ as it is a
tribute album to legendary vocalist and pianist Nina Simone, considered
to be one of the greatest singers of all time. According to the bio on
her website (
http://www.kellyleeevans.com),
Nina was recorded in France in 2009 during a two-day span for French
label Plus Loin Music. While Evans covers classics sung by her ‘idol,’
she also allows herself to stray from ‘tried and true’ arrangements,
which allows the audience to connect with Evans’ own personality as an
artist. Finely constructed all-in-all, there is very little to quibble
about Nina.

Eric Benét, Lost in Time

(Advance Review – Album to be released Nov. 30th, 2010)

Eric Benét is one of many R&B artists who deserve wider recognition
for their talents than they actually receive. Obviously, wider
recognition in the eyes of these artist are further expanded sales of
their respective albums, meaning that they have literally ‘reached out’
to more people than before. Benét’s former effort, Love & Life
wasn’t quite a commercial breakthrough (though it should have been), but
it did find the singer achieving a heightened profile, thanks to hit
single “You’re the Only One.” With the even stronger effort Lost In Time
led by valedictory single “Sometimes I Cry,” Benét strives his hardest
for his beautiful tenor vocals to be heard and recognized with
widespread appeal.

For Colored Girls | Motion Picture Soundtrack

The album For Colored Girls from Tyler Perry’s adaptation For Colored Girls is exactly what you can expect – soulful with a great group of artists contributing to the album – just like the cast of the movie. For Colored Girls the movie is currently playing in a theatre near you.

Ne-Yo | Libra Scale

Ne-Yo (Shaffer Smith) is easily one of R&B’s best young artists of
the day. Now four albums in (all polished and exceptional), Ne-Yo is
easily treated more like a ‘veteran’ of the business as opposed to an
amateur trying to build his way up. Ne-Yo has ‘the goods’ to back up
his ‘veteran’ status with vocals that can be described as sensual, silky
smooth, and heavily influenced by the late, great Michael Jackson. On
Libra Scale, the Michael Jackson comparisons may be the most deserved of
any of Ne-Yo’s efforts as vocally, Ne-Yo sounds better than ever. And
face it, with this album mixing the best of contemporary R&B,
traditional R&B and pop coupled with his ever-evolving tenor, how
could Ne-Yo not sound like MJ, the ultimate crossover artist?

Abby Dobson : Sleeping Beauty: You Are The One You Have Been Waiting On – Volumood One

The sleeping beauty has finally awakened. Like I, many of you may never have heard of her until now. Judging from her new album Sleeping Beauty: You Are The One You Have Been Waiting On – Volumood One, the singing beauty Abby Dobson will be resonating in our homes for a long time. She has an astounding voice, great lyrics and enough talent to guarantee that she will not be a one hit wonder.