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The Stanley Clarke Band | Up

Stanley Clarke Band - Up
 
The Stanley Clarke Band | Up
Mack Avenue Records
By Peggy Oliver
 
(Advance Review | CD to be released on Sept. 30th, 2014)
 
The more a musician sustains a career with a level of shear excellence, the bigger the increase of impressive musical colleagues at one’s disposal. At this point in his illustrious career, Stanley Clarke can thoroughly enjoy the fruits of his labor. In his association with jazz fusion pioneers Return to Forever and the rock fusion trio Animal Logic (though only for two albums), film and television soundtrack contributions (Soul Food, Romeo Must Die, i.e.) and collaborations with rock, pop, jazz and R&B’s elite, including George Duke, Clarke remains firm to his high integral artistry who has managed to balance the mainstream market in his forty-plus year journey.

The Walls Group | Fast Forward

The Walls Group-Fast Forward-Album Artwork
 
The Walls Group | Fast Forward
By Peggy Oliver
 
When it comes to family affairs, gospel music has witnessed a great share yesterday and today. From the longevity of The WInans and The Clark Sisters to families who have recently made strides, including Forever Jones, nominated for two Dove Awards in 2011 and sister duo Mary Mary, who have carried the millennium on all Contemporary Gospel avenue, the industry can add a young quartet in the mix.

Al Jarreau | My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke

Al Jarreau - My Old Friend George Duke
 
Al Jarreau – My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke
(Concord Records)
Album reflection by A. Scott Galloway
 
Al Jarreau’s tribute to George Duke, his longtime friend and one-time partner on the jazz club stages of San Francisco, has been one of 2014’s most anticipated CDs. The eclectic project – with three sets of producers – works best when Cousin Al is pushing his creative envelope or indisputably touched with pure raw sentimentality.

Janelle Monáe | The Electric Lady

Janelle Monáe - The Electric Lady 2014
 
Janelle Monáe | The Electric Lady
Bad Boy | Wondaland
by Brent Faulkner
 
It could be argued that popular music, particularly R&B is in an age that relies too heavily on conformity. Trendiness often has commercial aspirations in mind (aka money), but sometimes joining the bandwagon hurts creativity and originality in music. Janelle Monáe eschews being like everybody else – she doesn’t buy into conformity in the least.

EnVogue Rocks L.A. Like Never Before!

EnVogue – Saban Theatre (Beverly Hills) – May 2, 2014
Concert Review by A. Scott Galloway
 
`90s Soul-Pop sensations EnVogue showed L.A. that they have seasoned well into a first class legacy act capable of entertaining audiences with a broad but satisfying cornucopia of fare. Original members Cindy Herron-Braggs and Terry Ellis along with longtime member Rhona Bennett took the stage as a well-oiled and united front giving fans the kind of show most have never seen from the group because – in their heyday – they were too often part of multi-artist/festival lineups that put a cramp in their stage time. As headliners on Friday, May 2, at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills (formerly The Wilshire Theater), they took their sweet time and served their followers not just slices but the whole pie.
 
En Vogue Hi Res
 
EnVogue opened boldly with the catchy but obscure album cut groove “No No No (Can’t Come Back)” from their fourth CD, Masterpiece Theater, before launching into one of their biggest hits, “My Lovin’ (Never Gonna Get It)” – one of six of the group’s Billboard R&B chart-toppers.

Renee Dion & Jon Rogers | Moonlight

Renee Dion & Jon Rodgers - Moonlight
 
Renee Dion & Jon Rogers | Moonlight
By Peggy Oliver
 
On one of producer/beat crafter Jon Rogers’ mixtapes, (complex)ions: MAUVE’, he handed out major props to Renee Dion with a hearty, “keeping it live.” The feeling was apparently mutual as Dion hired Rogers to sonically guide her poetic soulful voice and to share head billing for her latest project, Moonlight. Though the behind the scenes teaching moments from Dion developed into a semi-rugged training ground for Rogers, who had never interacted with a vocalist, the end results on Moonlight capture Dion’s upgraded musical vision from her previous work.

Erica Campbell | Help

Erica Campbell - Help
 
Erica Campbell | Help
Entertainment One
by Peggy Oliver
 
When fans catch wind a member of their beloved duet or group recording a solo project, their natural tendency is to rev up the rumor mill about a potential breakup. But the realities between the industry demands and the demands weighing upon one’s personal lives, even within a time-tested act, are constantly taken into account. Now facing this scenario are the sister duo of Mary Mary, Tina and Erica Atkins-Campbell.

Dianne Reeves | Beautiful Life

Dianne Reeves - Beautiful Life
 
Dianne Reeves | Beautiful Life
Concord Music Group – 2014
by Peggy Oliver
 
Sometimes the element of surprise conceived by the creative minds of musicians remind me of the hook from an inspirational pop hit: “Everything is beautiful in its own way.”   Growing up versed in jazz but always willing to cross musical boundaries, Dianne Reeves completely invested in whatever genre she could adapt to her inimitable vocal style.

Sly5thAve | Sly5thAve Presents: Akuma

Sly5thAve - Akuma
 
Sly5thAve | Sly5thAve Presents: Akuma
Truth Revolution Records
by Brent Faulkner
 
Sly5thAve is no household name – yet that is. After listening to the jazz saxophonist’s debut album, Sly5thAve Presents: Akuma, Sly5thAve’s underrated status is on pace to change. An independent release courtesy of Truth Revolution Records, Sly5thAve recorded Akuma beginning in 2012, completing it in 2013. Not only did Sly5thAve (born Sylvester Uzoma Onyejiaka II) compose the 12 songs comprising Akuma, but he also funded the effort entirely – impressive.

James Fortune & FIYA | Live Through It

James Fortune & FIYA - Live Through It
 
James Fortune & F.I.Y.A. | Live Through It
Light Records
By Peggy Oliver
 
While music evangelists are driven by proudly proclaiming God’s goodness and dropping testimonials of being delivered through storms, they also face life’s brutal realities racked with occasional questioning of faith and doubting their relationship with God. Never minimizing the importance of praise and worship, it is sometimes those definitive make or break character development moments that hits the mark with those who avoid weekly church services.

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