(August 28, 2021) Whether it’s funk, blues, jazz or soul, guitarist Duffmusiq can play it. He proved his jazz and funk chops earlier this year with the release of Sidewalk Sequel, and his 2017 project Soulleash showcased his jazz inspired guitar playing by recalling the great Wes Montgomery. The hardworking guitarist also found time this year to release the EP Urban Love. The five track project finds Duffmusiq paying homage to the electrified blues that plugged in to be heard over the din of the Chicago streets in the 1950s.
The track that we want to spotlight in this First Listen takes a little detour from the EP’s hard charging blues formula. “Road to Heaven” is a swinging bit of 1960s era jazz and pop of the kind you might have heard someone like Dusty Springfield doing back in the day. The seductive vocals on this track belong to Selena Evangeline, a Canadian who now operates out of the UK, who is quite handy on the six string herself.
“Road to Heaven” is a cut that will take the listener back to a great but often overlooked era of jazz and pop music. The work that Duffmusiq and Selena Evangeline do on this track will take the listener back to a time when smoke came from the sound of the band and, yes, the embers and haze of cigarettes. Check it out here.
By Howard Dukes
Duffmusiq – “Road To Heaven”