Retro Future
Like many of the independent artists who gravitated to SoulTracks over the years, Jesse Fischer is a young man with an old soul. Fischer and Soul Cycle make jazz fusion music of the type that a radio listener might have heard in the 1970s and 80s. This is not smooth jazz in the Madison Avenue […]
Pieces (Reissue)
In 1978, Bobby Womack must have felt like a boot salesman in Bermuda. Musically, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Here was Womack, the ultimate soul man, just a few years removed from a burst of creativity unmatched by anyone with the possible exception of Stevie Wonder. Yet, it appeared that […]
The Green Room
There are artists who debut with such freshness and promise that you get giddy at the idea of a lifetime of releases by them, believing they will only grow and blossom that much more with time and experience. Such was the case with Vivian Green in 2002 with her introductory release, A Love Story, and […]
Rhythm Sessions
Rhythm Sessions, Lee Ritenour’s latest project, follows the pattern that the legendary guitarist took on 2010’s 6 String Theory. Ritenour brings together an all-star list of instrumentalists and vocalists, as well as rising artists who won Ritenour’s instrumental competition. Proud papa Ritenour also shares the spot light with his son, drummer Wesley Ritenour on one […]
Church Boy
Selling on the secular charts yet raised in the realm of the sanctified: it’s a typical circumstance that defines many musicians, and what dictates their direction as artists differs from one to the next, since some see returning to spiritual leanings as an embrace of the past or inevitable recognition of their future (or fan […]
Groovin’ Up!
The beauty of Europeans is that they believe in preserving American music culture in a way that we here in the States have forgotten. From jazz and blues to rock, soul and funk, Europeans hold dear the music and they can be strongly critical of wannabe’s emulating their favorite tunes without doing their homework. Disco […]
Kaleidoscope Dream
With the help of 2010’s “Sure Thing” and the Roots-hued buzz of “All I Want Is You,” Miguel Jontel’s ascension into R&B stardom seemed like a sure bet. He brings with him a swagger that takes the best of R. Kelly and Drake, and then rubs it together to develop a cohesive spread of crème […]
Surface (Reissue)
The second half of the 1980s introduced an array of talented male R&B groups. Ensembles such as After 7, Ready for the World, and Guy each contributed distinctive sounds to the urban-contemporary landscape, whether it be smooth harmonies (“Ready or Not”), electro-funk slow-jams (“Love You Down”), or infectious New Jack Swing (“Groove Me”). One of […]
Fun Machine
So many bands tend to fall back on easy covers projects when their originals well has run dry, but this is not the case for Lake Street Dive on their new EP, Fun Machine (Signature Sounds), is a project with five covers and one original song. Lake Street Dive, a quartet of musicians who connected while […]
Lifeology 101…Back 2 School
For his second full-length release, Atlanta-based crooner Winston Warrior revisits cuts from his 2011 debut, Lifeology 101, and offers a handful of new selections. An independent artist who describes his style as “vintage R&B,” he impressed listeners the first time around with heartfelt tunes like “Crossroads” and “Tuck U In,” which blended meaningful lyrics with […]
