Grace And Mercy (2012)
Jonathan Butler has come a long way since his self-titled 1987 album brought him fame in America that matched if not exceeded his status in his native South Africa. Back then, folks heard Butler’s guitar riffs and his vocals and saw the second coming of George Benson. Butler certainly had no problem with the comparison […]
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap
DJing, B-boying, graffiti and MCing: like the primary colors on a spectrum wheel, those are the basic elements that comprise hip-hop. In the 40 years since its origin in the streets of New York, the once-underground entertainment form has transcended boundaries of class and race to become a globally-recognized and all-encompassing influence on music, fashion, […]
Artofficial Substance
Groove Stu can now be seen as one of the veterans of the soul scene. The quartet band has been together since 1999, when neo-soul was at its zenith, and they have seen their share of music artists come and go over that time. Longevity has a special place for a band, and with their […]
Back To Class
Back to Class is a fitting title for drummer and percussionist Drew Schultz’s debut CD, as he looks more like a college professor than a writer and producer of classic-styled Soul songs. But he proves the old maxim that one should definitely not judge a book by its cover. Benefiting the band programs of […]
N2 The Journey
N 2 The Journey, the new CD by the Larry Dunn Orchestra, has Earth, Wind & Fire’s DNA all over it. You don’t have to listen too hard to hear the horns that were a signature part of the EW&F sound back in the band’s 1974-1984 salad days. The record includes two men who helped […]
Everlasting
Since DJs started spinning records on the radio in the early twentieth century, their presence in the industry has grown beyond just another speaking voice on the airwaves. Fast forward to the early seventies when DJs were less heard and more seen, astounding their audiences by rocking the turntables like a finely tuned instrument and […]
GoldenChild: Trimester 1
Underground climber, Rahbi, blends glam pop, techno and funk for a fun romp in electro-soul. Long a high octane ball of flammable energy on club stages across these United States, Rahbi has been indie soul’s answer to Rick James and David Bowie. Provocative and slightly lascivious, when Rahbi hits the stage, he comes to party […]
Keep the Fire Burning
These young R&B divas might want to consider becoming a southern soul singer when they grow up. Even the hottest contemporary R&B singers find themselves being eased out of the door by the time they hit their late 20s. Many go through all kinds of stylistic contortions to remain in the game. Most of those […]
Music @ the Speed of Life
When most people think about elements of the universe, the typical choices are fire, earth and water, but another one that impacts us all just as powerfully is time. A universal equalizer that is no respecter of sex or status, its elusiveness as the years tick by has become even more pronounced in today’s digital-media-fueled […]
The Storyteller
Twenty years ago, Jon Gibson was the toast of the Gospel and Contemporary Christian Music world. His funky song “Jesus Loves Ya” became one of the biggest Christian hits of all time and he seemed to top the charts with every single and album he issued. But while Gibson began the 90s as one of […]
