Carpe Diem
She earned her first singing gig as a teenager, charted with a Top 20 R&B smash at twenty-one and secured near-legendary status with the second track from her 1988 debut CD, a song so poignant and powerful that it resonated with millions and has remained her signature smash. Her name? Karyn White. The hit? “Superwoman.” […]
Be Free (2012)
Charm is something fleeting and rare in contemporary music; it can also cover a multitude of faults. The debut project by University of Southern California based trio, Moonchild, is blooming with charm and personality to spare. Sinewy summer breezes are brightened by this sandstone collection of jazz infused soul from this fresh collective of musician’s […]
Emotional Therapy
There are advantages to sounding like a legendary singer such as Smokey Robinson. The primary advantage is that means you can sing, and Chazz Dixon can really sing. A disadvantage is that folks may expect you be a wedding singer who specializes in singing “Tears of a Clown” and “Quiet Storm.” Another disadvantage is that […]
Loving You More: In the Spirit of Etta James
As a live performer, LA-born and bred powerhouse Leela James has been undeniable. As a studio artist? Not so much…until now. The first complete album to ever thoroughly present Leela James as more than just a big voice with conscious thoughts, Loving You More…In The Spirit of Etta James presents Leela James as a fully […]
Live
Most albums include facts that will make casual listeners and hard-core fans alike say “wow” or “ahh” or “hmm.” I was reading the publicity materials related to Live, the new project from Randy Crawford and Joe Sample, when I came across something that – if you can’t call it jaw dropping – is still pretty […]
Reflection
Thanks to decades of musicianship and a resume that’s afforded him concurrent band memberships and side gigs with some of the best in the recording industry (Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Jerry Marotta, Allen Morgan and Forrest Robinson), guitarist and composer Sean O’Bryan Smith has been able to follow up his lauded 2008 debut, Tapestry, with a […]
Adoration
In 2001, Pastor Derek Evans launched a church in his home. Within this intimate setting, his oldest daughter, Victoria Evans, was already grooming her talents as a musician and songwriter while inspiring her three sisters to join in praise and worship. In fact, she was the entire orchestra for their church, City of God International, […]
Still in the Game (2011)
One thing you can say about Lenny Williams is the man has staying power. At 67 years old, the Oakland, California native has been going strong since the early 1970’s, from his first solo recordings for Fantasy Records, to his stint with Tower of Power, to reinventing himself as a jack-of-all trades soul man in […]
Tomorrow (2012)
Unabashed devotion, forbidden lust, dance moves and giddiness about new love. Yes, 98% of today’s contemporary R&B artists have covered this lyrical ground time and time again, but it takes true aplomb to make them sound like new experiences — something that Will Downing does on his latest EP (and the final in a trilogy […]
Dosage III: The Time To B.E.
There’s a reason why some people have discovered, then grown to prefer, the beverage known as green tea: the flavors, the health benefit and fat-burning properties, the differing strengths and brewing methods. For every mood and meal, there’s a variety that works. And that’s also the way that the third release from singer Green Tea, […]
