III (2012)
Producers can pursue a couple of strategies when looking to capture the sound and spirit of a certain era: They can surround themselves with vocalists who created hit records during the era in question, or they can fuse new artists with those old school instruments and production techniques. The European based production team of Frank […]
On Love & Fear (2012)
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that Nayanna Holley was raised on music. The daughter of long time Michael Jackson vocal coach and backing singer Dorian Holley, Nayanna literally grew up on the musical road. This environment created a life long love of music, leading to a college degree for Nayanna in Jazz Studies […]
Duet of Daffodils (2012)
Every once in a while, there is a vocalist whose soothing and down-to-earth style can speak powerful messages. One might describe Kia Bennett as a musical masseuse with her uncanny ability to spread her calming vision of love and spirituality. Since graduating from Howard University, she joined the community of mid-Atlantic regional underground urban talents […]
Soul Survivor (2012)
Johnny Rawls has the right to call himself a survivor. Rawls has been a mainstay on the road and in the studio performing as a sideman for O.V. Wright and as a lead singer for nearly 40 years. Rawls started playing guitar in Wright’s band in the 1970s when music fans all over America could […]
Locked Down (2012)
Contrary to popular belief, Dr. John – the former Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr. – has not been MIA. His tour schedule remains grueling and his recordings are more sporadic, but continual. Yet, the inspiration for new ideas seems to be somewhat lacking on his latter albums. Luckily, anyone with a craving for some spicy New […]
Shifting The Atmosphere (2012)
Many have heard the wise, old saying out of the mouths of babes: “I want to grow up just like you, Dad.” Jason Nelson was blessed with the opportunity of growing up with a highly respected pastor, Rev. James Nelson. There was no doubt in Jason and twin brother Jonathan’s minds that their father impacted […]
Overexposed (2012)
In what seemed like an overnight miracle, Maroon 5 found a clever, ingenious way to reinvent themselves after suffering from poor record sales embarrassment after the Robert “Mutt” Lange-produced Hands All Over failed to repeat the job performance of It Won’t Be Soon Before Long. Hands All Over was a pretty damn good record, despite […]
Mommy, What’s a Depression? (2012)
Alison Crockett is serious. I found that out after listening to Bare, her 2007 recording. That record included tunes such as “How Deep Is Your Love,” a song that finds her questioning not only the depth of her significant other’s devotion but also whether or not the manifestation of that love is a good or […]
Looking 4 Myself (2012)
Now eighteen years deep into his trade of urban contemporary r&b, Usher Raymond is no longer the cute little kid that sang “My Way” and “You Make Me Wanna.” Today, the Michael Jackson-meets-Marvin Gaye apprentice is a man with many scars, deep secrets and maybe a few painful regrets. “Sometimes you gotta go through somethin’ […]
Rebirth (2012)
My youngest daughter was riding with me to a jazz festival as I listened to Rebirth, the new CD by Yewande Austin. She thought that Yewande sounded like Cher. I kind of thought the same thing when I first played this ambitious and solid record. Yewande has a husky and smoky vocal and the same […]
