The Best Is Yet To Come (2019)
Tony Momrelle – The Best Is Yet To Come Tony Momrelle’s sinewy tenor has been gracing tracks on both sides of the pond for decades, covering classic R&B like “Golden Lady” and elevating original soulful house tunes like “Star” and “Sure” for bands such as Reel People and Incognito. His supporting vocals have backed such legends […]
Soul Resurrection (2019)
Stan Mosley – Soul Resurrection Stan Mosley is clearly making up for lost time. The graveled voiced Southern Soul singer broke into show business in 1969. He spent the 1970s and 80s moving between his hometown of Chicago and East St. Louis, performing in groups, working as the backing band for Southern Soul singer Shirley Brown, […]
Truth Gon’ Set You Free
The Undisputed Truth – Truth Gon’ Set You Free I admit that my knowledge of the work of The Undisputed Truth began and ended with their 1971 hit “Smiling Faces Sometimes,” one of the classic songs of 1970s Motown and one of the great message songs of any era. Yet, the band continued to make records […]
The Dawn (2019)
Morris Mills – The Dawn It’s not surprising that an artist who is as deeply influenced by Prince as Morris Mills would chafe at the genre limits and expectations imposed on black artists by the music industry. Prince used his determination and talent to force fans and music executives to rethink the way that they viewed […]
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (Original Cast)
Various Artists – Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (Original Cast) Adrienne Warren grew up loving Tina Turner. Turner’s music, both the work that she did as a part of Ike and Tina Turner, as well as the solo work that served as the soundtrack to one of the greatest second acts in musical history, played […]
Show Me the Way: The Columbia Anthology (2019)
Regina Belle – Show Me the Way: The Columbia Anthology When Regina Belle first impacted the R&B scene in 1987 with her jazzy and soulful performances of the midtempo gems “Show Me the Way” and “So Many Tears,” many compared her to Anita Baker, who’d recently taken over the soul universe with her strikingly sophisticated […]
You’re The Man (2019)
Marvin Gaye – You’re The Man The wah-wah guitars, the multi-voiced singing in harmony and counterpoint with himself, the drum tight rhythm section, the socially conscious lyrics. Yes, it’s Marvin Gaye alright. Gaye at his peak powers in a collage of songs that feels less peak perfection and, at times, more haphazardly compiled. Still, despite […]
Fonky Sexy Late Nights in the Lab (Advance Review)
Michael Jeffries – Fonky Sexy Late Nights in the Lab Mention the name Michael Jeffries in conversation of classic R&B, and it’s likely only a few astute listeners will immediately connect the dots. Although he’s experienced success both as a vocalist (fronting Tower of Power from 1978 to 1983 and featuring with Jeff Lorber several years […]
In The Softest Way (2019)
Carvin Winans – In The Softest Way Since they first graced the urban music community, The Winans – Marvin, Ronald, Michael and Carvin – a quartet of brothers signed by gospel legend, Andrae Crouch, enjoyed a gratifying run on the gospel and R&B charts. Long after the Winans’ glory days in the eighties and nineties, […]
Live at 20 Front Street (Advance Review)
Drew Schultz and the Broken Habits – Live at 20 Front Street The History of African-American music was probably the most memorable class that I took when I was an IU undergrad, and it was definitely my favorite course. I always had a deep love of music, and particularly R&B, soul and gospel, so being […]
