Embraceable
Nicole Henry possesses the kind of sing-the-phone-book voice that is both commonplace and necessary among interpreters of the Great American Songbook. Her phrasing is impeccable and Henry also has the kind of vocal pronunciation that ensures that her listeners will understand each word. So it’s not surprising that Henry has released three albums consisting primarily […]
Black Tie Affair
A self-taught musician hailing from Washington DC, Jeff Logan paid dues while still a teenager, opening with his high school band for the likes of Jr. Walker & The All-Stars and Martha & The Vandellas. Even as an administrator for Prince George’s County Detention center, Mr. Logan explored his urbanized, gospel-inflected jazz stylings with a […]
The Crossing
Brazil bred keyboard wizard Eumir Deodato arrived on American soil at the perfect time. With his musical roots in Rio de Jenario’s bossa nova scene, Deodato quickly broadened his style by leaning heavily toward the new jazz sounds spewing out of New York in the early ‘70s. The shift from bossa to fusion led to […]
Hidden Beach Presents the Original Jill Scott From the Vault, Vol. 1 (2011)
Contrary to what fans, publicists and the artists themselves may tell you, divas aren’t made—-they’re born. And while their degree of talent (or even the existence of said ‘talent’) might be questionable, the traits that distinguish them from the pack are not ambition, audaciousness, a knack for self-promotion and a passion for their purpose that […]
LP1
Describing Joss Stone’s musical manifesto can be a toughie. Below the surface of her soulful bluesy chops and her over-cooked affectations, the English singer boasts the grit of Janis Joplin and the timbre of Dusty Springfield. When you frolic through her bundle of records, you discover a mix bag of Aretha soul (“Tell Me ‘Bout […]
Here I Am
Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland is growing up before our very eyes. Now embracing thirty, she is making some drastic changes in her career after dropping her longtime manager Mathew Knowles. Of all the extravagant transformations documenting her third studio album Here I Am (including a shift to Universal Motown), the most obvious and drastic […]
All About Me
Cleveland, Ohio singer Stacey Crawford uses the pseudonym guise of “Sarah’s Girl” as a way to constantly remind her of the memory of her late mother. With her anointed stage name and after being groomed in a litany of family gospel groups, Sarah’s Girl isn’t afraid to spread her wings and explore the depths of […]
Stowaway
The concept of an amalgamation of funk and jazz is not new. This fusion goes by several names – with fusion (or more specifically jazz fusion) being one of them. Others include smooth jazz, contemporary jazz, soul jazz and acid jazz. Trumpeter Doug Jackson isn’t content to be limited to the existing monikers. He creates […]
Feel The Heat
To paraphrase a well-known slogan, Chi-Town native Nick Colionne does more with his talents during a typical season that what most folks do with theirs in a lifetime. It would be enough for many to perform, garner airplay, sell units and tour, but not for this guitarist, vocalist and award-winning humanitarian. Having honed his skills under […]
All In My Mind
One of the year’s most anticipated releases from the Record Breakin’ Records roster, producer/composer I’Ced debut, All In My Mind, is an eclectic, occasionally bewildering brew of new age soul. Part ‘60s psychedelic, part underground hip hop, and all the way avant-garde, the project defies classification. The St. Louis born and bred artist who has […]
