The Open-Ended Fantasy (2011)
If a name is supposed a window into an individual’s personality or future pursuits, then one would figure that Nina Simone Vidal would be doing something artsy. Her surname, Vidal, places her on a track to be a public intellectual/writer (or perhaps a fashion designer). Her first and middle name obviously put her on a […]
Angel And Chanelle (2011)
Possessing a sultry style, yet delivering sanctified lyrics brimming with heart, humility and holiness, contemporary gospel group Trin-i-tee 5:7 has enjoyed continuous success for over a decade, lauded for utilizing modern musical backdrops to propel timeless messages of agape and romantic love. As some of their secular R&B peers faded out of the spotlight and […]
bleuphoria (2011)
He’s been flirting with the edges of left-wing R&B for years, but bleuphoria may be the first complete plunge Rahsaaan Patterson has made into this pool since his unorthodox holiday album, 2008’s The Ultimate Gift. With bleuphoria, Patterson extends the atypical verse sections of 2007’s Wine and Spirits to wholeheartedly embrace the electronic elements of […]
The Remedy (2011)
Raw, yet romantic, with a propensity to intertwine hip-hop-inspired cadences over melodic beats, the Atlanta-based quartet known as Jagged Edge has enjoyed consistent radio rotation and multiple chart appearances for over a decade (“Promise,” “Where the Party At,” “Walked Outta Heaven,” etc.). While some of their peers broke up, burned out or fell off, JE […]
Platinum (2011)
The name Headhunters brings back some good memories for fans of pure, unadulterated fusion. The band collaborated with the great Herbie Hancock to take jazz/rock/funk fusion to the next level. The Headhunters found a way to create long form music that merged electrified jazz with influences from Africa, the Caribbean and pop. The cuts were […]
Reborn (2011)
As part of their musical platform, gospel artists are called upon in giving their testimony about how God has been good to them and how they survived the torrential storms through the prayers of their church family. But sometimes, the storms can increase such that even mature Christians become overwhelmed. LaShun Pace and her eight […]
Just Me (2011)
He’s tall, dark and handsome, with a voice like crushed velvet, an ability to play almost a dozen instruments and a profitable proclivity to write lyrics that have earned him millions in album sales. Not only has he amassed an impressive list of songwriting, production and collaboration credits, his name has become all but synonymous […]
Songs From the Book (2011)
The last time we heard from singer, songwriter producer and educator Gabrielle Goodman was 2004, when her wonderful adult soul disc Angel Eyes was getting a fair amount of attention. Goodman, who received some notoriety in the 90s as a jazz chanteuse on the Verve label, was by then an instructor at Boston’s acclaimed Berklee […]
The After 2am Sessions EP (2011)
Ahmed Sirour is one of the most exciting young producers in independent music today. His productions of newcomer Cleveland Jones (a dynamic vocalist of devastating precision) on their single “Sensitive,” the downloadable freebies of Little Dragon’s elegiac “Twice” and a tour-de-force cover of “Nature Boy,” one that may be the new definitive cover of Nat […]
Treacherous (2011)
Whether backed by a tight rhythm and horn sections or driven by a house style DJ/producer, when Lee Fields steps in front of a microphone, he puts his heart, soul and mind into everything he sings. And, he has absolutely no qualms about it. With a vocal style that echoed James Brown’s–resulting in years of […]
