Interpreting the Masters Volume 1: A Musical Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates (2010)
An easy interpretation of duo Inara George and Greg Kurstin’s stage name of The Bird and the Bee is to consider George as a bird chirping away with her lead vocals while Kurstin buzzes as the bee, the electro-wizard behind the computer-programmed act’s instrumentation. Since their debut EP in 2006, The Bird and the Bee […]
Encore (2010)
Two albums in, James Fortune has emerged as one of his genre’s strongest inspirations. He serves as a multi-faceted general over his nine-member army, FIYA, usually possessing an iron-clad grip on ferocious drum beats with whisper-like background voices. On top of the heavy rhythms, Fortune usually raps his way Kirk Franklin style through his performances. […]
Grover Live (2010)
Artists have to make a choice when doing a live concert, and the more prolific the performer, the more difficult the choice. The choice revolves around what songs the artist should include in the set list, and which songs will not be performed live that night. An artist who releases a new album is probably […]
C Notes for Haiti (2010)
There have been enough earthquakes in diverse enough locales to provide ample fodder to those who believe we are truly living in the last days in time. In fact, recently there was another major quake in China. That’s at least four big ones this year, by my count. The frequency and the fact that these […]
In Fusion (2010)
In Fusion, the new album from singer/songwriter and guitarist Prema is magisterial in its scope. Many of the tracks are jazz-like in terms of running time – some of them lasting six and seven minutes. That’s risky. After all, there’s a reason why the average pop song lasts between three and four minutes. Yes, they’re […]
Pulse (Advance Review) (2010)
No matter how big an act they are there is something mysterious that happens to artists and their labels once a talent turns thirty, or at least is forced to admit it, and the curiosity lasts until the artist hits their forties, when they are considered a vet and jazz, gospel, covers and a new […]
Music Is The Food of Love (2010)
Wales is internationally known for its lush valleys, grazing sheep, hospitality, rugby and for producing Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey. In the middle of Wales there is a town named Brecon known for its narrow streets, canals and its annual jazz festival. Originally hailing from this area — though he now resides in London — […]
Soul Therapy (2010)
I played a Jill Scott record sandwiched between two Nahjai Soul songs so I could determine if it was me or my lyin’ ears. You can do a whole lot worse than to sound like Jilly From Philly. That’s kind of like saying you play quarterback like Dono…(oops). Of course, there is more to being […]
New Amerykah Part 2 (Return of the Ankh) (2010)
I found out about the video a couple of days after I agreed to review New Amerykah Part 2 (Return of the Ankh). By now, nearly all soul music fans are aware of Erykah Badu’s video for "Window Seat," the first single from her latest album. Badu’s artsiness got her in a world of trouble […]
Soul Over the Race, Vol. 1
Japanese-based Sweet Soul Records is on a mission to reintroduce the essence of classic soul and R&B for a worldwide audience, performed by fresh homegrown talent. Soul Over the Race Vol. 1 meshes seventies and eighties hits (familiar and obscure) with a few soft jazz twists. Frankly, it can often be excruciating hearing cover versions of […]
