Lessons (2022)
Eric Roberson – Lessons Eric Roberson consistently voices the desires, frustrations, joys and loves of his legion of fans. That explains how he has managed to craft a long career that includes 16 albums, sold out shows and status as independent music royalty and elder statesman. He is an artist who still has his finger […]
Cure The Jones (2022)
Mamas Gun – Cure The Jones On Cure the Jones, their fifth full-length album of original material, UK-based Mamas Gun hone in on their proficiency for deep soul balladry and intricately constructed midtempo grooves. Resonating with multilayered arrangements and an atmospheric wall of sound permeated with classic rock undertones and doo-wop sensibilities, the 11-song set finds […]
The Motown Anthology (2022)
Mary Wilson – The Motown Anthology The sudden passing of Mary Wilson in 2021 left a hole in the hearts of many music fans and industry professionals alike. While she never achieved the household name status of fellow Supreme Diana Ross, she came admirably close for someone who was primarily relegated to a backing role […]
Good Morning Gorgeous (2022)
Mary J. Blige – Good Morning Gorgeous According to an idiom popularized by rapper and ‘business, man’ Jay-Z, “Men lie and women lie, but numbers don’t.” So even by this simple metric, Mary J Blige has “the numbers” that count: over 70 million in album sales, fifteen albums, nine Grammy Awards, a pair of Academy Award […]
Just a Mortal Man: The Jerry Lawson Story (Movie Review)
Just a Mortal Man: The Jerry Lawson Story will premiere on PBS and their WORLD Channels in selected markets on February 10th, and will be aired in most markets during the month of February in conjunction with Black History Month. The film will also be available for streaming nationwide on the free PBS app after […]
Band of Gold: A Memoir (Book Review)(2022)
Book Review: Freda Payne – Band of Gold: A Memoir There’s nothing like a good memoir to complement a listener’s appreciation of a longtime favorite singer. The performers who deliver the tunes that help shape the timeline of our personal experiences give us more of an understanding of what makes the music special to us […]
Here to Stay (2022)
Kenny Lattimore – Here To Stay On his ninth solo album, Kenny Lattimore applies his tender tenor vocal stylings and heartfelt lyrics to both the old school and the new school. Maintaining his classic balance of mellifluousness and robust, he effectively secures his relevance in an overcrowded marketplace by keeping in mind both longtime fans and […]
Thank You (2021)
Diana Ross – Thank You Shortly after Diana Ross left the Supremes in 1970, her inaugural solo single, “Reach out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand),” began a string of hit records that would carry her to worldwide commercial success for three decades. Since the turn of the millennium, however, she’s released very little new music—save for […]
Sophisticated Soul (Advance Review)
Will Downing – Sophisticated Soul It’s a topsy-turvy, pandemic-driven world out there, one that we’re all trying to muddle through day by day—-there are fewer constants in life, but they still exist: the jellied side of the bread falling face-down, car keys wedging behind the couch when you’re already late…and the masterful, melodic stylings of […]
Refreshed (2021)
Full Flava – Refreshed Over the 2000s, UK studio outfit Full Flava served up a compelling mix of sophisticated soul originals and fresh and faithful takes on R&B classics. Teaming with top-tier vocalists Carleen Anderson, Ruby Turner, Chantay Savage, CeCe Peniston, and Alison Limerick (to name a few), producer Rob Derbyshire released four flavorful albums […]
