Definition of a Woman (2021)
Tanqueray Hayward – Definition of a Woman If there is project that can be called highly anticipated by those who regularly peruse this website, it will be Definition of a Woman by Tanqueray Hayward. Hayward’s work on songs such as “This Kind of Love,” “This Thing,” and the Holiday tune “It’s Christmas” captured the ears […]
50 Years of Funk & Soul – Live at the Fox Theater (2021)
Tower of Power: 50 Years of Funk & Soul – Live at the Fox Theater In June 2018, soul and R&B band Tower of Power held a live concert in front of actual people in their hometown of Oakland, California. The concert was one of the events that TOP held that year to celebrate their […]
Hello Human Vol. 1 (2021)
Carmen Rodgers – Hello Human Vol. 1 There are some artists who can release music in heavy torrents over a short period of time. Others prefer to spread their projects out. Carmen Rodgers falls into the latter category. Her latest project, Hello Human Vol. 1 comes six years after the very good Stargazer. Rodgers stays busy […]
We’re a Melody: The Essential Jones Girls (2020)
The Jones Girls – We’re a Melody: The Essential Jones Girls The Pointer Sisters and Sister Sledge are likely the first two family acts to come to mind when discussing 1970s and ‘80s girl groups. Both released a plethora of albums over several decades. The Jones Girls, originally from Detroit but closely identified with the Philadelphia […]
The Song Garden (2021)
Will Downing – The Song Garden Rich, resplendent and brimming with romance: for over two decades, the music of Will Downing has embodied all the above. Whether he is riffing over a syncopated soul groove or pouring that buttery baritone over whispery jazz, few artists have delivered his level of quality and cool. 2020 was a […]
Luxury Soul Family (2021)
Various Artists – Luxury Soul Family For going on four decades, Expansion Records has worked to fulfill a mission of keeping Soul and R&B music vibrant and alive. They have continued to fulfill that mission at a time when many cultural critics have claimed that R&B and Soul music is anything but alive. Some artists run […]
Confunkshunizeya — The Mercury Anthology
ConFunkShun: Confunkshunizeya — The Mercury Anthology Once upon a time, major-label R&B stars could consistently release albums without having to hit the commercial jackpot on every occasion. Both artistic integrity and prolific output were afforded to authentic acts such as the San Francisco Bay Area’s Con Funk Shun. From 1976 to 1986, the smoothly funky […]
The RCA Albums: 1977-1985 (8-CD Box Set)
Evelyn “Champagne” King – The RCA Albums: 1977-1985 (8-CD Box Set) Evelyn “Champagne” King’s importance in the world of ‘70s and ‘80s soul music is often underrated. While her name most commonly sparks conversation of the impactful disco classics “Shame” and “I Don’t Know If It’s Right”—in addition to seminal, Kashif-assisted synth-R&B gems “I’m in […]
Imagining Marvin (2020)
Ryan Shaw – Imagining Marvin I know why an artist would be enticed by the prospect of diving into the Marvin Gaye catalog. So much good music. I also know why an artist would choose to remain socially distant from the Prince of Motown’s music. So much good music, so it’s been done to death. What […]
Stronger (2020)
Jeff Bradshaw – Stronger Trombonist Jeff Bradshaw is a part of a generation of jazz artists who are fluent in multiple musical languages. That fact has become apparent since his emergence in the early 2000s as a part of the Hidden Beach label’s lineup that included Jill Scott and Kindred & the Family Soul. The title […]
