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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Crescendo
I recently interviewed a musician who told me that his band planned to release an EP because the group wanted to get new music into the hands of fans quick. If they didn’t have enough songs ready for a full album, so be it. Better to get folks mouths watering. If a group that has […]
Players
Wide Hive Records, founded by musician/songwriter Gregory Howe, was originally conceived to introduce the diverse talents from the San Francisco Bay region. The label’s roster covers material mostly heard outside the mainstream; from hip-hop rock (JBK); to progressive jazz (guitarist Calvin Keys) and the eclectic funk of Howe’s band dissent. Wide Hive Players, a collective […]
The Prelude
Tekitha, the in-house vocalist for imperial East Coast rap group Wu-Tang Clan and the occasional voice fronting club jams by UK electronica wizard Armand Van Helden, is prepping the release of her debut album. Until then, she’s delivered The Prelude, a seven-track introductory EP showcasing Tekitha’s taste buds for an unusually wide range of genres […]
Born 2 Sing
Harlem-based singer Rokeem Pough (a.k.a. Rok) has a keen sense of melody and an unassuming but very effective voice that carry his debut album, Born 2 Sing, to surprisingly high places. Sounding like a softer-toned Fred Hammond, Rok breezes nicely through a series of catchy tracks, all highlighted by great vocal arrangements. Songs like "Tell […]
City Beat
His roots were planted in honky-tonk town of Cecilia, Kentucky, but songwriter and saxophonist Michael J. Thomas found his calling in funk and soul. Thanks to talents carefully cultivated since junior high, his tenor, alto and soprano sax skills have served him professionally since the age of 19 and have taken Mr. Thomas around the […]
Love And War (US issue)
Fans have been eagerly awaiting this UK golden boy’s debut album ever since superstar producer Mark Ronson introduced him to the world on the international smash, Version. Gifted with a lush tenor with a smoothed out sandpaper timbre playing underneath, Merriweather has a tearful, youthful yearning to his instrument that compels repeated listening. He is […]
