Return to the Center (2013)
It must be a wonderful feeling for a vocalist when he or she has earned a place in history with one of the most prestigious families in gospel music. De-Ann Lott is one of many vocalists who participated in the Love Alive recorded series with the well-renowned Love Center Choir from the church founded by […]
A Hill of Feathers
It’s becoming redundant to talk or write about singers and bands from the United Kingdom that specialize in making classic soul and R&B music. There may be theories that explain why so many artists from UK and Europe have come to embrace classic soul and excel in making quality music in that genre. I’m not […]
Believe in Love (2012)
Just like agape love is a way of expressing unconditional love to one another, agape soul is musician Darryl Anders’ way of extending his unconditional love of soul music with his fans. A veteran of the jazz soul world, including gigs with Tower of Power and Booker T., Anders has made an impressive transition […]
This Is Life
When we last left Donald Sheffey in 2011, he was celebrating the fifth anniversary of his pride and joy in Weezie Productions with Between You & I. A year later, not much has changed with the musical bubbly as this singer/songwriter/producer still keeps business as usual. Since opening the doors of his self-contained entertainment company, […]
Too Much Jesus (Not Enough Whiskey)
Music legend Mighty Sam McClain titled his latest project Too Much Jesus (Not Enough Whiskey) with tongue planted firmly in cheek. By my call, at least five of the album’s 14 tracks are thematically religious or inspirational. McClain also enlists divine help to bring a lover back on the jazzy torch ballad “Tears,” and McClain […]
Letters
Smooth jazz, Marvin Gaye faux soul and Amos Lee organics all highlight Sean Roux’s short digital LP, Letters. The eight-song trek travels like an unplugged set, hinging tightly to its acoustic arrangements. Accordingly, throughout this debut, Roux intentionally leaves out the studio gimmicks, sidestepping most mainstream soul pop conventions and obvious radio appeals. Personifying much […]
Emotional Therapy
There are advantages to sounding like a legendary singer such as Smokey Robinson. The primary advantage is that means you can sing, and Chazz Dixon can really sing. A disadvantage is that folks may expect you be a wedding singer who specializes in singing “Tears of a Clown” and “Quiet Storm.” Another disadvantage is that […]
Reflection
Thanks to decades of musicianship and a resume that’s afforded him concurrent band memberships and side gigs with some of the best in the recording industry (Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Jerry Marotta, Allen Morgan and Forrest Robinson), guitarist and composer Sean O’Bryan Smith has been able to follow up his lauded 2008 debut, Tapestry, with a […]
Locked Down (2012)
Contrary to popular belief, Dr. John – the former Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr. – has not been MIA. His tour schedule remains grueling and his recordings are more sporadic, but continual. Yet, the inspiration for new ideas seems to be somewhat lacking on his latter albums. Luckily, anyone with a craving for some spicy New […]
Simply a Vessel, Vol. 3: Surrender All (2012)
Since Sean C. Johnson entered the independent music scene in 2006 with his Simply a Vessel series, he has continued to provide a refreshing perspective to the gospel neo-soul market. Though this genre has been making waves for some time thanks to vocalists like Lisa McClendon and Adrianne Archie, Johnson adds another dimension with smooth, […]
