The Story (EP) (2011)
At only three songs, it’s not even quite an EP, but it’s the best $2.98 a vibe-loving, progressive soul fan will spend this year. The LA-based KING is an almost extinct creation in R&B, an all-girl trio with an even rarer female producer in Paris Strother. On the strongest cuts, “Supernatural” and “Hey,” Minneapolis born […]
Outflow (2011)
If there is one theme that runs through Sharon Musgrave’s career, it’s diversity. Musgrave came to the public’s attention in the early 1990s with the dance track “Fascinating Rhythm.” Her 2001 album, Selah, featured spoken word songs like the title track and acid jazz jams like “Down by the Water” and the jazz/acoustic soul torch […]
Sweet Sunrise (2011)
You don’t have to be observant to notice that the classic sounds of soul, pop, rock and country are drifting further from the mainstream in American music. Turn on youth oriented radio and modern, digitized sound predominates. This is to be expected. Every generation has to create something new. And to be fair, many of […]
Love and Sax (2011)
Some successful musicians cater to their audience to keep them satisfied . Like the ever reliable saying goes: “Give the people what they want.” Others prefer to tweak their musical game without particularly worrying about their commercial status — but still somehow satisfy their core fans. Jazz saxophonist Elan Trotman fits into the latter category, […]
Curious Life (2011)
I had a the feeling that I heard the voice somewhere from the first moment I clicked “play” on Antoinette’s new album Curious Life. Her vocals had that kind of light night lounge club feel that kind of reminded me of Lisa Stansfield. I did a little background research and quickly learned why the voice […]
The Intro (2011)
Imagine for a moment that it is 2011 and New Edition is still singing songs like “Mr. Telephone Line” and “Is This The End?”. That is the appeal to — and the limitation of — the R&B vocal trio 4IIC and their new album, The Intro. Joe Shivers, Ron “RK” Pierce and Jerry Hairston have strong group […]
Open Heart (2011)
Gina Breedlove is best known for playing the lioness Sarabi in the stage musical version of Disney’s “The Lion King.” That theatrical background serves her well on Open Heart, an acoustic album that is essentially soul, but also has heavy blues, folk and gospel leanings. Each genre rewards vocalists who sing with expressiveness, clarity, passion […]
The Armchair Generals EP (2011)
Brisk, bold and chock full of multiple emotions and influences—-the trio united during a firestorm of global and political unrest in 2004 and have been creating together ever since. As eclectic as their names (Osoosi 7, Bebo 6 and Oyani 9), the Armchair Generals are all over the musical landscape with their style: there’s the […]
Jump n’ Jivin’ Live at The Swing House (2011)
The power of pairs can accomplish wonderful things when it comes to musical collaborations. When singer/songwriter Dessy DiLauro first met keyboardist/producer Ric’key Pageot, she was coming off a performance of Cirque de Soleil’s La Nouba. They immediately clicked and became working together on numerous occasions. Both grew up with strong jazz and Cuban music backgrounds, […]
A Thousand Shades Of Blue (2011)
Candace Bellamy’s A Thousand Shades of Blue is a record that moves in the opposite direction of much of mainstream gospel music. Whereas many artists have embraced the R&B/hip hop fusion sound of modern music with its auto tuned vocals and pop culture references, Bellamy’s EP A Thousand Shades of Blue gets its voice and […]
