At Ease (2010)
Poised, polished and on the precipice of a breakthrough: Easy Evans is the total package, from his velvety tenor, above-average lyrical range and mature, yet modern material, which is neatly showcased in his debut EP, At Ease. A drummer and play-by-ear pianist, Easy discovered his affinity for music as a youngster in church during […]
All I Want Is You (2010)
Los Angeles native Miguel Jontel Pimentel spun his childhood pain (his parents’ divorce) and creativity into a burgeoning career in the music biz, signing his first deal at 14 and going on to pen hooks (Asher Roth’s "His Dream") and lyrics for Usher ("Pro Lover") and Musiq ("If You Leave"). Nine years later, having already […]
These Days (2010)
Fabio Toriano leads the Italian soul team Soul Basement through sophisticated AC-soul and jazz pop on These Days. This nine-track voyage allows the band to play with atmospheric quietude. "Wonderful" plays with pop strings and breezy acoustic piano and "Still One," using Bruce Hornsby piano and light drum brushes, does a decent job in shifting […]
Lions, Fires, and Squares (2010)
As the great granddaughter of the renowned, spirited jazz pianist, John Malachi, Carolyn Malachi proudly carries the family tradition by taking his legacy into the twenty-first century. Her interest in music began as a child as an aspiring lyricist. But it was a sound design class at Shepherd University in West Virginia where she first […]
Christmas with the O’Jays (2010)
Yes, it’s that time of year again. It seems like retailers have barely put the Halloween decorations and costumes on sale when they start cranking out all things Christmas, and before you know it, you’ve heard enough variations of the same tried-and-true holiday classics while you shop to recite them as you sleep. It’s been […]
Feels Like Heaven (2010)
I thought that The Jones Girls came from nowhere when I first heard "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else." Nothing could be further from the truth. The Jones Girls hailed from Detroit , and they came from a musical family. Sisters Brenda, Shirley and Valorie Jones worked as backing vocalists while recording their own […]
Kebomusic Presents: The Soul Prototype (2010)
Derrick Pryce is the head of Atlanta based KeboMusic. Pryce is a Canadian by birth who moved to Atlanta to be a part of that city’s burgeoning soul scene. He’s worked as a producer, songwriter and musician for hire. Pryce has music that he plans to release next year through his label. In the meantime, […]
Roots and Grooves (2010)
Haiti is never far from saxophonist Jowee Omicil’s mind. Omicil is Canadian born and of Haitian descent, and he’s been profoundly affected by the events that have taken place in that island nation over the last two years. Omicil wrote the song "4 My People" in 2008 as a tribute to those affected by the […]
Soulsville (2010)
It’s not hard to pinpoint Huey Lewis’s musical influences; evidenced best in his formulaic motif, one built upon doo-wop pop, sassy horn inclusions and his bluesy, Ray Charles vocals. No wonder the Lewis and the News decided, even in an age where cover albums are entirely flooding the marketplace, to honor the sweaty, gutsy soul […]
Are You Ready? (2010)
Although Detroit, MI. native Roxanne Dawson spent a majority of her early years performing with others (her first venue was the family backyard with her brother in tow, and as an adult she lent her talents to groups like Annointed and Intrigue), it was inevitable that the rich, throaty range she possessed would put her in […]
