Love Is Real (EP) (2010)
Philip Bailey’s voice has been a part of the soundtrack of many people’s lives for more than four decades. Bailey’s falsetto along with the Phoenix Horns and Maurice White’s vocals were major parts of Earth, Wind & Fire’s signature sound during the group’s salad days in the 1970s and early 80s. Bailey has expanded his […]
Back for the Very First Time (2010)
Imagine the courage it takes to walk away from an established career path to pursue a passion that many around you didn’t know existed. It’s not the most conventional way to become a star, but it’s the one that Gwen Maul chose when she decided to leave her comfortable perch as a hairstylist in her native […]
Love & Truth (2010)
Chaz Shepherd was born and raised just around the corner from Philadelphia International Records. Living so close to this historical soul music landmark absolutely rubbed off on this independent singer/musician. It took over a decade for the multi-talented Shepherd to ink a recording contract after winning Star Search in 1993. Though nothing materialized from his […]
Doo – Wops and Hooligans
After being responsible for a pile of hits this year, including B.o.B’s "Nothin’ on You" and Travie McCoy’s "Billionaire" as well as co-writing Cee Lo Green’s viral smash "F*** You," Bruno Mars momentarily steps away from his comfortable duties with hit-making production team The Smeezingtons to haul out his own debut album. With the influences […]
Better Days
Many highly prolific contemporary praise and worship leaders have been driven by strong supporting vocal ensembles through the years: Israel Houghton & New Breed, Tye Tribbett & G.A. and James Fortune & F.I.Y.A., to name a few. Jonathan Nelson first hit the gospel music radar in 2003 with Live in Baltimore: Everything You Are, recorded […]
The Journey Vol. 2
Like a modern day version of The Family, singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist John Payne has woven in elements of Prince, Lil’ John, Groove Theory, and Tony! Toni! Toné! into a fantastic sophomore album. Straight out of the Bay area, Payne has worked with the likes of Larry Graham, The Coup, and even the Purple […]
At My Spheres (EP)
Always a left of center artist, Sandra St. Victor returns with a brief, eclectic brew produced by the broken-beat king, Mark De Clive-Lowe (Sy Smith, Vanessa Freeman). A patron saint for many indie purists, St. Victor has been hit or miss with the masses since her reign with The Family Stand on their most seminal […]
Here My Love
Lovers’ epiphanies are becoming more and more prevalent in adult R&B. What once defined the soul scene of 1990s contemporary R&B using the Jodeci-112-R.Kelly gambit has now made its mighty return in the new generation of younger gents (The Dream, Trey Songz). Case, the R&B singer with a vocal balance of Lyfe Jennings and Tyrese, […]
Journey to Love
Tawana Lael’s Journey To Love is not a religious album. After all, most of the songs deal with how she moves from a bad relationship to a good relationship. Lael takes the listener from a home where a woman is showing her no account man the door, to a club where the singer revels in […]
Live from Los Angeles – Vol. 2 (2010)
It seemed like only yesterday when vocalist and Pastor Beverly Crawford made noise across the gospel industry with “He’s Done Enough.” The powerful testimonial track from her 2007 release, Live from Los Angeles, made such a huge impact that it lasted over a year in the top ten on the Billboard gospel charts. For her […]
