Currents. Healing.
Lots of great new music out there from our favorites: Durand Jones & The Indications will release their new LP “Flowers” on June 27th. Two singles are already out in the spheres and both sound promising and refine their highly original sound: the easily flowing midtempo soul swayer “Flower Moon” and the equally soothing “Been So Long”, both featuring the brilliant vocals of Aaron Frazer. Sam Wills has finally come up with a new piece. His “We Both Know” is in heavy monster rotation over here. It’s yet another beauty added to his ever expanding oeuvre. He just announced his first headline tour around the UK and Europe in November. So stay tuned.
Tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman previews his forthcoming album “Words Fall Short” (June 20th) with the eerily swinging “A Message To Unsend”. New Blue Note signing, trumpeter Brandon Woody, will release his debut “For The Love Of It All” this Friday. It features singer Imani on the wonderful “Never Gonna Run Away”. José James is set to release his new album “1978: Revenge Of The Dragon” next week. Sort of a sequel to last year’s “1978”, the brilliantly-produced LP features his imaginative covers of “Rock With You” (Michael Jackson), “I Thought It Was You” (Herbie Hancock), “Miss You” (Rolling Stones), and “Inside And Out” (Bee Gees), in addition to more of his unique originals which somehow merge soul, funk and jazz with some hip-hop and even punk elements.
Gina favorites The Jack Moves are back with a gritty new single called “Biggest Creep In America”. The soul and r&b duo from Newark never disappoint. Harpist Brandee Younger will come up with “Gadabout Season” on June 13th. Produced by Rashaan Carter, the all-originals LP features guests Shabaka, Courtney Bryan, Niia, and Josh Johnson. A new album from Azymuth called “Marca Passo” is on the horizon and will see the light of day on June 6th. Far Out Recordings have released two tracks so far. They are currently on tour in Europe. Vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and producer James Berkeley, who has worked with Incognito in the past (writing several songs on their last two albums), comes out with his own “Lost Boy, Golden Hour” LP on July 4th. Three tracks are officially out now. The new album by Young Gun Silver Fox is finally here. Called “Pleasure”, it is yet another mix of well-executed blue eyed soul meets yacht rock goodies. Look out for a European tour in September.
We also dig the Rotterdam-based Antares Flare with their exotic mix of various genres with edgy keys, horns, and electronics. We’re also looking forward to the Gondwana release of Montreal-based Ambre Ciel. Called “Still, There is the Sea” (June 6th), two singles have already been released and boast with expansive, spacy and dreamlike compositions. Brazilian in-demand artist Tim Bernardes, who plays Berlin on May 14th, just came out with two new songs. And on ECM, there is another well-rounded and exciting album from Joe Lovano and the Marcin Wasilewski Trio called “Homage”. Please also check out Matt Johnson (Jamiroquai keyboardist) who is gonna delight us all with his next album “Warrior Princess” on June 6th.
