Some people never get old. It is hard to believe that George Benson is 80 now. The last time I saw him perform live was at last year’s North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam. The music of George Benson has accompanied us since childhood so we’re celebrating today listening to everything from tracks of one…
HighNote and Savant Records, the two labels working out of a basement on the Upper West Side in New York, just announced two new releases for April. Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, a mainstay at the label since the 2000 release “Alexander The Great”, is hailed as one of the most ambitious and influential saxophonists of…
One of our favorite artists, Jarrod Lawson, currently tours the UK with his solo programme. After last years’s brilliant cover version of the Isley Brothers’ “Footsteps In The Dark“, Jarrod today released his take on the Prince classic “I Would Die 4 You”. His voice sounds better than ever. It’s an incredibly rich and super…
We’ve already mentioned new music coming up from Everything But The Girl, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Smokey Robinson. All three have just released new singles from their upcoming albums. Smokey’s second single after “If We Don’t Have Each Other” is called “How You Make Me Feel”. It’s a forceful, yet still subtle soul burner, typically…
Please feel free to open Gina’s weekly playlist of newly released tunes. Have a great Sunday. The list includes new music from Eric Reed, Chris Hyson, Reel People, Jeremy Pelt, Ben L’Oncle Soul, Billy Childs, and more. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1IfBCjsuxoWwTzN5uSpAjN?si=85514a9d533d44a4&pt=c61873a297bf62c43ed5b08d2118b7d9
On tour with his latest project “On & On: José James Sings Erykah Badu”, the singer told an almost sold-out Paradiso crowd last night that a jazz singer of today is supposed to celebrate contemporary artists, instead of reworking the classics by Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Even though he keeps admiring both vocalists (he…
Gina is spending a few days at her cottage in the Netherlands. We toured the city of Lemmer earlier today and she was not amused when I told her to pose for a photo. José James will play Amsterdam tomorrow and Rotterdam on Wednesday and so we’re really looking forward to his show playing music…
We can’t wait for the Bright & Findlay LP later this year. Thomas Findlay, one half of Groove Armada, and James Alexander Bright, gave us the incredibly sexy “Slow Dance” in 2021. They’ve just released their new single “Fireflies”, another soulful piece with 80s keyboards woven in behind and between and over Bright’s warm vocals….
Record Store Day is getting closer. April 22nd will see some 400 exclusive releases with around 3.000 independent record stores worldwide taking part. Ever since the first one back in 2007, Record Store Day is now hosting special listening parties, club events, in-store gigs, meets and greets, and concerts. All releases dropping on April 22nd…
We’re happy to be a part of the Bandcamp campaign to produce José James‘ new album “On & On: José James Sings Erykah Badu” on vinyl. 4.590$ were needed and in the end, 248% of that total were funded. Vinyl is now being produced and will be sent out in July. In the meantime, José…