Retro soul and disco in perfect harmony. “Witchoo” is late 70s disco transported to 2021. An irresistible track with a Chic-like beat and great vocals by Durand and drummer Aaron Frazer. The dreamy vocals of Aaron, already cherished on his solo album, are the pitch-perfect backdrop for the soul ballad and title track “Private Space”,…
New York’s wonderful Le Poisson Rouge club has an exciting show coming up this month. Five-paw-rated producer, keyboardist, and composer John Carroll Kirby (latest release “Septet“) and singer Eddie Chacon, who the club describes as the “subversive R&B crooner”, will join forces on September 13th for an intimate evening in the round, on stage in…
Deep House DJ and producer Miguel Migs from San Francisco has recently released his fifth full-length album, seven years after “Dim Division”. The double 12″ is available from Soulfuric Deep Recordings out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Miguel has been on several Naked Music productions in the past, a label also known for its quality house…
I remember when keyboardist Kiefer’s “Superbloom” EP came out back in 2019, I was immediately hooked on those quasi-simple melodies which had that special spirituality about them, and then turned out to be far more than just that. The jazzy background (Kiefer Shackleford studied with Kenny Burrell) seemed to dive in almost subconsciously, with notes…
Harpist Brandee Younger releases her first major label album “Somewhere Different” on the Impulse! label. After “Wax & Wane” (2016), “Soul Awakening” (2019), and her work with Dezron Douglas, “Force Majeure” (2020), this is her fourth release overall. It’s out on vinyl too! And even though the harp is not really your prevalent instrument in…
It’s her eleventh album to date and her first since “Homefree” came out back in 2010. Nnenna Freelon sounds as fresh and graceful, jazzy and soulful as ever and in most cases on her beautiful new disc, even better than ever before. Harking back to her “Listen” (1994), “Shaking Free” (1996) or “Soulcall” (2000) days…
Parisian producer and beat stylist As Valet released his new album “Virgo Stellar” back in July. The album on the brilliant London-based Futuristica label is one of the best contemporary electronica meets house meets soul discs around. The mellow soulful house beats open the album with guest vocalists LaNote (whose debut album features As Valet…
Jean and Marcus Baylor released their new album “Generations” back in June and it follows us ever since. Four years after “The Journey“, this new album is so rich and diverse and entertaining at the same time – a rare feat these days. Starting off with a Les McCann-like churchy blues organ on “Strivin’”, Jean…
We’re finally back on track here after a few incredibly busy months since businesses were allowed to open up again in late May. Gina enjoyed her holidays in the Netherlands and is now able to write again on a daily basis as the summer slowly but surely comes to an end. There has been a…
Another great re-issue from the guys at Mad About Records in Portugal. Singer Renata Lu remains a mystery to this day. She released three LPs in the 70s: her self-titled debut in 1971, now out on Mad About, “Sandália De Prata” in 1976, and “Tô Voltando” in 1979. Renata continued to sing backup vocals for…