Every new year starts with a 3-CD compilation of the finest indie soul tracks, courtesy of Ralph Tee who compiles the songs for the ever so reliable Expansion Records. This time around, 34 tracks have found the way onto the latest edition. Very few have been mentioned here before, like the wonderful “Gotta Have You”…
Another genius has made his transition. Or how do you call someone who played on the freaky 1972 Miles Davis LP “On The Corner” and then five years later started an amazingly successful and productive career in soul music circles, being responsible for co-writing and producing some of the most precious tunes in soul music…
Marilyn Bergman, who wrote a bunch of classic and unforgettable lyrics to melodies by Michel Legrand or Marvin Hamlisch, Dave Grusin or Johnny Mandel, died yesterday at her home in L.A. She was 93. Here is a list of personal favorites of her numerous songs. In no particular order. And certainly not complete. Most of…
Many of last year’s LP releases had to be postponed due to too few vinyl manufacturers, but the new Nate Smith LP, his first for Edition Records, just came through in time for Christmas. Five years after “Kinfolk: Postcards From Everywhere” on Ropeadope, the drummer, composer, keyboardist follows up with a fascinating new album which…
Happy New Year! Returning from our holiday trip after being on the Dutch and German highways for over six hours, the first thing I did yesterday was putting on the new Blue Note vinyl by pianist Bill Charlap called “Street Of Dreams”. And boy what a relief this album is. It somehow almost got overlooked…
Lots of great new music out there these days. We just received the new LP “Apart” by Allen Stone. It’s his own personal lockdown album, so to say. Arrangements of tracks from his previous three albums totally stripped down, down to their core. Mostly highly vulnerable, tender, and oh so deep. From the grand opening…
The much anticipated Diana Ross LP “Thank You” was finally released last Friday. 15 years after her last album “Blue” came out, she’s back with a songbook of love, as stated in the notes on the album. Notes by the way are the first major disappointment: at a time where vinyl is back in full…
All of the necessary security measures in place, we entered Gretchen last night after what seemingly felt like a lifetime without any live concerts. The Dutch singer, songwriter, and producer primarily played tunes from his last two Stones Throw LPs, “City Pop” (2019), and “Music” (2021). The group met an overwhelming and hyped-up crowd at…
UK based Z Records just released the 9th volume in their “Under The Influence” series, this time compiled by Alena Arpels. The London-based DJ and record collector, who also has her own show on Global Soul Radio, has come up with 19 totally obscure soul, dance, boogie, funk tracks, put together on double vinyl, with…
A Christmas album by Norah Jones? At first I thought it doesn’t really suit Norah because even though she released some very pop-friendly vocal jazz albums in her earlier phase, she then drifted off to more alternative and folk/jazz oeuvres which I think is much more Norah than the easy-to-the-ear stuff like “Don’t Know Why”…