It’s stretch your ears time with the new Kurt Elling album “SuperBlue” which finds him moving into new directions. Moving again, you might add since he has come up with so many different projects in his career. But he never released a full-length funk album. Until now. With the help of guitarist Charlie Hunter, who…
The way Theo Croker lets his trumpet conjure up feelings of hope, despair, optimism, melancholy, and beauty on “Soul Call//Vibrate”, sets the agenda for his most satisfying album to date. The tune already sounds like a future classic. Dealing with his experience and knowledge of Black Culture, Theo started working on his album with just…
Two years after her debut “Walk Through Fire” came out on the indie Easy Eye Sound label, Yolanda Quartey, known as Yola, came up with another rich and classy genre-defying album in late July. “Stand For Myself”, produced by Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys, is full of Americana, Soul, Country, Folk, Gospel. But the…
As a serious vinyl buff, I always look out for release dates of current and forthcoming albums. Sometimes, the vinyl version is out even before any streaming services. Other times, the vinyl version of an album includes several bonus tracks which you can’t download or stream. In the case of Sam Wills and his fabulous…
Ever since my regular trips to New York City, which started in the mid 90s, almost all visits included walking down to Christopher Street in the West Village and taking the steps down at number 55. The tiny little music bar immediately gave you the feeling of being on stage with the musicians and you…
Amazing debut album from the Los Angeles-based singer Marley Munroe who records and performs under the name Lady Blackbird. With her single “Blackbird”, the 1963 Nina Simone anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, her recording tragically has become the 2020/21 version of the current race and class oppressions. Her voice is exceptionally full of wisdom,…
The Belgian-Caribbean pedal harpist, synth player, and composer Nala Sinephro, part of London’s burgeoning and bubbling jazz scene, has come up with a deeply healing debut album. She has played with south London collective Steam Down and won early praises from the likes of Gilles Peterson. With the London Contemporary Orchestra, she played at King’s…
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”,…
It looks like this fall will be pretty full of interesting new music, with a lot of album announcements coming in almost on a daily basis. Nightmares On Wax will come up with a new album called “Shout Out! To Freedom…” on October 29th. The album features guest artists like Shabaka Hutchings, Haile Supreme, Wolfgang…
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…