Sandra Wright recorded one of the best albums ever made at Muscle Shoals in 1974 with ‘Wounded woman’. This superb Southern Soul album was unissued at the time surfacing only in 1989. This remastered version with a period stlye sleeve really brings out the beauty of the nine great songs. The bustling ‘Midnight Affair’ and the slightly slower ‘I Come Running Back’are fantastic and have become Modern Soul dancefloor favourites. The dancer ‘A Man Can’t Be A Man’ has more tempo. The Southern Soul ballads ‘Sha-La bandit’, ‘Im Not Strong Enough’ , ‘I’ll See your through’ and ‘Please Don’t Say’...
After an incredible 52 years in the business, Oakland legends Tower Of Power are still making superb jazz kissed funky soul and their 27th studio album, ‘Step Up’, finds them fresh and relevant even after five decades. Vocalist Marcus Scott is on point and the band are razor sharp. The bristling ‘Step Up’ has touches of Incognito, the pacier’ Story Of You And I’ is an incisive funker while the downtempo, bluesy ‘Who’d Have Thought’ shows how their versatility. The joyous ‘Let’s Celebrate Our Love’ has a flowing vintage feel, the sanctified feel of ‘Look In My Eyes’ soars while ...
UK funkers Speedometer’s 5th studio album comes 17 years since their debut and they’ve matured into leaders in the field, on a par with The New Mastersounds. ‘Our Kind Of Movement’ kicks off with the moody, soulful ‘We Gave Up Too Soon’ – a dark edged, instant dancefloor winner – the syncopated Afrobeat ‘Abuja Sunrise’ has an urgent rhythm with parping sax and soaring horns driving things along while the Indo-funk ‘Kashmir’ has Dave Pike feels. ‘Let’s Start A Movement’ brings to mind ‘California Soul’ in parts on a mid tempo soul effort while the New Orleans flavoured organ screamer...
Singer and pianist Kandace Springs pays homage to the female artists that have shaped her musical journey on this twelve-track set of covers that includes collaborations from an array of talent including Christian McBride on the jaunty ‘Devil May Care’, Norah Jones on the smoky ‘Angel Eyes’ and David Sanborn on the sweeping, bluesy ‘I Put A Spell On You’ to mention but a few. The haunting ‘Strange Fruit’ is handled with respect, the gentle ‘Ex-Factor’ is a highlight as is the soaring ‘Pearls’ featuring trumpeter Avishai Cohen. Relaxed, warm and sophisticated from this constantly impressive artist. ...
Lindsey Webster’s fifth studio album and her third for Shanachie continues the high standard that she has set with previous works and finds her voice even stronger as it matures. As ever there’s a strong autobiographical nature to the lyrics while the sophisticated, polished production and immaculate playing is on point. The breezy ‘Feels Like Forever’ contrasts with the more playful groove of ‘Close To You’, the bluesier ‘Always Love Me’ is a super chilled ballad while the foot-tapper ‘The Unknown’ picks up the pace a little. The albums finishes on it’s most emphatic note with ‘Running Around’ – the...
Vibraphonist Warren Wolf releases yet another fine album. The vocal tracks are of a very high standard including the cover of the Isley Brothers’ ‘For The Love Of You’ plus the delicate ‘Livin The Good Life’, the superb laid back ‘In The Heat Of The Night’ (reminding me of something Quincy Jones might have made in his ‘Body Heat’/’Mellow Madness’ days) and the beautiful ‘Sebastian and Zoe’. They feature the gorgeous voice of new name for us, Imani-Grace Cooper. Warren Wolf’s playing is light and very melodic, complimented by a tight and some wonderful bass lines. ‘For Ma’ has deftness...
Jose James has a voice from another era – a warm, effortless vintage that works incredibly well on this stunning set of a dozen old school soul cuts. The guest list reads like a who’s who: Ledisi , Christian Scott , Lizz Wright , Erik Trufaz, Aloe Blac and Laura Mvulva all lend their talents. The production is superbly warm and positive – the infectious ‘Feels So Good’ will be impossible to remain seated to, the playful ‘You Know What To Do’ finds James’ throaty delivery working so well with groove while he goes into vocal jazz territory with Mvulva...
Scottish trumpeter Malcolm Strachan is a founder member of top UK funk/jazz-funk band The Haggis Horns as well as an in demand session musician. ‘About Time’ is his debut solo set – a superbly accomplished collection of nine original compositions that are firmly rooted in the classic acoustic modern jazz style typified by the great 60’s and 70’s recordings of the legendary Blue Note Records imprint. The breadth of style on show is impressive, from the Latin vibes of ‘Mitchell’s Landings’ and ‘Better Late Than Never’, the swirling, cinematic feel of ‘Take Me To The Clouds’ and the swagger of...
