CD Reviews on projects by R&B Artists
Jill Scott’s album “To Whom This May Concern” blends poetry, rap, R&B, and jazz, showcasing her creativity and affirming themes of strength and positivity. While some lyrics contain controversial content, overall, the album stimulates thought and uplifts listeners, marking her first full-length release in ten years.
The debut album “Back to San Francisco” by the Lazy Californians, led by Cameron Washington, fuses New Orleans brass sounds with diverse genres like hip-hop and Nigerian funk. Featuring numerous guest artists, the album delivers high energy and accessibility, showcasing rich instrumentation and a mix of party anthems and spiritual tributes.
Bassist-composer Jakob Dreyer releases his third album, “Roots and Things,” featuring a new quartet that includes vibraphonist Sasha Berliner. Comprising 16 tracks, the album showcases a blend of jazzy introspection and unexpected swings, highlighting inventive compositions and a unique sound. Each musician contributes distinct perspectives, creating a refreshing auditory experience.
Lil Nas X Montero This year has brought us so much music, most notably the highly anticipated debut album by Lil Nas X. The 22-year-old Atlanta native’s album “Montero,” named after himself—Montero Lamar Hill—is full of musical self-growth from his June 2019 EP ”7.” “Montero” is a pop-rap album about the intersection of being queer and […]
Michael Wimberley Afrofuturism Temple Mountain Afrofuturism is an ambitious project from percussionist, keyboardist, and composer Michael Wimberly. With the full album due this week, followers will have already heard the first five tracks which were released in December and four tracks released a month ago. Those and the final three make up the full album […]
Holy Hive Float Back to You Big Crown The expectations for this debut release from Holy Hive and their self-described “folk soul” were rather high following a string of live shows, singles, and their Harping EP. It’s fair to say the trio delivered on them as well with their retro mashup of folk and ‘60s soul. It’s, […]
By Adam Signore Who is Joanne Shaw Taylor? Joanne Shaw Taylor, a young 30 something Rock & Blues guitarist from England, who bounces back and forth between Detroit, MI & England for residence is kicking butt on the music scene. She has been impressing audiences from the start. Discovered at age 16 by Dave Stewart […]
The Isley Brothers “Groove with You…Live!” www.RealGoneMusic.com Originally recorded at Bearsville Sound Studio in Woodstock, NY from 1980 – this live set was buried until last year’s Record Store Day (2015) release as a limited edition vinyl LP. Around the same time it was also made available as a digital download titled “Wild in Woodstock,” […]
“All Things Must Pass” The rise and fall of Tower Records (96 minute DVD) www.MVDb2b.com – MVDvisual The death of Tower Records was a major blow for many of us who grew up purchasing vinyl LP’s, seven inch forty-fives and CD’, laser discs, and DVD’s. This triumphant and reflective DVD “All Things Must Pass,” is […]
Wilson Pickett “Land of 1000 Dances – The Complete Atlantic Singles Vol. 1” www.RealGoneMusic.com One of the most significant sixties soul superstars; Wilson Pickett invented some of the most ardent dancefloor favorites of all time. Pickett also originated the early sounds of southern Soul co-authored with well-known session players in Memphis and Muscle Shoals. “Land […]
Earl Thomas Crow Earl Thomas Music Earl Thomas Bridgeman Jr. was born in 1960 in Pikeville, Tennessee. Thomas was 22 and on his way to becoming a dentist when he suffered an accident. Upon regaining consciousness he decided instead to pursue his passion…to become a singer. His first album was 1991’s “Blue…Not Blues” on Bizarre […]
William Bell This is Where I Live Stax Records William Bell was born William Yarbrough in 1939. He was part of the Memphis based Stax Records roster that included Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers and Isaac Hayes. In 1961 he released his first hit single “You Don’t Miss Your Water”. This was […]
Lady A Loved, Blessed & Blues Dexter Allen Entertainment Anita White a.k.a. Lady A hails from the Pacific Northwest. Her high energy and sometimes sultry/sometimes husky voice has been compared with Tina Turner. She has opened for Denise LaSalle, Little Milton, Dr. John and Shemekia Copeland. She has also toured or been on stage with […]
Herbie Mann “Live at the Whisky 1969 The Unreleased Masters ” 2-CD’swww.RealGoneMusic.com The original 1969 “Live at the Whisky A Go Go” vinyl LP on Atlantic Records was produced by the legendary Nesuhi Ertegun (an early originator at Atlantic) recorded by fabled audio engineer Wally Heider via his mobile truck on one-inch tape. Mann and […]
Wilson Pickett “Mr. Magic Man: The Complete RCA Studio Recordings” (2 CD’s) www.RealGoneMusic.com This two CD box-set encompasses Wilson Pickett’s four RCA albums: “‘Mr. Magic Man,” ‘Miz Lena’s Boy,” “Pickett in the Pocket,” and “Join Me and Let’s Be Free” from 1973 through 1975 with four previously unreleased CD singles. The best tracks were recorded […]
Tad Robinson is a soul singer worthy of compare to greats like Al Green and Marvin Gaye. He is also a talented songwriter just as capable of writing and performing his own songs about the many nuances of relationships as he is of doing a great c0ver like the one on Day Into Night of […]
Betty LaVette “Child of the Seventies” www.RealGoneMusic.com It has taken nearly forty years to have Betty LaVette’s “Child of the Seventies” unearthed, but the wait was worth it as this lost gem has aged like a fine bottle of wine. Soon to be seventy years young – the youthful soul diva had several brushes with […]
Allan Harris Black Bar Jukebox Love Productions Records Allan Harris is a Brooklyn born Harlem based vocalist, guitarist, bandleader and composer. He has ten recordings in his own name. Harris has been compared to Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole. He has played Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center and the 2012 London Olympics. […]
Candi Staton Life Happens Beracah Records In 2013 Magnolia Home Entertainment released “Muscle Shoals” a documentary about Rick Hall’s Fame studios where the Muscle Shoals sound was born. Featured in that DVD was Candi Staton. Staton, who sang gospel as a teenager, had her solo career launched as a Southern soul singer. In 1970 she […]
The Crusaders “Street Life” Limited Edition 24-Bit Re-master CD www.CultureFactory.Fr If you were listening to any radio format around 1979 you couldn’t have avoided “Street Life.” There were good reasons for the repeated airplay, not only was it a smash hit, it also was a forever memorable tune that connected musically and lyrically with virtually […]
I love female blues singers I wrote a book about them (my T’ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do,) but not every new artist I get to review really stands out. Many are good, but they just don’t hit me in a special sort of way. This is not so with Markey Blue. Markey Blue is […]
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