Ali Woodson and Shirley Jones to hit the "D"

administrator — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:23:37 -0400

Passion Productions, LLC presents Ol' School House Party - Concert - Dance at Bert's Warehouse Theatre

Calling all ballroom dancers, hustlers and steppers, join Ali Woodson formerly of The Temptations and Shirley Jones of The Jones for an Ol' School House Party, Concert and Dance celebrating Black Music Month.

CD Giveaway! - New Dianne Reeves

administrator — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:50:19 -0400

Dianne Reeves is without a doubt one of the greatest singers of modern times. Her albums have shown an ability as a song stylist that is second to none, as she's combined her unique phrasing with strong jazzy underpinnings.

Israel & New Breed Performs At Celebrity Tribute To Maya Angelou

Erma — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:21:04 -0400

Peter Hadar readies sophomore disc

administrator — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:25:58 -0400

Singer/songwriter Peter Hadar is putting the finishing touches on his second album, due June 3 on his Cool Weirdo records.

Donna Summer - Crayons (Advance Review)

administrator — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:39:35 -0400

Cassandra Wilson - Loverly (Advance Review)

jeffr — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:40:11 -0400

Cassandra Wilson never had a problem with expanding size and scope of what is considered a standard entry to the Great American Songbook. On a Wilson record, the canon includes pop songs such as "Time After Time," and the blues and gospel songs that Wilson heard growing up in Mississippi.

KUKU Interview by Tom Paul

Tom Paul — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:56:05 -0400

Simone - Simone on Simone

administrator — Sun, 11 May 2008 21:16:52 -0400

I admit upfront, I'm biased. I first met Simone (then, Lisa Celeste Stroud) when she was four years old: a mere teenager, I was at London's Heathrow Airport to meet her mother and father on their first visit to Britain. Mother was the woman for whom I had formed the first UK appreciation society, father her husband and manager. Many years later, I attended a show at the House Of Blues by a Chicago-based group known as Liquid Soul, fronted by Lisa, now professionally known as Simone. We briefly talked and I reminded her of my connection with her Mom. Fast forward a few more years and

Glen Ricketts - Rise Up

jeffr — Sun, 11 May 2008 12:26:34 -0400

Algebra - Purpose

administrator — Sat, 10 May 2008 22:45:46 -0400

Algebra is a tease. Her commercial debut, Purpose, has no purpose, except perhaps to frustrate long-time fans of her music. I know, I know, that everybody with indie cred is suppose to love this R&B chick (and I use this phrase with all its implicit dismissiveness) because neo-soul's founding father, Kedar Massenberg, has coronated Algebra his next neo-soul Queen. But Kedar's Algebra doesn't have the goods of his Erykah, his D'Angelo, or even his rightfully long-forgotten Grenique. If Algebra does, she's hidden the loot in some off-shore account somewhere.

Maya Azucena Interview by Tom Paul

Tom Paul — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:16:38 -0400

"Thriller" is 25 - What it means to us

administrator — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:19:10 -0400

Thriller is 25. To a generation of boomers, this may seem like a period that has passed in the blink of an eye. And yet in other ways, it has been a long, long quarter century -- particularly in the music industry -- since the pre-King of Pop began his rule. Michael Jackson's siesmic LP won a record eight Grammy Awards in 1984, a recognition of both the album's artistic merit and the tidal wave of popularity it garnered.

Mariah Carey - E=MC2

administrator — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:22:07 -0400

There's no other diva like Mariah Carey. She's approaching 20 stellar years in the recording industry. She's broken long-standing records by everyone from Whitney to Elvis. A few years ago, she suffered a much-publicized nervous breakdown only to regain her glory through The Emancipation of Mimi. With this backdrop, Mariah returns once again with incumbent collaborator/producer Jermaine Dupri to present E=mc2. Translated, it's the emancipation of Mariah Carey multiplied twice.

Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis release new album

administrator — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:35:23 -0400

Seven time Grammy Award winners, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., are excited to announce the release of their new interactive music CD, The Many Faces of Love.

LTD's James Davis dies

administrator — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:52:52 -0400

James Davis (JD), the keyboardist and music director of long time soul music favorites LTD (Love Togetherness and Devotion) died on May 1, 2008. During its heyday, LTD was one of the most popular R&B acts in the world, with hits like "Back In Love Again" and "Love Ballad." The group reunited a couple years ago and has been readying the release of its first new album in two decades. Davis was part of the reunited group. He will be missed.

The London Soul Scene - May 2008 by Matthew Daniel

administrator — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:30:31 -0400

Last month - to be exact April 5^th 2008 - I did my first ever Soul Tracks monthly feature. Now the time has come again and I'm excited to write about the London Soul Scene for the second time in May. This time though, it is about male soul artists...

Natty

Shelley Nicole Interview by Tom Paul

Tom Paul — Mon, 05 May 2008 01:28:02 -0400

To say Shelley Nicole http://www.myspace.com/blakbushe brings fire with each and every performance is an understatement. Her band Shelley Nicole's Blakbushe rocks, funks and brings soul with such a high energy that their fans are sent home buzzing from that energy after shows.

Darnell Levine - Journal Entries EP

administrator — Sun, 04 May 2008 13:03:33 -0400

Seeming to spring into the consciousness of soulheads around the US a couple years ago, Nashville singer Darnell Levine turned quite a few heads with his debut CD, We Gon' Use What We Got. Bearing obvious comparisons to Bobby McFerrin, Levine combined solid songwriting with a multi-layered, sometimes ostentatious, vocal performance that gave him a mild underground hit disc -- enough, at least, to make his name recognizable as he played gigs East of the Mississippi.

Christine Horn - Therapy

jeffr — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:39:34 -0400

A Conversation with Kameron Corvet, by Lauren-Aileen Morris

jeffr — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:18:48 -0400

Wayna - Higher Ground

jeffr — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:07:51 -0400

With a voice as sweet as a spring shower, Wayna blesses the microphone of your soul with her sophomore effort entitled Higher Ground. Just as in her buzzworthy debut Moments Of Clarity, Wayna's poetic songwriting skills take you on a journey that nods your head and tickles the intellect. Standout soul with Wanya's bebop-gospel soul style laces a fluid soul program of a dozen sonic candy pieces that'll have friends begging you to tell them who she is.

Brian Culbertson - Bringing Back The Funk

jeffr — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:01:56 -0400

Why do white performers of traditionally black music feel compelled to bring something back that nobody knew was missing? Clairvoyant to a fault, these sacrificial lambs always seem to be out to help those less fortunate while also enriching their bankrol-uhm...soul.

Regina Belle - Love Forever Shines

jeffr — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:51:47 -0400

There are a handful of R&B and soul voices that still maintain a loyal following long after the artist's season of steady hit making has passed. Artists such as Peabo Bryson and Patti LaBelle have had enduring careers by venturing out into different musical terrain to capture new audiences while still staying true to their base. With the release of her debut gospel album, Love Forever Shines, singer Regina Belle shows us why she is among this elite rank of soul survivors.

Renee Sebastian Interview by Tom Paul

Tom Paul — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:22:59 -0400

Renee Sebastian is a progressive artist who melts her sound with Pop, Jazz, Hip Hop and Soul whilemaintaining a singer/songwriters credibility. Her powerful voice and presence on stage has been winning fans at every show. Renee has released an EP titled "Mrs. Sebastian" which has been getting rave reviews.

Billy Griffin - Believe It Or Not: The Collection

administrator — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:31:57 -0400

In the early 80s, former Miracles lead singer Billy Griffin was hitting his stride, teaming with John Barnes for a pair of excellent soulful dance albums (Be With Me and Respect) that largely anticipated what Barnes would do a couple years later working with Michael Jackson on Thriller. The UK flocked to Griffin's brilliant single, "Hold Me Tighter In the Rain," but the two discs were criminally ignored by US radio, save some minor attention paid to the 1982 single "Serious."

Eric Roberson to headline "Definition of Soul" weekend

administrator — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:18:04 -0400

May SoulTracks Soul Music Newsletter

administrator — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:03:57 -0400

Exclusive Listening Room! Hear Al Green's new "Lay It Down" + $9.99 sale!

administrator — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:06:19 -0400

Al Green is a living legend, and his reputation continues to grow each year. With a lifetime full of memorable songs in both the classic soul and Gospel genres, he is almost peerless in his influence on the music of the past half century.

Hil St. Soul to release "Black Rose"

administrator — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:57:59 -0400

Singer Hilary Mwelwa of Hil St. Soul (pronounced Hill Street Soul) is not your average R&B diva. She holds a degree in biological sciences, hails from Zambia, grew up in London and admits to having a teenage fascination with the music of Annie Lennox and Blondie. In fact Hilary is anything but average.

Lalah Hathaway - Self Portrait (advance review)

administrator — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:02:24 -0400

Daddy's little girl continues to carry on her family's musical legacy with the very poignant release of Self Portrait, the fifth album by soul songstress Lalah Hathaway. With her first disc on the resurrected classic soul label, Stax Records (Otis Redding, Booker T. and the MG's, The Bar-Kays), Lalah delivers a satisfying collection of new material intended to further solidify her declaration of empowerment. It's as if she's fallen, but nevertheless managed to land on her feet.

Soul Tracks - News and Reviews