All About the Legends
I’m a little behind this month…so forgive my delay! I’m gearing up for my own live gospel recording next month…so things are a bit awry! But…here’s some projects you need to be bumpin’…
Anybody that’s read this column over the past few months knows that I love the history of this thing called soul…and it doesn’t get any better than Maria Muldaur’s tribute to the blues women: “Naughty, Bawdy and Blue”. It contains 12 covers of songs written and recorded originally by Ma Rainey, Sippie Wallace and Bessie Smith. Bonnie Raitt makes a cameo and Maria does the music proud. She’s on the road promoting this album as we speak…and as one who has witnessed her live show, I suggest you catch it. More info on www.mariamuldaur.com.
I love me some Rick James. I was hooked from the first time I ever heard “Bustin’ Out” and the first installment of the music in his archives is finally available for us to hear. I heard one of these tracks a few years back on a UK compilation (”Taste”) and knew we were in for a treat if this album ever saw the light of day. It is introspective and rich…not the bravado or persona that the world has connected with Rick. “Sapphire” is my favorite cut…but again, don’t sleep on it. Rick will have you bumpin’ on the funk edged tracks as well. More at www.rickjames.com.
On the gospel tip, I’m loving my fellow Nashvillian, Benita Washington’s, new release “Renaissance”. If you’ve never heard Benita before, this is the project to get. It is a live recording (a real live recording…not the fake ones gospel artists try to pass off these days as live) and you can feel the fire in every note. My favorite cut is “Song of the Lord”…followed closely by “I’ve Seen Him Work”. More at www.myspace.com/benitawashington.
Expect The Unexpected…
Well this month I wanted to focus on a few artists who are in the process of completing their projects…Some you’ve heard, some you haven’t…but all projects to watch for!
Sapphire Sky: I have no one to compare this group to. Think Rick James “Coldblooded” era meets a stepbrother of KLF and a distant cousin of 80s new wave. Uh-huh. That’s Sapphire Sky. Completely mesmerizing, distinct and unlike anything you’ve ever heard. Led by Benjamin Patterson (noted for his role as the psyco-Guy on Noah’s Arc), you are in for a sonic treat. Go to www.myspace.com/legendmusic for a sneak peak.
Sunny Hawkins: Daughter-in-law to Walter and Tramaine Hawkins, Sunny is truly someone to watch. Her debut album, “More of You”, drops in May on Still Waters, the inspirational division of Hidden Beach Records. Sunny blends contemporary gospel with a vast array of musical influences. My favorite cut is “Crazy”, which has a power-packed rock edge to it’s gospel foundation. Sunny is a brilliant writer as well, so this album is definitely a reflection of her. Don’t sleep. Cop it. Go to www.sunnyhawkins.com for more information.
Klymaxx: I’ve been a longtime fan of Bernadette Cooper and the Klymaxx name. If the lead single is any indication as to what the rest of the album will be like, “Real Divas Don’t Die” is going to be the album to have in 2007. Bernadette is still as fabulous as ever—and doesn’t mind tell you about what that means. She and Fenderella are at the helm of the group with two new members. To stay updated, go to www.myspace.com/therealklymaxx.
Clark Sisters & More!!!
Hello Planet Soulers!
I had the privilage of attending the taping for The Clark Sisters’ forthcoming DVD, “Live: One Last Time”. The concert will first be televised on the Gospel Music Channel and will then be released on DVD for sale. Aside from an extremely late start (almost two hours), The Clarks were in rare form. Twinkie on the organ, and Jacky, Dorinda and Karen front and center bringing their incredibly distinct vocals on a wide range of old and new material. The lead singles from the new album, “Blessed and Highly Favored” and “Livin’ This Kind of Life” are sure Clark classics…but I have to tell you that when they did their classic “Name It, Claim It” and their mother’s composition “I Tried Him and I Know Him”, I thought that everything in the room–starting with me–was going to explode. There is a spirit so undeniable in those early Clark compositions, it’s kind of hard to accept that this is the last time we’ll actually get to see them create that magic together. The album drops April 11th…so pre-order at amazon.com now!
March 15th marks the release of the new release from the brilliant Ainsley Burrows. His new album, “Rockstar”, will prove to be one of the most innovative releases of the year. Blending his sparkling poetry with almost every musical genre possible, Ainsley is truly pushing the envelope, defying genre and definition. His lyrical content is always thought-provoking and his delivery intentional. You can check Ainsley and “Rockstar” out at www.myspace.com/ainsleyburrows
release of LM Ross’ “Manhood: The Longest Moan”. I was blessed enough to get a pre-release of the book…and I was entirely blown away by the soul the bursts through the pages of this book. It tells the tale of four young men who meet in high school and form a singing group…and the individual journey that life takes them on. LM Ross’ writing style is comparable to the literary giants. While the book is a fictional work, it carries a heavy poetic bent that makes you feel as if it’s been sung to you. “Manhood: The Longest Moan” is also available for pre-orders at amazon.com…
Me thinks it’s gonna be a great year…
February Soul…
Well, could anything have been more exciting in January than the launch of PlanetSoul.com? What a wonderful new world…Congrats Deb on successfully launching such a huge undertaking! As we move into February, which is Black History Month, here are some important releases that couldn’t be celebrated at a more appropriate time.
My favorite new release of the month is the debut release of Mr. Wyatt’s “Elevator”. “Elevator” is an engaging spoken word project that defies all musical definition. A fusion of soul, jazz, gospel, rock with some wonderful electronic trickery thrown in for good measure, Mr. Wyatt challenges us as listeners to take a ride up to the elevator of our minds to discover ourselves. Unlike so many spoken word artists,
Mr. Wyatt doesn’t rant or just throw words together…He takes the role of poet seriously…and brings us an incredibly well thought project. My particular favorites are the title track, “California Blue” and the “Love Love (Hey Hey Remix)”. Peep Mr. Wyatt at www.myspace.com/mrwyatt and “Elevator” is available on CDBaby.com and iTUNES.
Remember Mohammed Bilal? Some will remember him as a co-founder of the legendary Bay Area group Midnight Voices, while others may remember him from MTV’s Real World San Francisco cast. Mohammed’s debut solo release, “Beatbox Metafiction” is not only a favorite, but I would daresay one of my favorite release of all time. He blends hip-hop with world music and creates his own distinct sound. Lyrically, Mohammed tells intriguing stories of his childhood, marriage, fatherhood, and living a live of inclusion and diversity. I could not live without listening to “Rise Up” at least once a day…but tracks such as “Falling Leaves”, “Judases” and the spoken word ode to his hometown, “San Francisco”, make this one of the most compelling releases that I’ve heard in a long time. “Beatbox Metafiction” is available at CDBaby.com and iTUNES.
Billy Porter has the voice of a volcano. After an amazing debut release in the mid-90s that was sadly overlooked, Billy is back with an live album that captures the fire that his fans have been waiting to experience. “At the Corner of Broadway and Soul” is, in a sense, a one-man show that showcases the range of musical influence that explains how he came to be such a dynamo: A childhood of gospel, teenage years spent absorbing Broadway and years actually spent ON Broadway, a love of soul music…and the present, which is a full circle moment, blending all of the elements together. Visit www.billyporter.com to see more about the man and go to amazon.com to purchase “At The Corner of Broadway and Soul”.
Quite the year for SOUL…
2006 was quite the year for soul! With the bigger than everSoulTracks.com Reader’s Choice Awards, the huge impact of U.S. stations such as 4dasoul.com and ProjectVibe, and, in myopinion, the most important new periodical dedicated to soul, SOBO Magazine, so many outlets opened up for independent soul artists to present what we do!Myspace.com also gave visibility to a huge amount of artists that might not have otherwise had the luxury of such a large platform.
So, now for the releases. My favorite release of the year was an EP by Anam Owili-Eger titled “These Subtle Declarations” (www.myspace.com/anamowilieger). With 5 of the most incredibly crafted compositions that I’ve heard in at least 10 years, Anam displays his own unique blend of jazz, soul, rock and folk.With a voice that will remind you of Gil Scott-Heron, he tells stories of heartache, love at it’s most delicate, and the story of society’s disenfranchised. Anam is undoubtedly my favorite “new” songwriter and this EP is an essential
addition to the true soul lover’s collection.
The other top 2 releases of the year, from my perspective anyways, are from fellow Nashvillian, Darnell Levine (his debut album “We Gon’ Use What We Got) and my soul brother, Jarrard Anthony’s daring “Synergestic
Energy XChange”. You can find out more about them at www.darnelllevine.com and www.jarrardanthony.com respectively. I also have to mention my favorite gospel release, Bishop Yvette Flunder’s “We Won’t Be Silent Anymore” (www.radicallyinclusive.com ).Wishing all of you an incredible year…See ya in February!!!
Performed by Rahsaan Patterson
Produced and composed by Jamey Jaz and Rahsaan Patterson
Copyright (c) 2007
Used by permission.
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