Steve Spacek is the voice of the highly praised South London trio Spacek, who impressed the musical world with their two album releases Curvatia and Vintage Hi-Tech. The music of Steve Spacek, Morgan Zarate and Edmund Cavill (aka Spacek) had critics raving from “gives new meaning to the phrase space funk” (Rolling Stone US) to “the most futuristic soul group of our age” (The Fader). Well, we all know these commercial magazines that want to sell their issues and thus always look for the next big thing and are more than generous with superlatives.
I wouldn’t call Steve Spacek’s solo offering futuristic or spacey. Actually it’s more an evolution of soul music by embedding influences of electronic music and picking up where musicians like Vikter Duplaix, Andreus, Dwele or D’Angelo left off. And it’s Steve’s soulful voice that ties it all together and that gives his music a unique sound.
The first single, the J Dilla produced Dollar evokes pleasant memories of Curtis Mayfield and will certainly bring Steve a well deserved hit record. The destined second single, 3 Hours Of Fun, sees Steve teaming up with Morgan Zarate to create a great electro funk track.
Another highlight comes with the uptempo electro soul song Love You Be which reminds me of early Prince records. Fans of old school soul will love Smoke, a duet with veteran singer/songwriter Leon Ware, maybe that’s what Marvin Gaye would sound like today. The way Steve arranges his lead and background vocals on Days Of My Life isn’t miles away from a classic Marvin record as well.
Look Into My Eyes is my personal favourite here. It’s maybe the most conventional soul song on Space Shift but with its warm instrumentation it provides the perfect background for one of Steve’s best vocal performances.
To cut a long story short, if you’re looking for a soul record that’s innovative, left field and full of good and strong songs than look no further. Space Shift by Steve Spacek is your record of choice.

Tracklisting of Space Shift: 1. Hey There (intro)/ 2. Dollar/ 3. Thursdays/ 4. Slave/ 5. Rapid Rate/ 6. The Hills/ 7. Reversible Top/ 8. 3 Hours Of Fun/ 9. Love You Be/ 10. Slow Baby Dubb/ 11. I’m Glad You’re Here/ 12. Smoke/ 13. Days Of My Life/ 14. Callin You/ 15. Hey There/ 16. Look Into My Eyes | released October 05, 2005 Sound In Color

For more infos visit soundincolor.com, stevespacek.com and grooveattack.com.

[If you want to discuss Steve Spacek’s music, you can leave your comment below and also use the forum]

2005 is the year of Alice Russell. She sang on almost all songs on Bah Samba’s 4 double album, was featured on the Quantic Soul Orchestra’s album Pushin On and now releases her sophomore album under her own name. While Alice Russell’s debut album Under The Munka Moon was more a compilation of session works with a few new cuts added, her second album My favourite Letters is much more of a piece. This time Alex Cowan aka TM Juke produced the whole album and co-wrote the songs together with Alice.
The result is a unique sound that incorporates influences of hip hop, (northern) soul, jazz, broken beat, electronica, gospel and funk and that’s graced by Alice powerhouse voice.
Humankind, the first single, is an unusual song that merges hip hop, funk and tango influences. It surely needs a few listenings to get into and I’m not sure if it’s a wise move to release the rather eccentric Humankind as first single. The slow, blues tinged To Know This or the soulful ballad I’m Just Here would’ve been a much better choice in my opinion.
Anyway, the label will have enough other good songs to chose from as future single releases. There’s the Motown inspired High Up On The Hook (with a beautiful vibes solo by Guy Wood) or the odd titled Mirror Mirror On The Wolf - ‘Tell The Story Right’. The latter is an impressive soul song with strong gospel influences and organic orchestration of guitar, rhodes, piano, flutes, clarinets, oboes and cor anglaise.
Other highlights include the electro funk inspired What We Want!, A Fly In The Hand and the handclapping funky Mean To Me.
As with Alice’s debut Under The Munka Moon this album may not appeal to everyone with its fusion of musical styles and some songs here does need a few listenings to get into. But you will be rewarded with a multifaceted and worthwhile album from one of the UK’s best vocalists.

Tracklisting of My Favourite Letters: 1. All Else Can Wait/ 2. What We Want!/ 3. Humankind/ 4. Mean To Me/ 5. A Fly In The Hand/ 6. To Know This/ 7. I’m Just Here/ 8. Munkaroo/ 9. All Over Now/ 10. High Up On The Hook/ 11. Mirror Mirror On The Wolf – Tell The Story Right/ 12. Remember To Forget | released September 26, 2005 Tru Thoughts

For more infos visit tru-thoughts.co.uk, alicerussell.co.uk, tmjuke.co.uk and grooveattack.com.

[If you want to discuss Alice Russell’s music, you can leave your comment below and also use the forum]

I’m sure you remember how much I like Naima Shamborguer’s version of Bill Wither’s Hello Like Before or her rendition of You And Me Against The World and actually her whole album A Blossom Sings.
In the jazz-not-jazz interview Naima talks about her soon to be released album From My Heart To Yours recorded with live strings, her music and her love for Sarah Vaughn.

Q: Please tell me a little bit about yourself and your influences. When did you start singing and when did you discover your love for jazz music?

Naima Shamborguer: I’m from a family of professional musicians who perform religious, classical, jazz and R&B music. I have extensive training in classical and jazz music. My influences just to name a few are, Sarah Vaughan, Dexter Gordon, John Coletrane, Miles Davis, Carmon McCrea. The City of Detroit is known for it great jazz history and from a very early age I have had the opportunity to be exposed to the great music at school, clubs and dances.

Q: A Blossom Sings is your second album. In which way is it different from your debut album Naima’s Moods and where do you see your progress as a musician?

Naima Shamborguer: Since the time of Naima’s Moods I feel I have become more creative to my approach and the feel is different even on the same tunes. During that time I was searching, and now “I have found my niche in A Blossom Songs, and I am more satisfied with the finished product.” A Blossom Sings was a very exciting venture for me in that I was able to write and co-write original tunes with my friends.

>>>continue

Concord Records who recently released the new Nnenna Freelon’s new album will release the soundtrack to George Clooney’s movie Good Night, And Good Luck on September 27th, 2005. Well, that would actually be of no interest for jazz-not-jazz, but the soundtrack album will feature Dianne Reeves as vocalist. Dianne will also perform on screen. The tracklisting is as follow:

Straighten Up And Fly Right
I’ve Got My Eyes On You
Gotta Be This Or That
Too Close For Comfort
How High The Moon
Who’s Minding The Store?
You’re Driving Me Crazy
Pretend
Solitude
TV Is The Thing This Year
Pick Yourself Up
When I Fall In Love (Instrumental)
Into Each Life, Some Rain Must Fall
There’ll Be Another Spring
One For My Baby

For more info visit concordrecords.com and diannereeves.com

Just in case you’ve missed something last month, here are some highlights that were featured last month on jazz-not-jazz: