Courtesy of Jon Freer from mosoul.co.uk here are seven reviews (sorry no cover shots or tracklistings this time):

V/A – Love Dubs (Lovemonk)

Lovemonk have been fairly consistent of late, and this triplet of fine re-rubs isn’t going to do the label’s reputation any harm. John Arnold’s rhythmic broken dub of the Mojo Project’s “In My Life” sees dancing beats underpin smiley keys and agreeable synth work. Greg Gauthier & Tony L give the Soul Vigilantes’ “Shy” extra house bite, courtesy of breezy keys, old school clapped percussion and familiar bass work. Kiko Navarro’s ‘Koki Solutions Dub’ of the Mojo Project’s “Tell Me Why” is a powerful deeper House number, with bang bang bang beats, rising synths and keys that you can count on.

Opolopo – Theme From Hot Spot (Sick Trumpet)

This Liverpool based club night takes its first foray into the world of releasing records with a brill dancefloor bound 7″. “Theme From Hot Pot” is the housier of the two and an all round smile-athon, with grinning synths, beaming keys and incredulous strings. “Closed Circuit” watches optimistic keys, running percussion and wide-eyed strings link up.

Ernesto – Blame It On Your Melody (Exceptional)

Despite his recent relocation to Birmingham, Ernesto’s music still has an icy Scandinavian stare, alongside a wonderful electronic warmth. None of these mixes of “Blame It On Your Melody” top the ‘Prelude’ version, which was released on a 7″ a good while back, but Unai and Yukihiro Fukuotomi have done a good job. Yukihiro comes out on top, with a couple of jumping percussive versions, where gratifying keys and a weighty bass pack the requisite punch. Unai’s remix places a mean bass, hard hitting beats and meandering keys under those honest vocals. The album version is also included, where messed up keys, sad synths and a portly bass meet.

Alex Smoke – Lost In Sound (Soma)

Wow, Vector Lovers have really come up with the goods on this occasion. Their revision of Smoke’s “Lost In Sound” is a flurry of squealing keys, jacked up beats and fuzzy synths. Alex’s own minimal synth-driven ‘Casita Verde’ version is a bit dull by comparison.

Only Freak – Can’t Get Away (From Your Love) (Freerange)

Only Freak aka Spirit Catcher get on the discoey House tip with this outing for Freerange. A cover of a Carol Williams track from the early 80s, classy keys and squeezed synths dominate the original version. Solid Groove’s revision is a typically harder-nosed mix, with slamming beats, gloriously happy synths and a smile-inducing bassline. Also included is an overflowing synthathon entitled “Viper Vapour”.

Zoo Brazil – Wasp Not Wasp (Cartridge)

Zoo Brazil show the rest of the pack how to make an acidic revivalist cut with this excitable release on Cartridge. “Wasp Not Wasp” is the standout, courtesy of buzzing synths, running forward beats and a dependable bassline. “Face The Music” is a more subdued affair, with worried keys, smart beats and tripped out synth lines.

NoTenshun – Traffic EP (Chillifunk)

NoTenshun make another EP of their harder edged deeper grooves available to the vinyl buying public. “Zulu” is a sturdily beaten number with an evil bassline and mithering synths, whereas “About Nothin’” is a robotically keyed stormer. “Crush It Up” takes its strength from pacey beats, and “Ama-zone” is a fizzing synthed tribally percussed number.

The Blacknificent Seven – ‘Ere Comes Da Black (Dark Horizon)

Featuring respected artists such as Roots Manuva, Rodney P and Est’elle, the Blacknificent 7 is a rather impressive UK Hip Hop supergroup. “‘Ere Comes Da Black” sees the crew go in for a bit of self-promotion, over sturdy synths and stern beats. “Mrs. Onda’syde” tries to figure out the set-up of relationship, backed by saucy keys and hardy beats.

A Skills & Krafty Kuts – Freshtraxxx Sampler (Finger Lickin’)

A couple of cuts from Finger Lickin’s new showcase of party breaks and hop get the single outing. “Tricka Technology” as remixed by Ed Funk is stuttery vocalised and thumpingly beaten number, where groovin’ guitars run riot. The superior “Ain’t It Funky” gets retouched by the Fort Knox Five, with those vocals paying tribute to ‘funk’ over lifting guitars, squashed saxes and a murky bass. Dub versions are also included for those who can’t stomach the vocals.

Boston Rodriguez – Where’s The Party? (Little League)

An unashamed feel good party track, “Where’s The Party?” will seem a little childish for certain turntables. Thankfully, those who can’t stomach those stupid vocals should be appeased by the instrumental, where D&B style beats, Sex In the City style vibraphone keys and partying brass groove along nicely.

Soul music fans in Berlin will be delighted to hear that Don-e will perform live this Thursday, 13th October at Jazzanova’s weekly club Nite at the Bohannon (Dirckesenstrasse 40, Berlin Mitte). Doors open at 22:00. For more info visit bohannon.de (unfortunately you’ll need the flash plug-in to see anything…I still wonder why so many people rely on the superfluous flash)

“I’m a strong black woman and I surely know the way I feel/ I know what I believe in and now I know the deal” Vikki Wright sings on The Other Woman, the first song of her debut Tales From The Amazon. Regarding the fact that Vikki has written and produced all the songs on her self-released debut album she surely knows the deal.
Despite the album’s title Vikki isn’t the tough, aggressive, and angry amazon you might expect (well, at least not in her music), her blend of soul and jazz is much too lyrical and mellow for this cliché.
Vikki’s own songs provide the perfect vehicle to put her rich and warm voice to maximum effect. Her lyrics focus on the ever prevailing topic of love, the longing, the disappointments and the process of growing and becoming strong-willed. Listen to the afore-mentioned midtempo soul song The Other Woman for example. Here Vikki finally realises that she’s worth more than just the chick you stick on the side.
Get Out is another soulful song this time about a love and marriage that didn’t worked out like Vikki wished and she’s eventually throwing the guy out (”Now there’s nothing left to give - but, let me give you back your name/ Pack your bags and get out“). What started with a rather sad cause at the song’s beginning turns into a silver lining and new hope (”The real me’s coming out no more reasons left to hide/ Here we are, but there’s nothing left but me/ I finally found myself and I’m setting myself free“).
Other impressive soul tracks include the slow Wait On You with a fine saxophone by Elliot Levin. Elliot also appears on the fine and mellow Think Ya Know. After All is a pleasant 80s inspired ballad reminding me of some slow cuts from Julie Dexter’s latest Conscious album.
Vikki has also a few uptempo songs on offer like Just Wonderin’ or Get Up (Get Your Party Started). While these two are no bad songs they suffer for my ears from the synthetic instrumentation, which is certainly due to a limited budget. Much better is the sound of latin influenced Bailando En El Sol with Vikki’s husband André Adams on drums and Paul Eaton on guitar. The jazzy and relaxed Jazzin’ On A Sunday Afternoon is self-explanatory.
Overall Tales From The Amazon is a very good debut album from a talented singer/songwriter making Vikki Wright an artist to watch out for.

Tracklisting of Tales From The Amazon: 1. Welcome To The Amazon (The Viktro)/ 2. The Other Woman/ 3. Get Out/ 4. Secret/ 5. Wait On You/ 6. Think Ya Know/ 7. After All/ 8. Just Wonderin’/ 9. Been There…Done That/ 10. Get Up (Get Your Party Started)/ 11. Bailando En El Sol/ 12. Jazzin’ On A Sunday Afternoon | released 2005 by Angel Baby Music/Vikki Wright

For more infos visit vikkiwright.net and cdbaby.com.

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

Courtesy of Jon Freer from mosoul.co.uk here are seven reviews (sorry no cover shots or tracklistings this time):

V/A – Late Night With King Britt (Swank)

The inimitable King Britt drops a full-on Housey selection, which contains many smoky string and fizzing synth laden cuts. Featuring a number of his own productions and remixes alongside other uber-deeep material, “Late Night” finds his highness on top form. Solu Music and Kimblee’s “Naturally” as remixed by Blaze searches for love, as those synths pull you closer and percussion taps along in the background. “Holding You” from Wahoo attempts to vocalise feelings of happiness, backed by resonating guitars, a clear bass and shrieking strings. Britt’s reinvention of Charmade Beat feat. Steve Spacek’s “U & I” gets analogue bass sparks and agitated synths to do the convincing. Breath-taking.

Ensemble Du Verre – Sing Me Something (Fante/SPV)

Cool off centre jazziness with a side helping of pointy electronics is the order of the day on this charming album from Ensemble Du Verre. Certain tracks are a little on the vacuous side, but “Sing Me Something” does see these musical electricians wiring up a new style of jazz-thinking electronic grooves. The vocals on “Poetry”, supplied by Ute Lorenzen, don’t make a hell of a lot of sense, but the torch like trumpet and bare bass provide the necessary musical content to make the track stand out. An agile bass gets a head start on “Fast”, as head in clouds keys, corrupted woodwind and an eye-catching double bass attempt to catch up. “What Ellington Says” places a warm-glow producing brass workout over displaced keys and Herbert style percussion. A thinking person’s future jazz.

NoTenshun – Traffic (Chillifunk)

Ploughing a tougher electronic furrow than the label’s previous output, “Traffic” is going shock a few people. Gone are the organically cultivated soft grooves, which have been replaced by synthetically created sounds. “Slow Starter” sees strings dream their lives away, backed by a smile-inducing bass and patient beats. “Amarante” takes its strength from a flamencoish guitar, whose acoustic beauty brings a much-needed brightness to the piece. “Ama-zone” sounds like it was conceived in the heart of the jungle, as rainforest soundbites float over cheery synths and a circling bass. Dark, yet still deep and subtly jazzified, “Traffic” represents the dawn of a new day for Chillifunk…

Ghorwane – Vana-Va-Ndota (Milan Records)

Cultured guitar work and jazzy niceness are both important on this pretty album from the Mozambique based Ghorwane group. Lurverly instrumentality carries along this album, which has both beamingly happy parts and also deeply melancholic moments. The title track contains melodic vocals, which work wonders alongside clean guitars, buoyant brass and steadfast percussion. “Xindzavane” lets eloquent piano keys speak out over rustic brass and a passionate guitar. “Tlhary” uses a calm guitar, serene vocals and relaxed drumming to create a peaceful track. Engaging.

Trio Exklusiv – International Standards (Klein)

What Patrick Pulsinger had on his mind when coming up with this album of stupid jazz, Kraftwerk inspired electronics and crackers Latin is anyone’s guess. Eschewing cold computers for eccentric live instrumentated material, “International Standards” features a few rather delectable grooveries and isn’t what you’d expect given Pulsinger’s electronic past. “Doors Open” sees pursed lipped brass crescendos, sonically modified beats and swish guitars stride into the room. “Slo-Mo” places joyous brass, a spiky bass and snaking along synths under the positive vocals supplied by understated soul god Terry Callier. “Let Fat In” floats expressive brass and clarinet conversation over slapping percussion and a feather light bass. Bizarre yet endearing!

The Islanders – Guarana Beach Club (S’Hort)

Hailing from the capital of horizontal dance releases, Ibizan producers Guillermo Morro and Ernesto Altes have created a luscious longplayer of lethargic afterparty gems. The beauty of the music means that it is possible to ignore the artificial feel of certain tracks, and just soak up the calming musical waves. “Large Lounge” sees stoned to the eyeballs Balearic keys attempt to navigate a path through blissful strings and shushing synths. The vocalist on “Regenerator” can’t speak properly, but thankfully wonderment inducing synths and slow moving percussion are able to convey the message. “Mixed Live” gets blinding synths, affable guitars and gooey keys to create the necessary ambience. This relaxation tool is as effective as a post-work drink or joint in helping you unwind after a busy day or night…

Deep Dish – George Is On (Thrive)

Long gone are the days when you could rely on this Washington twosome to come up with innovative and intelligent Deep House records. Today they are more at home making well produced, if a tad emotionless, guitarry and prog-minded House records, which seem to appease the mainstream, at the expense of Dish’s original fans. That said, Sharam and Dubfire show they’ve not lost their edge completely, with tracks like psychotic key laced “Swallow Me” and “Dub Shephard”, a foul-mouthed synther. The standout moment happens to be “Sergio’s Theme”, where a fragile acoustic guitar is placed across whispering synths and clear headed drumming. Intriguing, at best!

Judging from my record collection I guess I must be a Don-e fan with his two albums for 4th&B’way Unbreakable (from 1992) and Changing Seasons (from 1995) plus single releases like Oh My Gosh, Craz-e, Fakin’ The Funk or Don’t She in my collection and not to mention Don-e’s work with Deni Hines (Delicious) or Shaun Escoffery on the Urban Vinyl EP. The good news is that Dome Records has released a new album called Try This these days. Good to see that Don-e is back with a full-length album after ten years. A review will be featured soon as well as an interview. So watch this space!

Here’s another reason why I love my website…I get to know people with similar taste in music plus I get the chance to interview some of my longtime favourite artists like Carleen Anderson. Her recent album and first on Dome Records is one of her most impressive yet and if you don’t have a copy of Soul Providence yet, I have my doubts that you’re really into soul music *grin*.
In the jazz-not-jazz interview Carleen talks amongst other things about her new album, the sessions for her duets with Paul Weller and Jocelyn Brown, life in the UK and her job as tutor at the Brighton Institute Of Modern Music.

Q: Please tell me something about the recording process of Soul
Providence. How long did it take you to complete the album and what was your motivation to record an album that’s much more of a soul album than your two previous albums where you’ve tried to incorporate other musical influences?

Carleen Anderson: I’ve always tried to include all of my musical influences in each of my albums. This album has as much as any of the influences I’ve performed previously, but this time, Soul Music has gradually re-integrated into the culture with contemporary production techniques more in line with the roots music I deliver to a primed market. The youth culture has taken a liking to authentic sounds combined with the technology which allows for me to record with a live band, including sampling and music programming as well, without having to sacrifice my inspirational creativity. The graduation of sampled music to the fusion of the live band element is heard in young artists like Beyonce, Vanessa Brown and Lemar, all of whom I rate as excellent. The actual recording time was about 3 months, but preparation, songwriting, demos, pre-production, etc., was over the course of about 15 months. Some of the songs were written within the past 2 years, others had origins from over 20 years ago, but only now was complete as compositions since other musical influences and performance maturity came about.

Q: What was it like to record a duet with Paul Weller and Jocelyn Brown?

Carleen Anderson: Recording duets with Paul Weller and Jocelyn Brown was absolutely a magnificent experience! For both, the plan to record a duet had been on the back burner for a while, it just so happened circumstances surfaced to finally get it done in time with the album process. With Paul, finding the right cover song was the priority and once the idea of Micheal Jackson’s single with the Jackson Five of Leon Ware’s ‘Wanna Be Where You Are’, popped in my head, Paul gave his enthusiastic immediate concurrence. ‘Wanna Be Where You Are’ also appears on Marvin Gaye’s What’s Goin’ On’ album for about a minute’s groove. Both versions made me a lifelong fan of this classic song. The song Jocelyn and I sang I’d written just before my son and I moved to England. Jocelyn’s dynamic vocals show further her tremendous skill and power. She and I both are trained in Christian beliefs as taught by the Church of God in Christ, a Pentecostal protestant faith originating in Memphis, Tennessee, organized nationally in 1903, with an exclusive doctrine which made singing with her a spiritually uplifting connection through music. There are subtle codes within religious sects, and for Jocelyn and I, singing style references unique to the ‘holy roller’ musical environment, the exuberant outbursts of praise with very African tribal characteristics, like spell binding chants, screams, wails, etc., recognition of similar journeys brought great restitution for my weary soul and recording Parting The Waters with Jocelyn was the proper revival necessary.

>>>continue

As mentioned a few weeks ago the jazz-not-jazz show on radiopellenera.com can finally be heard. You can catch the show every Sunday from 13:00-15:00 UTC+2 and if you missed it it will be repeated on Tuesday (07:00-09:00 UTC+2) and Friday (10:00-12:00 UTC+2). For conversion to your local time zone have a look at the wikipedia.

Here’s the playlist for two hours of quality music. All in all a more spiritual set that takes you from soulful ballads to jazz and Latin jazz.

Ola Onabule: Love Affair (from In Emergency, Break Silence)
Emma Hutchinson: Hummingbirds (from Hummingbirds)
Juliet Kelly: Unicorn Dreams (from Delicious Chemistry)
Carmen Lundy: Better Days (from Self Portrait)
Shaun Escoffery: Feeling Good (from Move Into Soul EP)
Carleen Anderson: Careful (from Soul Providence)
Steve Spacek: Look Into My Eyes (from Space Shift)
Frankie Saunders: Blues Time In Birmingham
Julie Dexter: How Long (from Dexterity)
Fertile Ground: My Friend The Moon (from Spiritual Warrior)
Noel McKoy: Naked (from Mind Is The Keeper)
Angela Bofill: Under The Moon And Over The Sky (from Angie)
Oneness Of JuJu: Bootsie’s Lament (unreleased version)(from African Rhythms/1972-82)
Alice Coltrane: Blue Nile (from Ptah The El Daoud)
Rob Thorsen Trio/Quartet: In Xiangjiang Time (from Moon Ray)
Speak In Tones: Douson Foly (take 2) (from Subaro)
McCoy Tyner: Malika (from Asante)
Art Farmer Septet: Mau Mau
Eddie Palmieri: My Spiritual Indian

By the way my previous show on radio42.com will be continued and they will hopefully be online with their audio stream again soon. Just mark October, 21st in your calendar to listen to the D’Influence special.

Fans of quality soul music will certainly have heard of Ian Martin before. Either they have his debut album One from 2000 or they’ve heard him on the first release of Soul Brother Records’ Organic Soul compilation series. Five years later and Ian finally has released his sophomore album The Way. It has already been picked up by Expansion Records for an UK release so you know Ian has something special to offer here.
Ian was born and raised in Toronto Canada and began playing in church. Oddly enough it was the record A Physical Presence by the UK band Level 42 that was the beginning into another aspect of Ian’s musical journey. “It opened up my thirst for learning about harmony, songwriting/composition and jazz derived music,” Ian says. “I think I was hooked from that point on.”
He studied Film Music Composition at the renowned Berklee College of Music and now lives and works in Los Angeles, USA.
His new album The Way has a similiar approach like Yolanda Charles Mamayo project (actually she’s also a bass player) with Ian writing and producing the album and inviting guest singers like Sy Smith, Gavin Christopher, Jason Joseph or Jeff Robinson to give his music a wider appeal. (Actually there are too many guest musicians on this album to mention everybody). Musicwise Ian follows rather the path of Kloud 9, Ty Causey or Steve Butler with his releaxed and sometimes smooth R&B/soul songs than Yolanda’s Brit funk and soul.
But like Mamayo’s The Game Ian’s The Way is an album that sounds great from start to finish with no bad songs inbetween. Ian knows how to write and arrange a good song with a memorable hook whether it’s the midtempo dancer Release (with Sy Smith on vocals) or the beautiful ballad So In Love (with Kes Stanton as vocalist).
On of my favourite tunes is the uptempo track Brother with its fine string arrangement, sax, guitars by Craig T. Cooper, bass by Ian of course and Gavin Christopher’s great soulful voice. Craig T. Cooper and the string section can also be heard on the catchy Movin’ On with Robin McKelle and Ian on vocals. With Let Me Give You More there’s also an impressive show-stopping jazzy ballad with inspiring vocal input by Tim Owens and Jill Zadeh. The smooth jazz of Tell Me If You Still Care and Family finally give more room for Ian’s bass and keys playing.
To sum it up The Way is a stunning sophomore album from Ian Martin and it certainly will be amongst my favourite albums of 2005.

Tracklisting of The Way: 1. Welcome/ 2. Release/ 3. So In Love/ 4. Brother/ 5. It’s Your Nite/ 6. No Regrets/ 7. You Are/ 8. Movin’ On/ 9. Knockdown Side/ 10. Interlude/ 11. Tell Me If You Still Care/ 12. Family/ 13. Le Chemin/ 14. Let Me Give You More/ 15. Outro/ 16. You Are (eDrew Remix) | released 2005 by Delmar’s Pen Music

For more infos visit ianmartinmusic.com and cdbaby.com.

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

Some of you may remember the Jazzyfatnastees, who impressed us with two albums so far. Well, it looks they are without a record deal right now but with an album ready to release.

Mercedes states on their website: “Tired of waiting and wondering? We are too. We want you to hear new music. We want you to hear it now. We’re proud of “the world is coming” and we’re eager to share.

We’re hyped, so hyped that we’re putting it out. For a limited time, “the world is coming” is available, for free, no cost, no dollars, nothing to lose, FREE. A mere ten downloads stand between you and the taste of our latest flavors. Please help yourself to any or, better yet, all of them.”

So here’s your chance to download their whole album The World Is Coming for free. Don’t wait too long, you’ll never know how long the ten songs will be available.

[via Neo Soul Today]

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