RIP:James Brown
December 25, 2006
The Godfather of Soul went home this morning. What can you say about one of the grand innovators of music that has not already been said?
Anyone paying attention to the upper echelon of soul music’s ever changing face knows the name Incognito. More than the moniker of a great band, Incognito is a brand – a guaranteed one-stop for sophisticated, uplifting U.K.-spun soul-jazz, stamped by a cavalcade of top-notch vocal talent, sweeping arrangements for rhythm section, horns and strings, substance-fueled lyrical content and the unflagging leadership of guitarist/songwriter Jean-Paul Maunick, affectionately known as “Bluey.”
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Omar Live Performance
December 4, 2006
Omar Lye Fook – Your Mess
Omar!
Omar:Soul Singer
December 4, 2006
In the beginning of Omar’s professional recording career he was a hot new London underground soul singer with a song on his father’s Kongo label, “Mr.Postman/You And Me.” A decade plus and six albums to date Omar is still a hot new underground singer to most of the world. His rich layered soul is shared among his fans like a vintage for hipsters. “There’s Nothing Like This” was a hit in his homeland and established him as the Father of Nu British Soul. Breezy falsetto weaved into curtains of copacectic funk samples, carefree courtship, strings, organs and gentle romance give all of his songs the feeling of a spring day. Somewhere within the buffered masculinities of Luther, Ron Isley and Stevie a preference for writing songs softly approaching romance gives Omar’s music love optimism. His self-contained sound has attracted soul notables on both sides of the Atlantic. Common’s musically daring Electric Circus secured a guest appearance from the singer who also collaborated with eminent soulsters David Frank, Lamont Dozier and Leon Ware.
RIP Gerald Levert
November 11, 2006
Gerald Levert has joined the ultimate jam session in heaven. Gerald’s music is some of the most soulful music to be recorded over the past two decades. If it was work with Levert, solo releases, collaborations with his legendary father Eddie Levert, LSG and of course those live TV appearances with the likes of Patti Labelle among others Gerald always delivered quality performances. If you haven’t heard him already you need to.
See Gerald perform:
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Urban Organic 5 Year Anniversary
November 3, 2006
For its five year anniversary which takes place in Detroit from Friday November 17th through Sunday November 19th, Urban Organic plans to mark this milestone anniversary by inviting all of its friends to come out and celebrate. The schedule of events is as follows:
Friday, November 17th
10:00PM – Until – Buzz, Cut and Soul a DJ set from DJ OhSoKool of Brooklyn, DJ Frances Jaye of Dallas, DJ Hannibal of Milwaukee, and DJs Genesis of Detroit downstairs. Lashaun Phoenix of Detroit, Maya Azucena of Brooklyn, Mojoe of San Antonio AB of San Antonio and others upstairs at the Buzz Bar. The Buzz Bar is located at 546 Larned Downtown Detroit. Admission is $10.00
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Sy Smith: Ambient Soul
October 30, 2006
Sy Smith’s ambient soul owes itself to the singer’s background of chorale study, avid listening of modern music and gigs supporting the likes of Whitney Houston, Brandy, Usher, Macy Gray, Eric Benet, Ginuwine and Meshell Ndegeocello. East Coast roots in New York and Washington D.C. exposed Ms. Smith to everything from go-go to rock in her family’s home and the melange of acts playing in the city. The Syberspace Social is the first album of her unfettered trippy funk to make it to print.
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Natalie Cole Interview By Kelley Carter
October 30, 2006
On November 5th it will be the 50th anniversary of Nat King Cole’s television program that ended December 15th 1957 because no advertisers would pay for a show hosted by a Black man. Salt aside, Mr. Cole racked up a lot of pop hits without his innovative drummerless jazz trio. Bo Diddley even counts Cole as a major rock influence. Natalie Cole’s status as a performer is not overshadowed by her dad’s accomplishments as the many years worth of pop, soul and jazz recordings have shown. She has a new one now called “Leavin.” Kelley Carter of the Detroit Free Press had a candid talk with the singer that most people assume is a one-dimensional smooth jazz star. Cole makes clear her intentions to explore music first and a market secondary.
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Omar U.S. Tour – LA, ATL, DC, NY, Toronto
October 8, 2006
THE GODFATHER OF BRITISH SOUL, OMAR, ANNOUNCES U.S. TOUR
IN SUPPORT OF NEW ALBUM, SING [IF YOU WANT IT] FEATURING STEVIE WONDER, ANGIE STONE, COMMON AND MORE.
SING [IF YOU WANT IT] TO BE RELEASED IN THE U.S. ON ETHER RECORDS
OCTOBER 10TH.
After a five year recording hiatus and performing around the world, The
Godfather of British Soul, OMAR, is back with a new album, SING [IF YOU
WANT IT] which will be released in the U.S. on October 10th.
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